An oilfield tattoo is perhaps one of the few ways that seasoned, tough oilfield workers choose to express themselves. Their daily lives consist of a dynamic series of tasks that take up a large portion of their day, leaving little time for themselves and their loved ones. Each worker contributes in his or her own way to the manipulation of oil, which in turn plays a decisive role in the economy of an area or a country. So it is only natural that these workers feel a deep sense of connection or purpose in their work, and idolize these oilfields like a devout would idolize a temple. If you find such ideals relatable and are into elaborate body art that expresses the same, we can help you with some creative ideas. Scroll down to find some cool oilfield tattoo designs that will interest you.
8 Magnetic Oil Field Tattoo Ideas
A functional oil field has a lot to offer and a tattoo of any of the elements found in the field, whether it be the intricate machinery structures, the workers, work equipment or the landscape can all be used for an elaborate oil field tattoo design. The following list contains some ideas that you may find useful in creating your own design.
1. Texas Oil Field Tattoo
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The oil and natural gas industry is a major contributor to the economy of the state of Texas. It is no surprise that a native Texan who works in the industry would be proud of it and want to get it tattooed on themselves. One idea to show these emotions through tattoos is to have a photorealistic image of an oil field illustrated in the form of the map of Texas, as shown above. You can also use the Texas state flag in your design or illustrate a cowboy hat with an image of an oil rig.
2. Cool oil field tattoo
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When considering conventional tattoo art subjects, the idea of an oil field tattoo is a badass choice in itself. The design above features a cool idea to take it up a notch on the edgy meter. The oil field is illustrated in a giant oil drop shape with more black, greasy oil dripping from the outline. The oil rig is also placed in the middle of a busy cityscape, creating contrasting images that open doors to interesting stories.
3. Oilfield tattoo for men
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The hard, dirty labor of the oil field is a predominantly male space. This type of work can be extremely grueling some days and fruitful or fulfilling others. Oil field workers who are dedicated to their job may want to express themselves through a tattoo, like the one above, that shows their dedication. A skull wearing a helmet with images of an oil field dripping with black oil could be a message about how they would dedicate their lives to this industry that has sustained them. The softly shaded flowers add a soft touch, further emphasizing their passion.
4. Roughneck Badass Oilfield Tattoo
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Roughnecks are inherently badass, with their demanding, hard manual labor and work-hardened bodies and psyches. The term “roughneck” is also a very Texan word that refers to a rugged, edgy laborer. An illustration of a muscular man with chiseled muscles, work overalls, a hard hat, and dirt-smeared skin is a recipe for conveying an essence of toughness or an appreciation of it. These muscles aren’t built in the gym for aesthetics, but are signs of hard work for something.
5. Drilling Platform Oil Field Tattoo
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An oil field image isn’t complete without a drilling rig. Pay homage to this instrumental heavy machine by creating an oil field tattoo design with the drilling rig as the focal point. Emphasize the construction of the large structure and choose tattoo techniques, such as realism, traditional or dotwork, that can make the machine stand out. You can complete the image with flowing rivers on the hard earth, with towering oil tanks, silos and other facility buildings in the background.
6. Oilfield Tattoo for Dads
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Oilfield workers who are also responsible fathers must struggle immensely when the working hours are long or they have to be away for months at a time to work in a new location. They hardly see the families they work so hard for and yet they fulfill their duties through their challenging jobs. The tattoo above of a cartoonish oilfield illustration underlined by the term “homesick” in large, capitalized font seems so fitting to express their situation and feelings.
7. Tribal oil field tattoo
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Oilfield tattoos represent a general sense of pride in the industry and an ode to the workers who get their work done despite the many challenges. This is also a similar concept in tribal tattoos that express pride in cultural identity or heritage. Adding tribal elements to the mix can be a cool aesthetic choice but can have conflicting symbolism since indigenous ideology is against the large-scale cultivation of natural resources. However, you can represent the tribalistic sentiments of oilfield workers through sleek and edgy design patterns with sharp lines and angles, as shown in the image above.
8. Oilfield sleeve tattoo
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An oil field can serve as a great subject for a large full sleeve tattoo that covers the many aspects of oil field production. The image above shows a great example where a huge oil field is realistically illustrated with great attention to detail. There is one main drilling rig with tall silos looming in the background and various cranes and operational machinery in the foreground serving dynamic purposes. The splash of color on these machines is a nice visual touch. To add personalized details, you can add text to support your ideals and create additional ink details.
While not a very conventional choice for body art, oilfield tattoos can help express a multitude of feelings for tough oilfield workers who might otherwise express themselves through physical productivity rather than emotional expression. These tattoos can also be a way for family members of oilfield workers to artistically express their pride in the selfless service of their kin, as this job comes with a lot of risk but can be the only source of income for some families. We hope this article has reinforced those feelings and provided the inspiration you need through our innovative list of oilfield tattoo designs and ideas. Cheers!
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Eve Phillips is an experienced artist in a variety of tattoo styles, although she specializes in fine detail and floral tattoos. She has owned studios in both Australia and the UK for 20 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of tattoo art, health, licensing, trends, current issues and history.
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Manjari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over three years of experience writing across various niches including beauty, health, wellness, and technology. She first discovered her passion for writing in school and has been honing her craft ever since.
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Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Previously, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 top-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.
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Joyce Joyson is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over a year of experience in creating short-form content for the beauty, fashion and lifestyle niches. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History, Political Science and Geography from IIS University and a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Kristu Jayanti College.
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