Classic tattoo

Americana in its purest form

They may be the first types of tattoos that come to mind; an old-school style marked by bold outlines and the usage of similar colours and motifs, these are certainly worth considering. They have a strong connection to the water and maritime imagery, pinup female figures, powerful predatory animals, and combinations of hearts, roses, and daggers, among other things. Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins developed the tattoo style in the 1930s, and it is still a popular choice today, as demonstrated here by Frankie Caraccioli of Kings Avenue Tattoo in New York City.

A new school has opened its doors.

Tattoos from the New School are like having a crazy comic book on your body. Among those who are well-known in this genre is Jesse Smith, whose work depicts fantastic imagined worlds full of turmoil and animals who are frequently chariactured in vibrant colour.

Japanese

As we demonstrated in a recent post, tattooing has a centuries-long history all throughout the world, and it is still practised today. The Japanese style Irezumi is one that has maintained its popularity over the years. Tattoo artists continue to create both traditional and contemporary interpretations of these timeless masterpieces. A big graphic covering the back, arms, and legs is a hallmark of this genre, which is particularly well-known in this country.

Chris O’Donnell of New York displays the usual animal, flower, and samurai images associated with this style in this photograph.

The colours black and grey

Jessica Mascitti of East Side Tattoo in Los Angeles provides us with excellent samples of many types of work in a genre that encompasses a wide range of styles and techniques. There are no restrictions on what can be depicted in black and grey photos; they can depict everything and anything realistically in shades of grey, which was originally accomplished by diluting black ink to create a spectrum of shades.

Portraiture

By way of his portraiture, which is a subset of the realism genre (which is exactly what it sounds like: realistic renditions of imagery), Shane O’Neill demonstrates just how realistic tattoos may be made to look. People can be rendered in frighteningly exact detail, both in colour and in black and white and greyscale, without the use of the black outlines that are common in some of the more traditional techniques of illustration.

Stick and poke are two different things.

A single needle is used to make basic designs by artist Slowerblack, who demonstrates the versatility of the stick-n-poke technique. While this art has recently gained popularity among do-it-yourself tattoo enthusiasts, in the hands of a skilled professional, it may reach breathtaking heights. It is characterised by strong and bold lines, most typically in plain black with little decorative motifs.

Realism

Realistic tattoos can depict anything from landscapes or items to animals and humans, and they are becoming increasingly popular. This is a classic tattoo style that can be done in colour or black and white and is great if you want to express something extremely specific through your tattoo design. In order to achieve a realistic-looking tattoo that has incredible visual effect, it is necessary to work with a talented tattoo artist or tattoo designer who is experienced in creating realistic tattoos.

Blackwork

Dark and bold black lines in a variety of geometric designs are used to create the blackwork tattoo style, which originated from the original tribal tattoos and has since spread throughout the world. Artists, on the other hand, continue to push the boundaries of this genre, infusing patterns and imagery borrowed from a variety of sources into hypnotic pieces that swirl in various forms around the body, such as these by Nazareno Tubaro (who also made the featured image!)

Biomechanical

Biomechanical tattoos are typically freehand designs that adjust to the individual flow of a person’s body. They are intended to resemble equipment that might be buried beneath the skin. When it comes to these bad boys, it’s difficult to avoid mentioning Roman Abrego’s name because of his alien and mechanical-inspired images that cover the arms and legs of many of his clientele.