The dreamcatcher has long been an object of intrigue. Dreamcatchers have a long and interesting past that originates with the Ojibwe people—one of the largest Native American tribes. Although the Ojibwe are credited with the dreamcatcher’s invention, the beautiful designs quickly spread from tribe to tribe and eventually became a distinguishing symbol of the Native American culture as a whole. To this day, dreamcatchers are commonly found for sale at Native American gatherings and cultural events.
The dreamcatcher’s meaningful symbology and intricate design have clearly transitioned well into the body art industry. Dreamcatcher tattoos enjoy a high level of popularity both due to their strong symbolic meaning and their pleasant aesthetic appearance. While there are literally thousands of dreamcatcher tattoos floating around out there, we’ve put together a list of some of the most outstanding and eye-catching examples in existence.
This delicate design.
Here we have a delightful, and highly detailed miniature dreamcatcher tattoo. From the detail of the the feathers to the beautiful mandala flower inside the willow hoop, this piece is the perfect example of perfection. For more mind-boggling miniature works, head over to Korean tattoo artist Ilwol’s Instagram page.
This creative owl design.
Just recently we’ve begun to see a number of variations of this design. Who inked it first, we’ll probably never know but one thing is for sure; this is definitely one of the most creative, and popular, iterations of the dreamcatcher tattoo we’ve seen in a while. (Photo: Luis Dajer)
This watercolor work.
Ewa’s watercolor designs are always a pleasure to view and this wonderful work is no exception. From the traces of white ink to the adorable paw print, one can only sit and stare in awe at this fantastic watercolor dreamcatcher design. (Photo: Ewa Sroka)
This beautiful forearm piece.
Although the flowers are a nice touch, the gorgeous feathers are obviously the focal point of this piece. Brilliant shading and a soft touch, make this black and grey ink design something to be desired. (Photo: Becca Louise)
This large back piece.
Here we have a unique watercolor design where the use of vibrant color was avoided. Usually watercolor works manifest themselves as elaborate spectacles of brilliant bright color, but here, a soft muted palette compliments the bold black lines of the rest of the piece nicely. (Photo: Eleven)
This side tat.
Oh how we wish we had a better photo. But that’s not always the case. This cool dreamcatcher tattoo features a soft overall appearance accented by a few black-tipped feathers. (Photo: Doy)
This turquoise tat.
Turquoise is the reoccurring theme here throughout the piece—and we do have to say, it sure does look great against the delicate hues of the pale pink skin. (Photo: Pink Tattoos)
These gorgeous feathers.
While the entirety of this design isn’t visible, we can still see enough to be appreciative of the piece. Dreamcatchers are usually decorated with feathers and beads. Turquoise beads were among the most cherished, and were often painstakingly hand-ground from small turquoise stones. (Photo: Bush)
This black and grey piece.
These beautiful black beads are so shiny they almost look like little black pearls. (Photo: Por Vida)
This dotwork dreamcatcher.
Dotwork mandala designs replace the normal webbing in the interior of the hoops. That, paired with a few hyper-realistic hanging feathers make this a true statement piece. The shading on the feathers is so well executed it looks as if the feathers are actually hanging just a few inches of the subject’s back. (Photo: Jason Sexton)
These lovely little flowers.
This dainty work features some truly magnificent webwork. The Ojibwe used cordage made from plants for webbing when constructing their dreamcatchers long ago. (Photo: Anna Bravo)
