Book Tattoo
Solid black with roses, scrollwork and a crown left in negative space

Blackout With Roses and Crown

Full coverage piece with the design carried in negative space. Two roses, a banner with script, and an ornate crown all read white against the saturated black ground I built around them. Working in reverse like this takes tight planning so my negative shapes stay legible after healing and the surrounding fill stays even.

I used the natural taper of the canvas to push the eye through the composition. Negative-space blackwork rewards patience. The design has to be locked before any fill goes down, then the fill itself takes several sessions to build so the skin recovers between sittings. If you're keen on a full coverage piece in this style, I stage them carefully out of my Whitetail Tattoo studio in Wellington.

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.