4. Rib Writing Tattoo Statements 

Statement pieces come in all shapes, sizes and sentiments. They might be a credo by which you strive to live your life, a memorial or promise to a loved one or simply a bit of wisdom you always want to have handy. Whatever the reason, statement rib tattoos are a great way to let your true feelings show. 

Statements look amazing on their own, as long as your tattoo artist is skilled in creating crisp, clean lettering. If you want a little something extra, consider adding a background. Shredded skin surrounding a quote or image is trendy, but still eye-popping if done properly. You might also consider framing your words or having an image shaded into the background, giving the words context. 

5. Poetic Rib Writing Tattoos 

If you’re inspired by, motivated by, or just really love one particular poem, consider it (or part of it) for your upcoming rib tattoo script. Poetry is a popular choice for text-based tattoos. Along with song lyrics, poetry can capture a feeling or sentiment like few other things on this earth. 

When considering poetry for your rib writing tattoo, keep size in mind. The length of the poem will determine where it can go and how large the writing can be. For example, the entire text of Poe’s Annabel Lee can probably fit on your rib cage, but the lettering would be tiny. If your favorite piece of verse is long, read it over and see if a few lines in particular stand out to you. 

Rib Tattoo FAQs

Do Rib Tattoos Hurt? 

To be blunt – yes. Rib tattoos do hurt, and there’s no sugar-coating it. The reason for this is simple anatomy – the skin over your ribs is very close to the bone. This is the same reason why hand, foot, shin and other tattoos hurt more than those on meatier areas like the chest or thigh.