“Light as a feather, stiff as a board.” This phrase can be used to describe the tattoos of Frank Carrilho, a Brazilian artist who incorporates thin, wispy lines with bold, heavy outlines. There is no in-between, but the two approaches work together and convey a chaotic harmony. Each tattoo is simultaneously delicate as a dandelion […]
Tag: Blackwork
Architect Turned Tattoo Artist Builds Structured Imagery
Monika Malewska is trained as an architect but chooses to express herself in other creative fields. “My two passions are drawing tattoos,” she writes, “and I try to combine them working as a tattoo artist.” Her style is reminiscent of a draftsperson as she uses thin, precise lines and geometry to build and map out […]
Shape-Shifting Blackwork Tattoos by Matteo Nangeroni
Matteo Nangeroni combines portraiture with a surreal compositional elements to produce tattoos that are simultaneously elegant and strange. The blackwork body art—with influences of cubism, comics, and geometry—features shape-shifting, two-faced characters and creatures that raise more questions than they answer. As two seemingly disparate parts connect to each other, we’re left wondering what their relation […]
Continuous Line Tattoos in Constant Motion by Stan Bree
According to Stan Bree’s tattoos, we’re all just a collection of simple shapes and lines. The Mexico City-based artist creates complex figures using a series of lines that effortlessly and continuously flow into one another. As a result, conventional portraits feel like they’re in motion that could twist and take a new form at any […]
Blackwork Tattoos by Brazilian Artist Fredão Oliveira
Elements of fantasy and geometry are incorporated in the blackwork tattoos of Fredão Oliveira. Strikingly-detailed portraits grace his client’s bodies, commanding attention with a realistic style that’s framed by decorative shapes and bold lines. Together, they evoke the feel of a technical ink drawing that you’d see on the pages of an enthralling comic book […]
Minimalist Tattoos by Lee Stewart Mimic the Graceful Flow of Ink
Lee Stewart mimics the graceful, flowing lines of a brushstroke in her minimalist body art. Riding a fine line between tattoos and Japanese sumi-ink paintings, she conveys elegant, sweeping marks in seemingly one motion. At times, this abstract imagery celebrates a love of painting, while in other instances, the powerful strokes define animals, birds, and […]
Mysticism Etched on Skin by Phil Tworavens
Tattoo artist Phil Tworavens etches ink inspired by mysticism, philosophy, and esoteric beliefs. Using finely lined blackwork as a vessel, he expresses subjects and sentiments that are as rich as they are varied. Tworavens’ tattoos include scientific sketches as well as fusions between man and nature, heaven and earth. Ultimately, the tattoos prize knowledge that’s […]
10 Artists Using Dotwork to Create Meticulous Tattoos
The dotwork style of tattooing has a rich history that goes well beyond contemporary culture and is deeply embedded in ancient societies. There’s evidence that the Egyptians used simple stippling to adorn blue faience figurines known as “Brides of the Dead.” The tattooed objects featured geometric patterns that ran in horizontal bands across the figure’s […]
Masterfully Drafted Tattoos by OOZY Add Twist to Famous Art
South Korean tattoo studio OOZY utilizes exquisitely-etched lines to create body art that demonstrates a mastery of classic draftsmanship. Small hatches and thin precise marks are featured in tattoos of animals, portraiture, and art itself. Some of OOZY’s most impressive works are interpretations of famous paintings, like a series of chest tattoos of iconic Da Vinci […]
Naturalistic Tattoos Resemble Vintage Etchings
Artist Pony Reinhardt transports us to the woods with her naturalistic tattoos. The monochromatic line drawings feature animals, flowers, and even fungi, stitched together in sprawling scenes that highlight the Earth’s beauty. Their detailed style showcases all of the outdoors, from meticulously-etched veins in leaves to roughly-textured bird beaks to the grain of wood on […]