A Fashionista’s Guide To Travel Tattoos

Once we consider summer time travels, dreamy European locations at all times come to thoughts. And with the upcoming trend movie, Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris, which is slated to be launched in theaters on July 15, no marvel Parisian landscapes have at all times captured our imaginations (however on this case, the movie facilities in on a romance with a Christian Dior gown).

Now, an increasing number of movies and TV exhibits being set in not solely European cities, however dreamy European castles—whether or not it’s the newest iteration of Downtown Abbey, which was shot on the Highclere Fort in Berkshire, or Disney Plus’ revival of The Quest, which was shot in Castello di Amorosa in Napa County, and even A Very British Scandal, the brand new Prime Video sequence, which was shot at Inveraray Fort. There’s little doubt fairytale-like locations have taken over the silver display screen, and our imaginations.

Chaehee Lee, who goes by the moniker Ovenlee, 28, a tattoo artist primarily based in Seoul, and is the grasp of turning castles and European landscapes into tattoos for fashionistas. Whereas 90% of her clientele are ladies, she has inked every part from the Prague Fort to previous German villages and the Swiss Alps on younger ladies, who go to her tattoo studio.

“I at all times really feel {that a} tattoo is related to somebody’s recollections of treasured oments captured in pictures,” she stated. “I wish to share with people who journey pictures can turn into tattoos, too, even when that features pictures of their summer time travels to Europe.

And what trendy tattoos they’re. A few of her works embrace Christmas in France, a shot of the Christmas Market in Vienna, to a Bavarian Fort and the Duomo in Florence. She has inked the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris, and Italian countryside, too.

All her tattoos have a modern aptitude, whether or not its together with trendy florals or minimalist buildings that invite us into her creativeness. Vogue-wise, Lee’s largest influences are designers Nicky Zimmermann, grasp of the flower sundress (”I like her delicate lace and embroidery”), and British designer Phoebe Philo (”I like all her Celine exhibits,” stated Lee). It is clear to see her trend influences in her tattoos, too, that are each delicate and contemporary.

“I draw a number of cottage-style footage, and tattoos that inform a narrative like a fairytale,” stated Lee. “These days, folks need these recollections of their travels, that are enjoyable to seize in a dreamy picture.”

However getting a dream trip inked in your physique remains to be not quite common. Nonetheless, there’s a demand for it. “I do a number of castles and surroundings tattoos as a result of folks always remember the recollections of their journeys,” she stated. “They wish to have a look at the fortress and surroundings for the remainder of their lives.”

In a single case, one buyer introduced Ovenlee a photograph she took on a visit and requested her to attract a tattoo out of it. “They wished to place a fortress to signify her travels round Europe, and one other wished a dreamlike surroundings of what she noticed on a prepare,” she stated. “It at all times represents a journey, following one’s goals and a second of bliss.”

Ovenlee herself has a number of wanderlust, and travels to Europe as typically as she will. “I like touring to Europe, and every time I come throughout a fairly panorama, I instantly draw an image in my sketchbook,” she says. Having traveled to small, distant villages in England to the south of Germany, Paris, Vienna and Prague, that very same wanderlust is shared in relation to landmarks, castles and cathedrals.

“Simply as I’ve good recollections of my journey, I would like different folks to take a look at my work and keep in mind the identical pleased recollections of being in these European cities,” she stated. “It’s about not forgetting your travels, as iPhone pictures are by no means sufficient.”

Ovenlee recommends taking a number of pictures in your travels of distinctive moments. Sure, strive photographing landmarks from completely different vantage factors together with your pictures—from rooftop views to low angles. Attempt to get less-obvious moments captured together with your digital camera, too, past your typical selfie.

Attempt to get pictures of bridges, alleyways, and pictures taken at night time to seize the essence of a metropolis, past the standard touristic pictures. With regards to castles, strive numerous pictures round it, from roads to pictures taken from the garden. Then, once you return out of your journey, filter out the generic pictures (often the postcard-like ones) and discover a shot that represents an ideal second.

Greater than something, she recommends that you just select a photograph of a spot that represents one thing particular to you. “Prague Fort was essentially the most spectacular,” she stated. “It was very lovely each in the course of the day and at night time. It was as a result of swans had been swimming beneath the fortress, and the faces of individuals passing by the gate regarded very pleased.”

It was additionally a visit she took together with her mom, which is what made it particular. “At night time, we noticed yellow lights alongside the bridges, it was lovely,” she stated. “And the moon and stars had been full subsequent to the fortress, and I actually wished to create that scene, that reminiscence, as a portray that I may make a tattoo.”

Try Ovenlee Tattoo on Instagram.