Tattoo styles and directions

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Some people consider tattoos unaesthetic, while others decorate their bodies with them. However, before you decide to take such a step, you need to study the various styles of tattoos with examples. This will help you make the right choice and not regret it after many years.

Chicano, or Chikano

The origins of this direction originated in the 40s of the 20th century. With the help of such drawings, criminals determined their belonging to criminal groups. Currently, young people from all over the world prefer this particular style. There are a number of distinguishing features by which the Chicano underwear pattern can be recognized.

• Clearly drawn contours of the depicted figures.
• The predominance of black, although modern masters use a brighter palette.
• Religious motifs in the drawings: images of saints.

Some styles of tattoos originate in existing directions. For example, the style Santa Muerto originated from the Chicano. It is characterized by the image of female representatives with a mask (orface) of death.

Blackwork, or Blackwork

The real classic in the art of tattooing is black. It is typical for many areas. Blackwork is a style in which black paint is applied to large areas of the skin. An example of such a tattoo is a drawing depicting a solid black glove on a hand. A small tattoo, in which this color predominates, cannot be attributed to this direction. Blackwork can be combined with other tattoo styles. Moreover, with the help of such a "fill" you can hide unsuccessful drawings.

Old school, or Old school

The so-called "old school" body painting was popular as far back as the 19th century. Sailors became her adherents, who believed that some symbols applied to the body could serve as a talisman. Most often this style includes images of hearts, daggers, skulls, swallows, roses and anchors. Sometimes small inscriptions are included in the same group of drawings. The main characteristic of the style is the predominance of bright colors, as well as small image sizes.

Dotwork, or Dotwork

There are styles of tattoos that are based on geometric shapes. These include dotwork, which literally translates from English as “spot work”. The main feature of the directions related to the dotwork style is the application of drawings to the skin using dots. Most often, black or red color prevails.

New school, or New school

In the 80s of the last century, it developedanother style that can easily be confused with "old school". However, the "new school" departs from standard images and allows non-symbolic drawings to be applied to the body. Often, lovers of this style prefer not roses and daggers, but cartoon characters. You can also draw your own sketches. Styles of tattoos, such as the "new school", allow you to give free rein to the imagination and embody even inadequate ideas. You can even say that old school and new school are two directions of the same “school”. Both styles are characterized by a vibrant color palette. The figure shown in the center has sharper edges than the others.

Realism

By the name of this style, you can understand which tattoos belong to it. Their examples are drawings of insects, people, other creatures or objects. Often, tattoos made in the style of realism are compared with photographs on the body, because every detail is important here. Drawings can be both bright and color, and black and white.

Celtic

Celtic tattoo styles may seem vague and confusing at first glance, but there is a deep meaning behind them. Most often, Celtic tattoos include drawings that resemble entire labyrinths: the lines are ornately intertwined. They symbolize the complexity of life, the unpredictability of the path. They lack such components as a beginning and an end, which is considered a hint of the infinity of existence. Important elements in Celtic tattoos are knots, which are considered a symbol of the connection between soul and body, heaven and earth. Celtic crosses are considered as a separate direction.

A special place in this style is occupied by images of birds. All of them denote sublimity and freedom. The drawing of a certain creature significantly enriches the meaning of the tattoo. For example, crows are a symbol of wisdom, eagles are strength and speed. Images not only decorate the body, but also protect a person from evil. Traditionally, the Celtic tattoo is planar and one-color, but at present, masters apply three-dimensional drawings of various shades.

Trash, or Trash

Translated from English, this word means "garbage". Tattoos in this style are sometimes referred to as trash polka. The carriers of such wearable drawings subconsciously want to express their protest to society. Messy, large, provocative bright black-and-red images help them a lot in this. These tattoos are very dirty, but unusual. Often their appearance is disgusting, but it is absolutely certain that such a drawing will be remembered for a long time.

Biomechanics

Tattoo styles with photos are presented in this article. Some of them will definitely not go unnoticed. These include drawings in the style of biomechanics, which juxtapose a robot and a person. These tattoos are large. They seem to depict what is under the human skin: wires, gears, chips, artificial organs and joints. To achieve the effect of realism, you need to be a real master of your craft, because you need to take into account everything: the color palette, the clarity of the contours, and even the proportions of the humanbody.

Minimalism

By the name of the style, you can determine its characteristic features: lightness, the presence of contours, restrained colors. Contrary to popular belief that minimalist tattoos should be small, these designs can take up as much as your entire back. It is important that they are light, almost airy.

Japanese style

Many of the drawings on the body are based on Asian motifs, because they leave a lot of room for imagination. The ways of depicting traditional oriental ornaments and characters are also varied. Japanese-style tattoos are characterized by gold, red, black, jade and purple hues. Certain areas of oriental tattoos include drawings of plants, ornaments and mythical heroes.

Linework, or Linework

Perhaps the "lightest" styles of tattoos are minimalism and linework. Literally, the word translates as "work with points." The images in this style are characterized by the presence of an ornament of straight lines, the clarity and clarity of the pattern. A variety of colors are used, ranging from black to gold.