Tattoo Styles, how do you want your tattoo to look?

Tattoo Styles, how do you want your tattoo to look?

Traditional, Realism, Anime. What does the tattoo style mean?

Tattoo styles encompass just about every art style you can imagine, so when your looking for an artist, its important to be able to communicate what you’re looking for. Its easy to ask for a rose, but do you want a Traditional rose? Maybe Neotraditional, with some Realism elements? I want to help you understand the basics of these styles so you can know what to look for, what to ask for, and ultimately get the tattoo that you’ve always wanted! Just remember these all all just guidelines! Rules are meant to be broken, and mixing styles can be another cool way to make your tattoo truly unique. Also, style is not the same as subject matter. Any subject can be set to any style. A Tiger is a subject, but how do you want the tiger to look? That’s style.

Traditional

American traditional tattoos, also known as old school tattoos, are characterized by a distinct style that emerged in the early 20th century in the United States. Here are some common qualities of American traditional tattoos:

1. Bold Outlines: American traditional tattoos typically feature bold, black outlines that define the shapes of the design clearly. These outlines are thick and often uniform in width.
2. Limited Color Palette: Traditional American tattoos commonly use a limited color palette dominated by primary colors such as red, green, yellow, and blue, along with black. These colors are often bright and vibrant.
3. Solid Color Fills: Traditional tattoos often have solid color fills within the outlined shapes. These fills are usually flat and may contain minimal shading or gradients.
4. Limited Detail: Traditional tattoos tend to have less intricate detail compared to other styles. The focus is on clear, recognizable imagery rather than intricate shading or complex textures.

Neo-Traditional

Neo-traditional tattoos blend elements of traditional American tattooing with more modern techniques and aesthetics. They often feature bold lines and vibrant colors like traditional tattoos but incorporate more intricate details, shading, and a broader color palette. Here are some qualities commonly found in neo-traditional tattoos:

1. Bold Outlines with Fine Detailing: Like traditional tattoos, neo-traditional tattoos often have bold outlines that define the shapes of the design. However, they may incorporate finer lines and more intricate detailing within those outlines.
2. Rich Color Palette: While traditional American tattoos typically use a limited color palette, neo-traditional tattoos often feature a wider range of colors, including pastels and muted tones. These colors are often blended and shaded to create depth and dimension.
3. Realistic Elements: Neo-traditional tattoos may include realistic elements such as portraits, animals, flowers, or objects, alongside traditional tattoo motifs. These realistic elements are often rendered with a stylized, illustrative approach.

Realistic / Realism

This one is pretty straight forward. Realism aims to reproduce exactly what is in a photograph. A Realism tattoo will typically have no outlines and an overall softer look. Realism can be done in black and gray, color, or a mix of both!

Anime

Anime is both a subject and a style. You can get your favorite Pokémon in traditional, realism, or any other style. To have an anime style tattoo, however, the piece will have dynamic linework, exaggerated features, and usually fantastical elements like Dragonball Ki auras, or something as simple as Zoro’s mouth sword. Basically, the look of an anime cartoon or manga.

Blackwork / Illustrative

Blackwork / illustrative is a very versatile style that can be adapted to more cartoony looks, realistic looks, and anywhere in-between. It is typically done in only black ink, with shading accomplished through stippling or dot work. It is a style very frequently used for floral pieces, giving them a soft, yet textured look.

There are a ton of style to choose from and knowing how to explain to your artist what you want can be difficult. I hope that you’ve found this information helpful, and you can be confident communicating your desires and get the tattoo you’ve always dreamed of!

If you’d like to get tattooed by me, please hit the button to fill out the consultation form and I’ll be happy to work with you!