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Black traditional grim reaper tattoo laid in a coffin

Reaper Coffin Tattoo

Laid a hooded grim reaper in a coffin, hands crossed at the centre, a crown of leaves on the brow, and a curled-up grin on the skull. The coffin's strong vertical silhouette gives the piece a tight, contained shape that sits cleanly on a high-movement canvas.

I used soft black wash to give the figure depth while keeping the surrounding fillers open. Tattooing across a joint is one of the harder spots to keep crisp because of the movement, so a tight vertical silhouette and a bold outline are what makes a traditional piece like this last.

I'm taking joint work at the Wellington studio, email or DM me if you've been thinking about one.

Book Similar PieceSee All Traditional

By Rhys Thomas at Whitetail Tattoo, Level 3, 41–47 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand

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Common Questions About Traditional in Wellington

What's the difference between traditional and neo-traditional?
Traditional keeps to a small, classical colour palette (reds, yellows, greens, blues) with chunky outlines and limited shading. Neo-traditional opens that up with more colours, finer detail, and more painterly shading. Same bones, more flexibility.
Do traditional tattoos cost less because they look simpler?
No. Traditional tattoos look deceptively simple. Clean bold lines and solid colour packs are hard to execute well, and they're priced on time and skill required, not visual complexity.
Can a traditional design be personal rather than generic?
Yes. Most of my traditional pieces are custom subjects rendered in the traditional language. Bring your own meaning and I'll handle the visual grammar.