Predominantly used as a background in tattoos, you will see clouds and wind or water and waves used very frequently.

Waves are stylized very simlar to the world famous “The Great Wave, by Hokusa” which shows stormy water crashing over a boat.

The end of the waves are very similar to many many different sized fingers. Waves will be used in most Japanese Koi Carp Tattoos and will also be seen in the same tattoo as Sakura or Cherry Blossom.

Water is used as a filler for many traditional style japanese tattoos and will be a repeated pattern of dark to light.

A skilled tattoo artist will also have water flowing over part of the tattoo, where the image underneath the water will appear to be much lighter in colour, as well as appearing to be slightly refracted around the edge. Again commonly found in Koi Tattoos.

Wind is very similar looking to the water displayed above, except it will be usually shaped in a spiral style at the beginning, as if to represent a tornado or cyclone.

Clouds again are used as a background filler, and are similar to the waves, except much more rounded and less fingery. They wind and clouds background will often be used with autumnal/winter style tattoos with bamboo and japanese maple.

Although these styles are mainly used to represent backgrounds, they can also be a dominant part of a tattoo, and by no means are they just thrown in with no thought. They are also used to link together existing separate pieces to create a larger more unified tattoo, maybe even the makings of a full body suit!