Different Styles of Tattooing
American Traditional
**Characteristics:**
- Bold, black outlines
- Limited color palette (primarily red, green, yellow, and blue)
- Iconic imagery (e.g., anchors, roses, eagles, pin-up girls)
- Simplified designs with little shading
Neo Traditional
**Characteristics:**
- Expands on American Traditional style
- More intricate details and broader color palette
- Incorporates modern elements and a wider range of subjects
- Use of shading and depth to enhance designs
Traditional Japanese/Asian-influenced
**Characteristics:**
- Bold outlines with large, intricate designs
- Symbolic imagery (e.g., koi fish, dragons, samurai, geishas)
- Extensive use of color with a focus on traditional Japanese motifs
- Often covers large areas of the body, like sleeves or backpieces
Illustrative
**Characteristics:**
- Combines elements of realism and traditional tattooing
- Artistic, often resembling drawings or paintings
- Varied line weights and shading techniques
- Can include a wide range of subjects and styles
Realism
**Characteristics:**
- Highly detailed and lifelike representations
- Focus on capturing the exact likeness of subjects (e.g., portraits, animals)
- Requires skilled shading and use of gradients
- Typically done in black and gray or full color
Chicano
**Characteristics:**
- Originated in the Mexican-American community
- Black and gray ink with fine lines and detailed shading
- Cultural and religious imagery (e.g., lowriders, portraits, religious figures, lettering)
- Strong emphasis on personal and cultural identity
Trash Polka
**Characteristics:**
- Originated in Germany
- Mix of realistic and abstract elements
- Bold black and red (or other) color scheme
- Collage-like compositions with chaotic, dynamic designs
Cyber Sigilism
**Characteristics:**
- Inspired by cyberpunk and digital aesthetics
- Intricate, futuristic designs often resembling circuitry or digital symbols
- Typically blackwork, but can include other colors
- Focus on symmetry and precision
Tribal
**Characteristics:**
- Inspired by indigenous and tribal art
- Bold, black geometric patterns and shapes
- Often symmetrical and repetitive designs
- Symbolic and spiritual significance in many cultures
Blackwork
**Characteristics:**
- Uses solid black ink
- Can range from simple, minimalistic designs to complex geometric patterns
- Often includes heavy shading and bold lines
- Can encompass various styles, including tribal and illustrative elements
Ignorant Style
**Characteristics:**
- Deliberately simplistic and crude designs
- Often uses thick, bold lines and minimal shading
- Embraces a “childlike” or “naive” aesthetic
- Subjects can be humorous, irreverent, or pop-culture references
Fineline Minimalism
**Characteristics:**:
-Focuses on clean, thin lines and minimalistic designs
-Often monochromatic, usually in black ink
-Emphasis on simplicity and elegance
-Popular for small, delicate tattoos with a modern look
Stick and Poke
**Characteristics:**:
-Hand-poked technique without a machine
-Often has a DIY, homemade feel
-Can range from simple, basic designs to more intricate patterns
-Typically uses black ink, though other colors can be included