Book Tattoo
Black screaming gorilla head tattoo with open mouth

Screaming Gorilla Tattoo

Set a screaming gorilla head as a single contained piece, with the open jaw and teeth doing the heavy lifting. I carried the brow and forehead in dense whip shading and left the mouth wide and unfilled, and that contrast is what pushes the piece to read strongly from a distance.

The head sits centred on a rounded canvas, so the silhouette stays clean as the area moves. Blackwork portraits work best when the negative space is doing real structural work, not just sitting there as filler. The bared teeth and tongue do double duty: detail and tonal contrast.

I'm taking blackwork pieces at the Wellington studio, get in touch.

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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.