Book Tattoo
Black horned skull tattoo above a butterfly with patterned wings

Skull and Butterfly Tattoo

Stacked a horned skull above a large butterfly as a vertical panel, with a small rose tucked beside them. I leaned the skull into blackwork (dense fills with negative-space teeth and eye lines) and built the butterfly's wings with tight parallel line patterns to balance the heavier head above.

The old-English lettering visible below ties this panel into the surrounding work. A long vertical canvas suits a stacked blackwork composition where the eye travels top to bottom rather than across, so each element gets its own focal space.

If you want a custom blackwork panel in Wellington, flick me a DM and we'll plan it.

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.