Tattoo Designs for Theo
PHOENIX and Dead/Alive tree
POSITION: Chest, right shoulder and right side of his ribs.
DESCRIPTION: For Theo’s first tattoo, he came in with a thoughtful and ambitious concept: a large-scale chest piece centered around a phoenix, symbolizing themes of rebirth, transformation, and the ongoing cycle of life and death. The phoenix forms the heart of the design, its wings extending across the chest and shoulder and its tail feathers reaching down to the ribs. It transitions into a tree that wraps around his left upper right arm and shoulder. The tree itself mirrors the duality of existence—one side full of life, the other dry and withered—a reflection on the balance between life and death, growth and decline.
To tie the elements together and support the narrative visually, I incorporated fine-line geometric framing. These clean, rectangular shapes surround the phoenix, giving the impression that it’s emerging through layered planes or dimensions. The same geometric language appears around the tree and at its roots, offering a contrast between the natural, organic texture of the tree and the structured, mathematical feel of the lines. These elements helped connect the living and dying halves of the tree, while also giving the design a sense of structure and continuity.
As one of the fine line geometric tattoo artists dedicated to precision and symbolism, I find that integrating these elements adds depth and cohesion to large-scale pieces. The meticulous lines not only enhance the visual appeal but also underscore the thematic contrasts within the design.
Theo gave me lots of creative freedom, trusting me to interpret and expand on his initial ideas. That kind of trust is always meaningful, but especially so for someone getting their very first tattoo—especially one of this scale. Because of the size and detail involved, we broke the project into multiple sessions. The first was dedicated to outlining, giving his skin time to rest before returning a few months later for two more sessions focused on shading and detail work, particularly in the tree.
Throughout every step, Theo remained calm, steady, and fully engaged in the process. It was impressive to see someone approach such a significant change in appearance with such openness. This tattoo became the beginning of a longer creative journey, shaped by trust and shared intention.
Athena, Owl, and Soundwave Forest
POSITION: Right Forearm
DESCRIPTION: For Theo’s second tattoo concept, we explored a new direction while continuing the stylistic themes introduced in his first piece. This one was meant to represent earth and life. He wanted to incorporate the figure of Athena, goddess of wisdom, alongside her symbolic animal, the owl. The focus was on portraying Athena with a calm, grounded presence, personified rather than statuesque.
What made this concept especially personal was the background idea: instead of a typical setting, Theo envisioned a forest silhouette where the trees are actually stylized soundwaves. Each “tree” represents a song chosen by one of his closest friends: a tribute to the people who have had an impact on his life. We settled on six tracks:
Becky Hill – Sunrise in the East
John Summit & Hayla – Where You Are
Alan Walker & Ava Max – Alone Pt II
Jon Bellion – Guillotine ft. Travis Mendes
K-391 & Alan Walker – Ignite ft. Julie Bergan & Seungri
Zedd – Beautiful Now ft. Jon Bellion
Fortunately, we were able to talk through this concept during our previous session. Theo left me with a simple sketch (more of a rough gesture than a design), but it captured his vision clearly enough and gave me the freedom to develop the artwork in a way that felt authentic to both his idea and my interpretation.
To create cohesion with his phoenix chest piece, I carried over subtle geometric elements that help guide the eye and connect both tattoos as part of a larger visual story. I also paid attention to the natural flow of his musculature, making sure that the placement of Athena, the owl, and the soundwave forest would move with his body rather than sit flat against it. Parts of Athena and the geometric shapes were intentionally textured to mimic the aged stone surfaces often seen in classical sculptures—small visual nods to the idea of ancient strength, wisdom, and time-worn resilience.
We estimated that the tattoo would take two full days to complete, and that timing turned out to be accurate. The process unfolded smoothly, and like his first tattoo, Theo approached it with calm and trust.
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
POSITION: Left Forearm up to the right shoulder
DESCRIPTION: For Theo’s third tattoo project, we focused on completing the remaining space on his left arm (from the inner forearm up to the biceps) and tying it seamlessly into the existing tree element from his first large-scale piece. The concept for this design was centered around the idea of a “stairway to heaven,” approached not just as a symbolic ascent, but as a continuation of the broader narrative we had already begun: one of life, death, and what lies beyond.
To bridge this new design with his earlier tattoo, we incorporated falling and wilted leaves that visually connect back to the tree, representing the cycle of decay, transition, and release. These leaves drift down through the composition, softening the lines between old and new work and reinforcing the themes already present in the story we’ve been building across his body.
A significant part of the design process involved the staircase itself. To create the right fit for the elongated space of the forearm and to ensure a natural visual flow, I designed around twenty variations of staircases using 3D modeling software. This allowed for experimentation with shape, depth, and angle before settling on the final structure: a perspective that looks upward, guiding the viewer’s eye toward an open, atmospheric space. The design suggests elevation, hope, and openness, without needing to be literal.
To emphasize the "sky" and "heaven" aspect of the concept, I added two small birds in flight; light and playful in contrast to the heavier themes. They also serve as subtle nods to the recurring presence of birds in Theo’s tattoos: the phoenix on his chest, the owl with Athena on his side, and now these two in motion.
As with his earlier tattoos, certain visual motifs continue in this project: geometric fine lines, negative space, diagonal textures, and framing elements that resemble dimensional portals. These details not only help tie this new work to the existing ones, but also give the overall design a sense of cohesion and complexity.
The tattoo was completed over two full-day sessions, allowing us to cover a large portion of Theo’s arm with only a few smaller spaces left behind the arm and within the inner biceps. As always, Theo approached the process with calm and intention, continuing the journey we began with his first piece—each new tattoo deepening the visual story inked on his skin.
For Inquiries, please feel free to reach out via email: contact@danielmeyertattoo.com
I look forward to working with you on your next story.
