Anyone looking for the perfect tattoo design is usually open to different types and then chooses the most appealing one. At least it doesn't hurt to find out about the different tattoo styles in order to discover new variants that you didn't know about and that can turn out to be perfect. Today's article is about the so-called blackwork tattoo. In this article we would like to explain to you what it is all about and which parts of the body it is best chosen for. There are also some interesting designs that can serve as inspiration if you decide to get this type of tattoos.
What are the characteristics of blackwork tattoos?
As the name suggests, this type is a design made entirely of black ink. Even shades of gray color are avoided. The result is a high-contrast motif that is particularly effective.
In principle, this choice of colors can be compared to the traditional tribals that are designed by the different tribes. However, the blackwork tattoo can of course not only be used for tribals. There are a wide variety of motifs and variants to choose from and your own designs are also allowed. It's just a matter of not using any colors or nuances other than black and the natural skin color to represent the respective motif.
Suitable and popular motifs
The blackwork tattoo can be put together from a wide variety of motifs and patterns. However, there are certain types that are particularly suitable and are therefore the most popular. We have put these together in the following list with some explanations. Of course, this orientation in no way prevents you from coming up with your own designs and discussing them with your tattoo artist.
Mandala Tattoo
Mandalas and dream catchers that are similar to them are simply wonderful motif ideas for tattoos with blackwork designs. It's not about creating colorful eye-catchers, but rather highlighting their interesting and individual pattern. Of course, this works best in black and white.
Dotwork
With this type, you can already guess what kind of design it is based on the name. Patterns and even entire images are created from many tiny dots, which undoubtedly looks very attractive, modern and abstract. It is a particularly complex blackwork tattoo, so more time must be expected for the piercing. But patience will undoubtedly be rewarded.
By using the dots, even shading can be created without any gray color and without breaking the rule for blackwork, which only requires black ink. The more points are created in one place, the darker this area becomes and vice versa. Interesting ombré motifs are possible for any tattoo.
Geometric shapes
Tattoos with graphically designed patterns and motifs are also very trendy and are increasingly the first choice when it comes to finding and having a unique tattoo. Geometric figures such as triangles, circles, squares, rectangles or simple lines are used and can also be combined with a more subtle organic motif. The minimalist tattoos look very attractive, especially in black. Bright colors would distract from the simplicity and prevent the actual goal.
Blackwork stripes
Stripes are simple and yet very effective. While in some cultures they have a certain meaning and adopt this into our society, some also come up with an individual meaning. The pattern generally means protection against enemies and diseases. In India, the latter is specifically limited to illnesses such as migraines and abdominal pain. The well-known singer Rea Garvey has such a motif made up of three stripes. However, contrary to the cultural meanings, these are simply intended to symbolize his small family, i.e. him, his wife and his daughter. So everyone can come up with something for themselves.
The stripes are usually rather wide, but can vary. And they can be presented differently in other ways too. The bar-like design can turn into notes like in the example above and symbolize a certain passion, or it can dissolve into dots and combine the stripe with a dotwork tattoo. Despite the simple and minimalist style, the variants are very diverse.
Tribal Das
We have already mentioned the tribal as a variant. Different styles from different tribes belong to this category. Including this tooMaori-tattoo. The different patterns don't just have an aesthetic purpose. Each symbol has a specific meaning, so that entire meaningful and individual works of art can be created depending on the size of the tattoo. Tribals are always designed entirely in black and are therefore a typical blackwork tattoo.
Sayings and lettering
Of course, lettering is almost always engraved with black ink. This is simply because the individual letters and therefore the message itself can be shown to better advantage. Another factor that influences this is of course the font. You can also influence the style of the design with the font. Use block letters for more minimalist and modern lettering or ornate ones for a more romantic look.
Other images and motifs
However, these types of motifs are not mandatory to choose and are not the only variants that are suitable. Other normal tattoos such as those with animals or portraits are also possible. The only thing to note is that if there are no shadings, 3D effects cannot be achieved.
For which parts of the body is the blackwork tattoo suitable?
Here too, there are no limits to your imagination. From large motifs for the back, chest or thigh, to the blackwork tattoo for the forearm or sleeves for the arm in general, to smaller tattoo ideas for the ankle, wrist, neck or even ears, there are no limits to your taste.
You can look at various blackwork tattoo templates on the internet and use them as inspiration or examples for your tattoo artist. Overall, using just one color is relatively time-saving and cheaper. Of course, this also depends on the size of the tattoo. In any case, you get a special eye-catcher that is an interesting change compared to the more common colorful tattoos or those with shading.
