InkCraft83 Eye Tattoo Ideas, Stencils and Meaning
83 original eye designs drawn for InkCraftBy Uladzimir TumanauUpdated
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Nazar, wedjat and surreal, which look alike and mean quite different things. Realism in miniature with nowhere to hide a mistake — one of the few small subjects where the artist matters more than the size.
Black and grey traditional eye tattoo design: a stylized eye with prominent eyelashes Try it on — Black and grey traditional eye tattoo design: a stylized eye with prominent eyelashes
Black and white blackwork eye tattoo design: the Eye of Providence Try it on — Black and white blackwork eye tattoo design: the Eye of Providence
Color traditional eye tattoo design: a stylized eye with a blue iris and a golden outline Try it on — Color traditional eye tattoo design: a stylized eye with a blue iris and a golden outline
Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a human eye Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a human eye
Black and grey illustrative eye tattoo design: two stylized eyes Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye tattoo design: two stylized eyes
Black and grey neo traditional eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey neo traditional eye tattoo design
Black and grey illustrative eye tattoo design: a detailed eye within a bold, double-lined triangle Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye tattoo design: a detailed eye within a bold, double-lined triangle
Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a realistic eye with long lashes, shedding a single tear Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a realistic eye with long lashes, shedding a single tear
Black and white geometric eye tattoo design, outline stencil Try it on — Black and white geometric eye tattoo design, outline stencil
Black and white minimalist eye tattoo design, outline stencil Try it on — Black and white minimalist eye tattoo design, outline stencil
Black and grey illustrative eye tattoo design: a single eye with a tear falling from it Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye tattoo design: a single eye with a tear falling from it
Color traditional eye tattoo design: a blue-teal iris and black pupil Try it on — Color traditional eye tattoo design: a blue-teal iris and black pupil
Black and white linework eye tattoo design, outline stencil: the Eye of Providence Try it on — Black and white linework eye tattoo design, outline stencil: the Eye of Providence
Color illustrative eye tattoo design: a stylized all-seeing eye within an impossible triangle Try it on — Color illustrative eye tattoo design: a stylized all-seeing eye within an impossible triangle
Black and grey biomechanical eye tattoo design: a central eye with a gear for an iris Try it on — Black and grey biomechanical eye tattoo design: a central eye with a gear for an iris
Black and white ornamental eye tattoo design: a detailed eye at its center Try it on — Black and white ornamental eye tattoo design: a detailed eye at its center
Black and white biomechanical eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and white biomechanical eye tattoo design
Black and white tribal eye tattoo design: a stylized eye at its center Try it on — Black and white tribal eye tattoo design: a stylized eye at its center
Black and white tribal eye tattoo design: a central eye motif Try it on — Black and white tribal eye tattoo design: a central eye motif
Black and white blackwork eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and white blackwork eye tattoo design
Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a detailed human eye Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a detailed human eye
Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design
Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a highly detailed eye with a rectangular pupil Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a highly detailed eye with a rectangular pupil
Black and grey illustrative eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye tattoo design
Color trash polka eye tattoo design: a realistic eye Try it on — Color trash polka eye tattoo design: a realistic eye
Black and grey cybersigilism eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey cybersigilism eye tattoo design
Black and grey anime eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey anime eye tattoo design
Black and grey 3D eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey 3D eye tattoo design
Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a vertical slit pupil and a finely lined iris Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye tattoo design: a vertical slit pupil and a finely lined iris
Black and grey sketch eye and moon tattoo design: an eye with long, spiky lashes Try it on — Black and grey sketch eye and moon tattoo design: an eye with long, spiky lashes
Black and grey neo traditional eye and feather tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey neo traditional eye and feather tattoo design
Color traditional eye and lightning tattoo design: a stylized eye Try it on — Color traditional eye and lightning tattoo design: a stylized eye
Black and grey illustrative eye and snake tattoo design: a detailed eye intertwined with a snake Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye and snake tattoo design: a detailed eye intertwined with a snake
Black and white sketch eye and fire tattoo design: a flaming eye Try it on — Black and white sketch eye and fire tattoo design: a flaming eye
Black and white illustrative eye and moon tattoo design: an eye with a crescent moon as its pupil Try it on — Black and white illustrative eye and moon tattoo design: an eye with a crescent moon as its pupil
Color traditional eye and feather tattoo design: a central eye Try it on — Color traditional eye and feather tattoo design: a central eye
Black and grey ornamental eye and leaf tattoo design: a closed eye with long lashes Try it on — Black and grey ornamental eye and leaf tattoo design: a closed eye with long lashes
Color watercolor eye and snake tattoo design: an open mouth and exposed fangs poised above it Try it on — Color watercolor eye and snake tattoo design: an open mouth and exposed fangs poised above it
Black and grey illustrative eye and fire tattoo design: a realistic eye Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye and fire tattoo design: a realistic eye
Black and grey ornamental eye and mandala tattoo design: a mystical and protective aura Try it on — Black and grey ornamental eye and mandala tattoo design: a mystical and protective aura
Black and white illustrative eye and skull tattoo design Try it on — Black and white illustrative eye and skull tattoo design
Black and grey dotwork eye and sun tattoo design: a detailed eye within a circular frame Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye and sun tattoo design: a detailed eye within a circular frame
Black and grey dotwork eye and mandala tattoo design: an eye at the center of an ornate mandala Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye and mandala tattoo design: an eye at the center of an ornate mandala
Color Japanese eye and cherry blossom tattoo design Try it on — Color Japanese eye and cherry blossom tattoo design
Black and white ornamental eye and mandala tattoo design: a detailed eye at its center Try it on — Black and white ornamental eye and mandala tattoo design: a detailed eye at its center
Black and grey dotwork eye and abstract tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye and abstract tattoo design
Color neo traditional eye and moon tattoo design: an eye with a crescent moon as the pupil Try it on — Color neo traditional eye and moon tattoo design: an eye with a crescent moon as the pupil
Black and white blackwork eye and leaf tattoo design: a stylized eye with a detailed mandala iris Try it on — Black and white blackwork eye and leaf tattoo design: a stylized eye with a detailed mandala iris
Color neo traditional eye and flower tattoo design: a central eye with a teal iris Try it on — Color neo traditional eye and flower tattoo design: a central eye with a teal iris
Color neo traditional eye and rose tattoo design: a detailed eye with a teal iris Try it on — Color neo traditional eye and rose tattoo design: a detailed eye with a teal iris
Black and grey illustrative eye and snake tattoo design: a stylized eye with a cat-like pupil Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye and snake tattoo design: a stylized eye with a cat-like pupil
Black and grey illustrative eye and feather tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye and feather tattoo design
Black and white illustrative eye and tiger tattoo design: a tiger's eye Try it on — Black and white illustrative eye and tiger tattoo design: a tiger's eye
Color illustrative eye and tiger tattoo design: a tiger's eye Try it on — Color illustrative eye and tiger tattoo design: a tiger's eye
Black and grey illustrative eye and owl tattoo design: a stylized owl face with multiple eyes Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye and owl tattoo design: a stylized owl face with multiple eyes
Black and white minimalist eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil: an evil eye symbol Try it on — Black and white minimalist eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil: an evil eye symbol
Color watercolor eye and hand tattoo design: an open hand with an eye in the palm Try it on — Color watercolor eye and hand tattoo design: an open hand with an eye in the palm
Black and white illustrative eye and hand tattoo design: a human hand Try it on — Black and white illustrative eye and hand tattoo design: a human hand
Black and white tribal eye and sun tattoo design: a stylized sun Try it on — Black and white tribal eye and sun tattoo design: a stylized sun
Black and white ornamental eye and hand tattoo design: a hamsa hand with an eye in the palm Try it on — Black and white ornamental eye and hand tattoo design: a hamsa hand with an eye in the palm
Black and white geometric eye and mandala tattoo design, outline stencil Try it on — Black and white geometric eye and mandala tattoo design, outline stencil
Black and grey neo traditional eye and evil eye tattoo design: a detailed eye within a horseshoe Try it on — Black and grey neo traditional eye and evil eye tattoo design: a detailed eye within a horseshoe
Black and white linework eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil Try it on — Black and white linework eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil
Black and grey illustrative eye and evil eye tattoo design: a realistic eye Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye and evil eye tattoo design: a realistic eye
Black and grey illustrative eye and evil eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye and evil eye tattoo design
Black and grey ornamental eye and skeleton hand tattoo design: a skeleton hand Try it on — Black and grey ornamental eye and skeleton hand tattoo design: a skeleton hand
Color anime eye and man portrait tattoo design Try it on — Color anime eye and man portrait tattoo design
Color neo traditional eye and hawk tattoo design Try it on — Color neo traditional eye and hawk tattoo design
Black and white blackwork eye and buddha tattoo design Try it on — Black and white blackwork eye and buddha tattoo design
Black and white illustrative eye and star tattoo design: a constellation of stars Try it on — Black and white illustrative eye and star tattoo design: a constellation of stars
Black and white tribal eye and moon tattoo design: a crescent moon and a sun with sharp rays Try it on — Black and white tribal eye and moon tattoo design: a crescent moon and a sun with sharp rays
Black and grey dotwork eye and moth tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye and moth tattoo design
Black and grey ornamental eye and evil eye tattoo design (1 of 2) Try it on — Black and grey ornamental eye and evil eye tattoo design (1 of 2)
Black and white minimalist eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil (1 of 2) Try it on — Black and white minimalist eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil (1 of 2)
Black and white minimalist eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil: a crescent moon Try it on — Black and white minimalist eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil: a crescent moon
Black and grey ornamental eye and evil eye tattoo design (2 of 2) Try it on — Black and grey ornamental eye and evil eye tattoo design (2 of 2)
Black and white minimalist eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil (2 of 2) Try it on — Black and white minimalist eye and evil eye tattoo design, outline stencil (2 of 2)
Black and grey illustrative eye and evil eye tattoo design: a human hand with an eye in the palm Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye and evil eye tattoo design: a human hand with an eye in the palm
Black and grey illustrative eye and memento mori tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey illustrative eye and memento mori tattoo design
Black and white illustrative eye and ouroboros tattoo design Try it on — Black and white illustrative eye and ouroboros tattoo design
Black and grey patchwork eye and sun tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey patchwork eye and sun tattoo design
Black and grey dotwork eye and pin up tattoo design Try it on — Black and grey dotwork eye and pin up tattoo design
Black and white illustrative eye and evil eye tattoo design Try it on — Black and white illustrative eye and evil eye tattoo design
Tap any design to see it on your own skin in the try-on — no signup.
This set of 83 eye designs, by the numbers
- Styles represented
- illustrative (22), dotwork (11), ornamental (8), neo traditional (7), traditional (5), minimalist (5)
- Black-and-grey vs colour
- 82% black-and-grey, 18% colour
- Most often drawn with
- evil eye, moon, mandala, snake
Counted from the 83 designs shown on this page. Every one was drawn for InkCraft — none are scraped or reposted. Free to reference with a link to this page.
What a eye tattoo means
An eye means being watched, and the whole question is by whom and whether that is comforting. It is one of the few motifs that flips completely depending on the tradition behind it, so choosing the drawing without choosing the tradition is how people end up wearing something they cannot explain.
The nazar — the blue glass eye of Turkey, Greece and much of the Middle East — is protective, and it is worth being clear that it does not represent the evil eye. It repels it. The evil eye is the envious look that causes harm; the amulet is the defence against it, which is the reverse of how it is usually described in English.
The Eye of Horus is Egyptian, associated with healing and restoration — the eye was injured and made whole again, which is why it is worn for recovery as often as for protection. The Eye of Providence, the one inside a triangle, is a Christian image of divine oversight that predates every conspiracy attached to it by centuries, and most people asking for it now are asking for the conspiracy version whether they realise it or not.
An eye in a surreal composition — opening in a palm, inside a flower, set into a moth's wing — is doing something different again. It is about perception rather than protection, and it is the version most often chosen by people marking a change in how they see rather than a wish to be kept safe.
Where the design comes from
Eye amulets are among the oldest protective objects in the archaeological record, appearing across Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean thousands of years ago. The Egyptian wedjat, the Eye of Horus, is tied to the myth of Horus losing an eye to Set and having it restored by Thoth. The Eye of Providence enters Christian art in the Renaissance and appears on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, which is where its modern notoriety comes from. Surreal eye imagery in tattooing owes most to Dalí and Magritte by way of the illustrative blackwork of the last decade.
Choosing yours
- An eye is realism in miniature — the whole thing rests on the relationship between iris, pupil, catchlight and lid. There is nowhere to hide a mistake, and it is one of the few small subjects where the artist's skill matters more than the size.
- That said, it does hold small better than most realistic subjects, because the shapes are few and large relative to the design. A well-drawn eye at 5-6 cm can still read cleanly in a decade, where a face at that size cannot.
- It is a horizontal, roughly almond shape, so it suits a horizontal field: the inner forearm across the arm, the sternum, the back of the neck. Placed vertically it reads oddly for reasons most people cannot articulate but everyone notices.
Size, cost and placement
How big, and what it costs
A realistic eye at 6-8 cm is a two-to-three-hour piece, and the cost tracks the artist rather than the area — this is a subject where paying more genuinely buys a better result. A surreal composition with an eye set into something else is a half day or more.
Where it sits, and how much it hurts
Inner forearm, sternum, nape and the back of the upper arm all take a horizontal almond shape well. The sternum is the most striking and among the more painful. Avoid vertical placements, where the shape stops reading correctly.
What to ask your artist
- To see healed realistic work — an eye is unforgiving and the difference between artists is stark.
- Which tradition it belongs to, since nazar, wedjat and Providence look similar to the untrained eye and mean quite different things.
- Where the catchlight sits, because it decides the whole expression and is easy to get wrong.
Prices vary widely by city and artist — treat these as session lengths rather than quotes, and expect a shop minimum on anything small. The cost guide turns hours into money by size, placement and style.
Common questions
Does an evil eye tattoo bring bad luck?
The opposite — the amulet is the defence, not the curse. The evil eye is the envious look; the blue nazar repels it. English usage muddles the two constantly.
What does the Eye of Horus mean?
Healing and restoration. In the myth the eye is injured and made whole again, which is why it is worn for recovery as often as for protection.
Is an eye harder to tattoo small than a face?
It holds smaller than most realistic subjects — 5-6 cm can work — because the shapes are few and large relative to the design. Artist skill matters more than size here.
What a eye tattoo can mean
The meanings this motif carries on the pages that argue them. Each line is that page's own reason for including it.
- Meaningful tattoos
- Protection through being watched over — or being watched. The Egyptian, Turkish and Christian versions are different symbols that modern flash has largely merged, so be specific about which one you want.
- Faith tattoos
- Providence watching. The Christian, Masonic and Egyptian versions are distinct symbols that modern flash has blurred — worth specifying which you mean.
- Spiritual tattoos
- Perception beyond the ordinary senses, and the one symbol here where placement is the meaning: it belongs above and between the brows in the tradition it comes from, so a version on a forearm is quoting rather than using it.
- Protection tattoos
- An account of injury and repair rather than a plain eye: Horus lost it in a fight and it was restored, which is why the wedjat means healing and wholeness as well as protection. The falcon markings beneath are what identify it.
- Peace tattoos
- In its calm forms — closed, or as part of a mandala — awareness rather than surveillance. Sensitive to how it is drawn: an open, detailed eye reads as watchful, not peaceful.
- Greek mythology tattoos
- The three Graeae shared one eye between them and Perseus stole it to make them talk, which is the rare Greek image about knowledge as a possession that can be taken rather than earned.
See it on your skin before you commit
InkCraft places any of these designs on a photo of you — scaled, wrapped and shaded to the placement you pick.