Book Tattoo
Black ink snake head with bared fangs and curled tongue on the outer

Blackwork Snake Head Tattoo

Caught the snake mid-strike on this one in heavy blackwork. Head reared back, fangs out, tongue curling forward, built almost entirely in solid black. I sat the underside scales in negative space along the lower jaw and faded the body into the surrounding skin without an enclosing border, which gives the piece room to breathe.

I sized it generously on a clear panel of skin and left the fade-out tail as natural space for the design to be extended later. As a stand-alone it holds its own, but I built that open lower edge so it could seed a larger snake-and-floral panel down the line.

Wellington bookings via @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.