Black and gray tattoos are a style of tattoo that uses various shades of black ink to create images and designs on the skin. The style is known for its subtlety, realistic and detailed shading, and ability to capture intricate details. Black and gray tattoos use diluted black ink to create transparency and soft, saturated images. The shading should be subtle and provide contrast to the image. Black and gray tattoos are thought to have originated in prisons in the 1970s and 1980s. Popular black and gray tattoo theme are religious images, mythological figures, anchors, ships, wolves, butterflies, skulls, and birds and portraits. Black and gray tattoos can be subtle or bold, and can be adapted to almost any idea.
Japanese tattoos have become incredibly popular over the last few decades, and with good reason. Traditional Japanese tattoos are astonishingly beautiful, and can have a wide range of different subject matters. They’re often done in vibrant colours, but soft black and grey palettes are also very popular. In terms of content, there are tons of beautiful images that Japanese tattoos contain. Flowers are very common, specifically cherry blossoms and peonies. It’s also very common to see subjects like legendary heroes, religious deities (specifically Shinto and Buddhist deities) and mythological creatures. Other common features include dragons, demons and oni masks. The backgrounds and frames of Japanese tattoos are very ornate too- they often include storm clouds, lightning and rivers. Something that’s important to note with Japanese tattoos is that there are plenty of strict rules about symbolism that need to be followed. For example, tattoos of Buddha can only be done above the waist as anything below the waist would be deemed seriously offensive. Another example of this is oni masks (masks used in Japanese theatre that represent demons known as oni). You have to leave the eyes til last when colouring in or shading the piece of art, as to do otherwise would be very bad luck. If you are interested in tattoos and body art, we would definitely recommend reading into Japanese art more as it’s incredibly fascinating.
This style started to be developed in the 18th century, but skyrocketed in popularity in the 1950’s. This particular era has been dubbed the ‘tattoo renaissance’, as the tattoo industry went through massive social, artistic and technological changes. The key people to be aware of in this particular style include Sailor Jerry (Norman Collins), Ed Hardy, Lyle Tuttle, Spider Webb, Cliff Raven and more. Sailor Jerry is a particular person to note, as his work is usually what people are referencing to when they talk about traditional or old school work. It’s beautifully simple, with a minimal colour palette and intense black lines. Particularly popular subject matters in traditional tattooing include swallows, anchors, ships, skulls and roses. Pin ups and mermaids are both very popular as well; bear in mind that this particular style of tattoo originates from the tattoos that sailors used to do. A lot of iconic tattoo imagery is considered traditional- you will have probably seen the standard love heart tattoo that says ‘mum’ on it, for example.
Following the last style, neotraditional is one of the most popular tattoo styles around nowadays. Neotraditional is simply an expansion on traditional tattoos- think traditional subject matters, but with a much higher quality of drawing and an expanded colour palette. American traditional tattoos tend to stick to very minimal colours, due to the inks that were available back in the 18th/19th century. Neo Traditional tattoos, however, have a much wider range of colours and are often much more vibrant. That being said, recent artists have started incorporating splashes of black and grey shading and line art in very creative ways. In terms of subject matter, portraits of both people and animals are very common in neo traditional tattooing. Flowers and plants are also popular, as they can look stunning with vibrant color schemes. The subjects covered in American traditional tattoos are also very prevalent in this style of art, too.
Realistic tattoos are one of the most highly regarded tattoo styles right now, as they take a lot of skill to do well. This style really came into popularity towards the end of the tattoo renaissance and at the beginning of the 2000s, as more traditional artists and trained designers became involved in the tattoo world. In regards to subject matter, realistic tattoos can be of literally anything the customer desires. Portraits are very common, as are pop culture references like movie scenes or character pictures. A common practice is to take an entire space on the body e.g. a whole arm or back, and turn them into entire scenes. Brightly colored realistic tattoos are very popular with realistic tattoo artists. Black and grey are equally popular too, though. It generally depends on what type of scene or subject matter is chosen. For example, a back piece based around a horror film would look stunning in black and grey, but a full arm floral sleeve would be great in color.
Chicano tattoos are a deeply rooted form of body art that reflect the rich cultural heritage and personal experiences of the Chicano community, a group with Mexican-American origins. These tattoos often feature intricate black and gray designs, drawing heavily on themes such as family, religion, and social struggle. Chicano tattoos not only serve as a form of personal expression but also as a way to honor one’s heritage and identity, preserving the stories and struggles of the Chicano experience.
If you’re interested in tattoos that have beautiful and in-depth history, tribal tattoos could be the perfect style for you. Polynesian, Maori and Samoan tattoos all have incredibly rich meanings and symbolism, and are a much more spiritual style of tattooing than some of the other styles that we’ve covered in this article. Tribal tattoos in general are made with thick black line art, and contain lots of intricate patterns. Each flourish, twist and turn all have a specific meaning to them, and the original tribal tattoos would have been able to tell you about the wearer’s tribe and family. Of course Indonesia have it own ethnic tribal pattern. You can browse dayaknese patterns, mentawai pattern, etc.
Geometric is another very broad term, but it is worth looking at in more depth. In general, geometric pieces are delicate and intricate tattoos that are made up of multiple thin lines. Often, they’re in all black, although some pieces do include color. Mandalas are incredibly popular, as they’re very versatile. Often, they can be combined with other sub-categories of tattoos, like floral tattoos or dotwork tattoos. They fit well on many different areas of the body, and are very flattering. There’s a misconception that geometric styles are overtly feminine, but they work for every type of person. Dotwork tattoos are made up of a multitude of miniature dots to create interesting depth and shading. This style requires a tattoo artist with a very delicate hand. There are a number of subject matters that dotwork works well with, but the most common ones include geometric designs, mandalas, botanical pieces and soft portraits.
Mandala tattoos are a popular form of body art that draw inspiration from the intricate and symmetrical designs found in Hindu and Buddhist spiritual traditions. The term “mandala” means “circle” in Sanskrit, and these tattoos often feature detailed circular patterns that symbolize the universe, unity, and harmony. Each mandala is unique, with complex geometric shapes and elaborate detailing that can represent the individual’s journey toward balance and wholeness. Mandala tattoos are appreciated not only for their aesthetic beauty but also for their spiritual significance, offering a sense of peace, meditation, and connection to the greater cosmos.
Generally, tattoos are called Blackwork if the artist has used only black ink. This can result in a wide variety of designs, which in turn are stylistically very diverse. This is why you can find almost anything under Blackwork, from ornaments and geometric designs to very finely detailed illustrations. The fact that such a variety of tattoos can be created with black alone is a clear testament of the creativity of the tattoo scene.
Sketchy is the name given to tattoos that resemble a typical pencil sketch. Lines can also be imperfect and unfinished or not coincide exactly. A sketchy motif can still contain orientation lines as a stylistic device, for example, or be hatched in some areas. In addition, regular colour areas or thick outlines are rather unusual for this style. Generally, the motif looks like an unfinished draft – something that is still in the middle of editing. But on the skin, such a sketchy motif has a completely unique effect than on paper, as the viewer knows that it is usually completed. In addition, some tattoo artists combine sketchy elements with other stylistic devices to create a “raw look”.
Minimalist tattoos, characterized by simplicity and clean design, came on to the scene as a reaction against elaborate and intricate styles. This contemporary trend draws inspiration from traditional tattooing’s straightforward aesthetic. Minimalist tattoos embrace the “less is more” philosophy, offering a modern and subtle expression of personal style on the ever-evolving canvas of body art.
Fine line tattoos are a style of tattoo that uses thin needles to create delicate, intricate designs that are lighter and softer than traditional tattoos. The style is known for its minimalist aesthetic, subtle elegance, and focus on design over shading. Fine line tattoos use thin, precise lines to create detailed designs, it use minimalist shading and fewer bold lines than traditional tattoos. Fine line tattoos can be used to depict a wide range of subjects, from small flowers to geometric patterns. Some fine line tattoos are created with a single needle.
Located in the heart of Seminyak, Bali, The Ink Factor is your ultimate destination for world-class tattoo artistry. We are proud to combine international hygiene standards with a warm, welcoming atmosphere, ensuring your experience is as safe as it is memorable.
