Book Tattoo
Black ink rearing horse with flowing mane in graphic blackwork style on the outer

Blackwork Rearing Horse Tattoo

Rendered a rearing horse here in pure shape, in graphic blackwork. Mane and tail in solid black, the body left mostly open with bold outline and a few sparse fill marks doing the shading. The result has the energy of woodcut printmaking, which is exactly the territory I want good blackwork to live in.

I stretched the horse's full pose across a generous panel of skin without curling or cramping the composition. That keeps the piece readable even when the wearer is in motion, where something more reliant on fine detail would lose definition. I prioritised legibility and silhouette over surface detail on purpose.

Pokestay Tattoo Wellington, contact me at @pokestaytattoo 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.