Tattoo styles

Fine-line tattoos are made of thin, delicate lines. They suit flowers, vines, small symbols and lettering. Very fine details need a little size so they stay readable over the years, so we work out the right size together.

Blackwork uses black ink only: bold solid areas, graphic patterns, mandalas, dotwork or realistic black and grey designs with soft shading. The strong contrast keeps it readable from a distance, and dark areas are also great for covering old tattoos.

Lettering puts the words first: names, dates, quotes or a single word, from playful script to sharp gothic letters. Send me the exact spelling in writing, and we will pick a size that stays readable over time.

Colour tattoos bring life to the skin, from soft watercolour washes to traditional, neo-traditional and bright, saturated colours. Large pieces such as a back piece are done over several sessions, and sunscreen keeps the colours vivid once healed.

Your favourite character from comics, cartoons or anime, with clean outlines and the typical drawing style. I sketch your character first, and we can change the pose or background so your tattoo is one of a kind, in colour or black and grey.

Trash polka mixes realistic elements with graphic shapes, lettering and wild brush strokes, usually in black and red. The style comes from Würzburg in Germany and works best on larger areas such as the upper arm, chest or back.

Maori tattoos draw on the ornaments of New Zealand and Polynesia: flowing lines, spirals and bold black areas that follow the shape of the body. I design the pattern for the exact placement, and it can be combined with flowers or colour.

Tired of an old tattoo? A cover-up hides it under a new design. How well that works depends on the size, colour and condition of the old piece, so I look at it closely during the free consultation. The new design is usually a bit larger and darker, and bigger cover-ups take several sessions.