As tattooing continues in the mainstream, not all clients are thrilled with their old colored tattoos and are looking for something fresh on their bodies. One way to resolve this is to do “blastovers,” i.e. overlapping parts of the old design with new ink, like the example shown below (photo 6) by 3kreuze—a German-based tattooist […]
Tag: Blackwork
Mortality and Sacred Snakes in the Dark Tattoo Art of Joao Bosco
Joao Bosco is a tattoo artist currently dividing his time between Los Angeles and London. He is recognized for his dark fantasy imagery influenced by both Japanese and American tattoo traditions. Featured here is a selection of his incredible snake tattoos, which are fuelled by his connection to the animal’s sacred symbolism. He is also […]
Sensual Horrors in Tattoos by The Wolf Rosario
Love and death are familiar bedfellows in the stylish, sensual tattoos of Rosario (@thewolfrosario). Currently working out of Black Widow Tattoo in Toronto, Rosario specializes in blackwork, and over the course of his 10+ years of tattooing has gained a reputation for his original horror flash. Retro horror tropes (e.g., big knives, bloodbaths, and memories of […]
Geometric Tattoos: An Update from Stanislaw Wilczynski
Former IT tech now tattooist for the last five years, Stanislaw Wilczynski (aka digimatism) is all about producing clean-looking geometric compositions that are inspired by “abstract expressionism, minimalism, suprematism, constructive architecture and techno music.” Often geometric forms and lines are the hardest to tattoo, as they require great technical skill to get the ink straight […]
Tattooing is Meditative: Interview with Mo Ganji
We met up with world-renowned tattooist, Mo Ganji, in his private studio in Berlin. At the door we’re greeted by his loving dog Cleo (short for Cleopatra), who was sleeping during most of the interview. Before starting, we were excited to understand why the artist does not tattoo at conventions, and what it was like […]
Delicate Bodies Overcome with Blooms by Phoebe Hunter
When Phoebe Hunter was about 10 years old, she accompanied her brother as he got tattooed. There, she saw “how cool tattoos were” and was interested in the practice. It wouldn’t be until many years later—and studies in veterinary and psychology—that she became an apprentice at Seventh Day Studio in Auckland. Delicate lines and surreal […]
Old Architecture and Charming Darkness by El Nigro
El Nigro is the pseudonym of a tattoo artist currently working out of the Family Addiction Tattoo Shop in Naples, Italy. Specializing in blackwork, El Nigro gives rise to a moody gothic world; old architecture, dark-eyed women, and birds are central to his repertoire, bringing to mind the literary imaginations of Edgar Allan Poe and […]
BDSM Gayness: Tattoos by Phillippe Fernandez
He was a graphic and motion designer, yet that wasn’t enough, so he began tattooing for fun and that fun became a full-time job. Currently working at AKA Berlin since 2009, the Spaniard Phillippe Fernandez has numerous tattoos resembling scenes from Massive (gay erotic Manga), Tom Finland and Brokeback Mountain. Leather boots and harnesses, police […]
Line and Dot Work by Francesco Rossetti
Currently working at the London Classic Tattoo Parlour, Francesco Rossetti takes a linear approach to his tattoo designs. Comprising blackwork and systems of dot work and straight lines, he creates images that have depth and movement without gradient shading. By subtly adjusting the weight of his lines—and injecting his work with moments of mystery—recognizable images […]
Gakkin x Nissaco: Blackwork Tattoos
Both tattooists Gakkin and Nissaco are on our top picks of 2017. They’ve produced incredible works on skin, all in black ink, fusing both traditional and contemporary Japanese styles in their art. Their work is bold, beautiful and meticulous. Both artists are perfectionists, and seeing their line-and-dot-work up close at the London Convention really confirmed […]