101 Best Shoulder Sun Tattoo Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind!

Reviewed & fact checked: July 19, 2023 by Jamie Wilson (BA)

Sun tattoos are a popular choice of tattoo design among both males and females. That said, here are some of the most awesome examples of shoulder sun tattoo design.

In ancient cultures, the Sun was viewed as a God and even worshipped by the Greeks, and Romans.

The Sun is the embodiment of light, warmth and energy. This makes them a very trendy design, in today’s world of tattooing.

Before delving deep into the different sun tattoo designs, let’s take a look at the different historical meanings of this crucial element of Nature. In ancient Chinese culture, the Sun represented the cosmic eye of the Universe, while the Native Americans believed it to be a symbol of protection and guidance. Since then, the Sun has been represented in various ways in other cultures. Some believe that the Sun is the epitome of all masculine energies and shares a close resemblance to the Yang principle. That said, here are some of the best shoulder sun tattoo designs, that you can check out, for your next tattoo.

Sun And Wave Tattoo

The sun and wave tattoo is a beautiful example of the two contrasting forces of Nature. While the Sun symbolizes power, strength, and warmth, the wave denotes the unpredictable Nature of life, and its various highs and lows. Together, they can be the perfect representation of the uniform balance of Nature. This idea has been highlighted through this image. As we can see, the tattoo artist has used only black ink to create this design on the shoulder of the individual. One of the key points of this design is the black shading near the outline of both these elements. This kind of body art is especially popular among women since they provide a very simplistic and minimal tattoo design. You can use this one as an inspiration for your next tattoo if you like these kinds of meaningful tattoo designs.

Sun And Moon Tattoo

The Sun and the moon are two contrasting elements of Nature. Together they can represent both feminine and masculine qualities, life and death, or good and ill luck. These kinds of tattoo designs are extremely rich in symbolism and visually impressive as well. The above-mentioned image is one such example of this design. Etched near the shoulder of the individual, is a large design of a sun and moon tattoo. The artist has further incorporated some floral designs, to make the tattoo more feminine. There can be a wide range of designs for a sun and moon tattoo. If you like these kinds of tattoos, where both the elements are separated, you can use this one as a suggestion. You can also put them together, as one single element, and it will look equally great and meaningful.

Realistic Sun Tattoo Design

The above-mentioned image contains yet another creative way to customize your sun tattoo. Instead of simply drawing the outline of the Sun, the artist has incorporated certain facial features, thus giving it a more realistic look. He has also used several fine lines, surrounding the Sun that denotes the Sun’s rays. These kinds of designs do not require much coloring or shading. A simple design can turn out to be a statement piece of body art if done in the correct manner.

Small Sun Tattoo

Small and minimalist sun tattoo designs can be as much appealing as the large dramatic ones. The above-mentioned image is a rendition of the same. If you are someone with a laid-back personality and do not want to overcomplicate your tattoo design, then this one is a must-have. One of the most significant advantages of small tattoos is that they can be placed on any part of the body. Furthermore, they do not cost much and can be completed within a short period of time as well.

For this design, the artist has only used several dots, to form the circular shape of the Sun. He has further included a set of patterns, to highlight the Sun’s rays. Dotwork tattoos have recently grown in popularity not only because they are pleasing to the eyes, but also because they do not involve as much pain as the others. They are soft and less direct when compared to traditional tattoo designs. If this is your first time ever getting inked, then starting your journey with these kinds of designs can be a great idea.

Ornamental Sun And Moon Tattoo

Ornamental tattoo designs are usually characterized by their varied use of different lines, waves, crosses, and spirals. They usually look great on large-sized tattoos; however, if done correctly, they will look good in minimal size as well. As we can see in this image, the tattoo artist has created a large-sized ornamental Sun and moon tattoo on the shoulder of the individual. The precision with which the artist has intricately designed the various patterns on the body of both the Sun and Moon is noteworthy. These kinds of tattoo designs are not at all easy to make, and in fact, require a lot of time and patience for an artist to deliver the perfect body art design. Therefore, if you are going for an ornamental design, ensure that you choose someone with proper experience, to avoid any goof-ups in your tattoo design.

Simple Sun Tattoo Design

Simple sun tattoos do not make use of a wide array of patterns or colors in their designs. Instead, they focus more on the outline and the basic shapes of the element. Although not always prominent, they can be as meaningful as the larger designs. These kinds of designs are more common among women. Some of the common areas to get inked with a simple sun tattoo design, include the shoulders, fingers, wrists, or ankles. You can also hide them quite easily if you are going for a more discreet look. In this image, the artist has created one similar design on the shoulder of the individual, using nothing but plain black ink.

Floral Sun Tattoo Design

If you want to add that unique feminine touch to your sun tattoos, incorporating designs of flowers can help you achieve the same. Here is one such example. The artist has included some beautiful floral patterns on the body of the Sun, which gives it a feminine and elegant look. Just like the Sun, flowers can also denote new beginnings, hope, and good luck. Including them in your sun tattoo, will make the design more interesting. Although the artist has not used any color for this design, you can easily add any color of your choice, to this design. It will make the design more prominent and vibrant.

Minimalist Sun And Moon Shoulder Tattoo

Minimalist tattoos are characterized by their discreet Nature. They are not easily visible and make use of the basic elements of a design. They can be created with the help of fine lines, dots, and shading as well. Take a look at the image mentioned above. The tattoo artist has created a minimalist tattoo design of the Sun and the moon on the shoulder of this individual. Tattoos do not always need to be large and dramatic to be meaningful. When it comes to body art and ink, it all depends on the wearer, and what kind of design suits them the best. If you like these kinds of tattoo designs, or even if you are a newbie to the tattooing world, you can refer to this one as a suggestion for your next design.

Tribal Sun Tattoo

Although the Sun is an old and common symbol, the different designs of this tattoo can hold different meanings to different people. For example, some might view it as two contrasting elements of light and darkness. Others might interpret it as a symbol of ultimate power, or God. Whatever the symbolism is, they make a great design for almost every individual.

Take a look at this for example. The above image contains a simple yet intricately detailed tribal sun tattoo design, etched on the shoulder of the individual. The tribal sun tattoo design is a representation of the perfect balance of Nature, and the close relationship between the Sun and life forms. We all know, that the Sun is the primary source of energy that is responsible for all life forms on Earth. Without the Sun, we might not even exist. This same concept has been highlighted through this design.

Rising Sun Tattoo

The rising Sun tattoo is the perfect symbol for a new beginning. The origin of this design can be traced back to Japanese culture, where it was used to represent loyalty and strength. These kinds of designs usually use a wide variety of bright colors, something very common in all Japanese tattoos. However, that said, you can also try out a simple black and white design, like the one mentioned here. However, before going for these kinds of tattoos, it is important to do your research thoroughly, since some people might get offended by these kinds of body art.

Some of the most common places for getting a sun tattoo inked include the upper arm, chest, wrist, and thighs. On that note, let’s take a look at some other similar tattoo ideas, that you can refer to for your next design.

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