Tattoo Design Gallery

Irezumi: dragons, koi and hannya masks in bold compositions built for backs and sleeves.

Heavy black outlines and flat primary colour. Swallows, roses and daggers are the classic subjects.

Traditional outlines pushed further with realistic shading and a wider palette. Strong on animals and florals.

Shading built from diluted black ink alone. Ages well and reads clearly on every skin tone.

Large areas filled with solid black, often chosen to cover older work or reset a sleeve.

Bold black curves and points rooted in indigenous patterning, drawn to follow the muscle line.

Tone made entirely from stippled dots. Pairs naturally with mandalas and geometric work.

Repeated lines, circles and symmetry, where precise placement matters more than colour.

A single hairline weight with no shading. Suits small motifs, script and delicate florals.

Soft bleeds and colour washes with little or no outline. Popular for flowers and birds.

Words as the artwork itself, where the script, gothic or kanji typeface sets the whole tone.

Temporary body art from South American fruit dye. Deep blue-black that fades in about two weeks.

The most common first tattoo. Easy to cover with a sleeve and roomy enough for almost any design.

The largest single canvas on the body — the place for one dragon, phoenix or full backpiece.

Sternum and collarbone allow symmetrical layouts, and a shirt hides the whole piece.

The curve gives a design real depth, and it extends easily into a half or full sleeve.

The nape hides under hair or a collar while the throat stays visible. Expect more pain here.

The most visible placement and the hardest to remove. Usually small symbols or tear motifs.

Behind the ear or on the lobe — tiny pieces you can hide by wearing your hair down.

A wide, flexible area, though the shape can shift with weight change or pregnancy.

Follows the curve of the hip and only shows when swimwear or low-rise clothing does.

Fingers and the back of the hand draw the eye, but thin skin makes fine lines blur over time.

Thighs and calves hurt comparatively little, so they suit long sessions and large pieces.

Ankles and the top of the foot fit smaller designs. Shoe friction fades the ink faster.

Power, wisdom and protection. The signature subject of Japanese backpieces and sleeves.

Shedding its skin makes it a symbol of rebirth and healing, and it wraps naturally around a limb.

Love and passion, with the meaning shifting by colour. Add thorns and it speaks of pain too.

Cherry blossom for impermanence, lotus for rebirth, peony for wealth — each bloom reads differently.

Emerging from the chrysalis makes it the classic symbol of transformation and growth.

Wolves for loyalty, tigers for courage, cats for protection. Pick the animal that carries your meaning.

Its phases stand for femininity, growth and renewal. A crescent still works at a tiny scale.

The source of life and energy, worshipped across cultures and usually drawn with strong radiating lines.

A Buddhist geometric circle for the universe in balance. Centres well on a shoulder or the spine.

Portraits and animals rendered in photographic shading. Needs size to hold the detail.

Fine black linework from West Coast Mexican-American culture: Virgin Mary, clocks and script.

Pacific island patterning where each band records family, status or a prayer to the sea.

A single small motif on the wrist or ankle. Quick to sit for and the cheapest way to start.

Line and negative space only, stripped back to the fewest marks that still read.

Clear, uncluttered shapes with no extra ornament — a common choice for a first tattoo.

Rounded lines and soft colour on animals and flowers. Cute rather than bold.

Black-heavy work with sharp lines and deep shading, made to be seen on an arm or back.

Treated like jewellery: fine lines where the placement matters as much as the motif.

Placed along the waist, hip or chest so the design follows the curve of the body.

Japanese, tribal and lettering work — larger pieces that use the full width of an arm or back.

Fine-line florals and butterflies, often on placements that stay easy to cover.

About the length of a cigarette. Most pieces this size are finished in one or two hours.

Postcard-sized work that fits an upper arm or a calf in a single sitting.

A4-sized and larger, for backs and thighs, often split across more than one session.