Book Tattoo
Large black ink coiled dragon with horns and clawed limbs wrapping the full back

Blackwork Dragon

Large-scale piece with a coiled dragon down the central axis. Horned head with open jaws at the top, the body wrapping in heavy scaled segments, clawed limbs reaching outward to fill the lower register. Bold blackwork throughout, built from solid fill and graphic line, with whiskers and sparse ornamental flourishes pushing into the negative space around the figure.

I organised the design around a strong vertical line so the dragon's mass reads symmetrical even though the pose itself is asymmetrical. That's how I keep large blackwork pieces readable, the body's anatomy gives me the structural skeleton and the design wraps around it rather than imposing a different shape. A piece at this scale is a multi-session commitment and benefits from clear planning ahead.

Reach me at the Whitetail Tattoo studio in Wellington through @pokestaytattoo or pokestaytattoo@gmail.com.

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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.