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Healing solid black tattoo flaking during peel with a lotus flower visible in negative space

Blackout With Lotus Tattoo

Heavy blackout fill carried across the canvas, photographed mid-peel, with a lotus flower left in negative space toward one end. I document the healing stage because peeling and flaking are normal for fresh blackwork, and the final colour settles into an even ground over the following weeks rather than the patchy surface you see here.

The lotus draws the eye to a single focal point so the saturated black doesn't read as a flat slab. That one break in the fill is what separates intentional blackwork from a simple cover-up. If you're booking blackout work, expect the surface to look uneven during the first month, then come back to its proper tone. Blackwork consults and aftercare guidance at my Whitetail Tattoo studio in Wellington.

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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.