Book Tattoo
Solid black tiger head with stripes left in negative space on the outer

Blackwork Tiger Head Tattoo

Built a tiger head in negative-space whitework here. The stripes aren't painted on, they're the skin showing through dense black fill, which is what gives the piece its weight. I left the mouth open, exposed the canines, and radiated the whiskers outward to soften the silhouette against the surrounding skin.

I sized it to read at full impact within a contained panel of skin, without spilling into the surrounding work. Solid blackwork at this density is forgiving over time, because the silhouette stays sharp where fine line work in other styles would have softened. I relied on shape more than rendering, which is the trade-off that keeps these pieces looking right decades later.

Pokestay Tattoo Wellington, through @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

Similar Tattoos

See All
Two matching black urn tattoos with snake and leopard motifs
Solid black tattoo running from down to the sock with a faint skull showing
Solid black wolf head with bared teeth tattooed across the centre of
Bold blackwork lady head ringed by tongues of flame

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.