Design a Celtic Tree of Life Tattoo

No matter how fanciful Celtic tree of life tattoos get, they have three basic elements in common. First, each design needs strong roots that symbolically reach deep into the ground. Second, the imagery needs a strong trunk. Third, multiple branches reach toward the heavens. These are the main elements of the design, but you can be as creative as you want with the details.
Knot Work

Knots are a major component of Celtic designs, and the tree of life is no exception. In many tattoos, the branches and the roots entwine around each other to form an unbroken ring of knots that frames the entire work of art. In other designs, the roots and branches form separate bundles of knots connected only by a twisted trunk. A knot work tree is the classic representation of this design.
Creatures

The Celts held that there were seven forms of life, and any or all can be incorporated somewhere within the tree to create a very vivid design.
These include:

* People
* Plants
* Birds
* Fish
* Reptiles
* Insects
* All other animals

So, how can these images enhance your tat design? Imagine a gnarled trunk that, on closer inspection, reveals the withered face of a man or woman. The leaves of the tree might also include birds on the wing. How about writhing snakes amongst the roots of the tree? As you can imagine, there's no shortage of combinations you can use to make your tree of life tattoo different from any other you've ever seen.



Color

When you're working with a knot work tattoo design, it's often best to stick with a single color in light and dark values so you don't loose the essence of the knots themselves. However, you might want to consider going the fantasy route and make use of a rainbow of colors in your design. This would look especially good if you decide you really do want to incorporate creatures and other enhancements to your basic tree.
Size

Since the tree of life tattoo literally cries out for details, it usually winds up being a bigger piece than the average tattoo. This makes it a good candidate for a back or chest mural so you can take advantage of the larger canvas. That said, it is possible to create a simpler and therefore smaller design that will fit on an upper arm or ankle.