Book Tattoo
Full blackout in solid black ink next to a traditional

Blackout Tattoo

Solid blackout coverage across a full-length full coverage piece in blackwork. I saturated the whole panel in even black fill, no internal imagery, no breaks. Blackouts are technically demanding because the ink has to lay flat and consistent across every plane, including the joints and softer inner skin where the surface behaves differently from the flatter areas.

I often plan a full coverage piece like this as a clean foundation for future whitework, or as a way to retire heavily tattooed work and start fresh. The contrast against the surrounding skin and the traditional reaper large-scale piece visible in this shot is part of why blackouts work, they create their own frame. Even saturation across that much surface takes me multiple sessions and careful planning.

Blackout consultations in Wellington through @pokestaytattoo on Instagram or pokestaytattoo@gmail.com.

Book Similar PieceSee All Blackwork

By Rhys Thomas at Whitetail Tattoo, Level 3, 41–47 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand

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Common Questions About Blackwork in Wellington

Does blackwork hold up better than colour?
Generally yes. Solid black ink stays denser and more legible over decades than colour, which can soften and shift. If you want something that still reads clearly in twenty years, blackwork is the safest long-term bet.
How long does a blackwork piece take?
Small blackwork pieces run one to two hours. A palm-sized graphic piece is usually a single sitting of two to three hours. Larger panels (forearm, calf, back placements) are typically booked across multiple sessions.
Can blackwork cover an old tattoo?
Often yes. Bold blackwork is one of the strongest cover-up languages going, especially over faded line work. Send me a clear photo of the existing piece in your DM and I can plan around it.