Still I Rise, lettering tattoo flash design

The phrase references Maya Angelou's poem of resilience and defiance in the face of adversity, widely adopted as a symbol of personal strength, survival and overcoming hardship. It resonates with people who have come through difficult periods such as illness, loss, or personal struggle. Some choose it purely for the aesthetic of the lettering without the literary reference in mind.

Where it sits

This is a wide horizontal composition with a strong baseline underscore, making it well suited to the forearm, ribcage, or across the upper back. The contrast between the serif capitals and the looping script needs enough width to read clearly, so it would lose definition if squeezed onto a narrow area like the wrist or ankle. The underline and the descending "r" and "s" strokes need a bit of vertical room too.

Making it yours

Ask an artist for any of these.

  • Reduce the size of "STILL I" to emphasise the script word more.
  • Add a small design element like a bird or sun above the text.
  • Render the piece in a single colour other than black.
  • Curve the composition to follow the ribcage or spine.
  • Drop the underline for a cleaner, simpler finish.

More lettering flash

This Too Shall Pass This Too Shall Pass Lettering Family Family Lettering Faith Faith Lettering Memento Mori Memento Mori Lettering Blessed Blessed Lettering