Traditional Tattoo

Traditional tattoos are built to read

Traditional tattoo ideas usually mean bold outlines, simple colour, strong symbols and subjects that read fast: roses, daggers, hearts, eagles, anchors, swallows and classic flash-inspired pieces.

The main shape, colour or black shading carries the design, with space between details rather than very fine decoration. Scale, spacing and aftercare still affect how it looks as it ages.

Flash and custom traditional designs

Traditional work suits flash, bold symbols and small-to-medium custom pieces. A classic subject can be redrawn around your placement and taste, whether the idea is serious, funny, romantic or direct.

Use custom tattoo design if you want a classic idea redrawn for you. Check the portfolio and style pages if you're comparing traditional, blackwork and graphic styles.

What I check first

I check the main subject, outline weight, colour plan and body area. Traditional tattoos can be small, but they still need enough size for the shape to hold.