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Painted canvas of a yellow cobra rearing over a striped snake and red flowers, labelled Gold Cobra

Gold Cobra Studio Painting

Knocked this one out on canvas and hung it at the studio. A yellow cobra rearing over a striped snake and a small bouquet, flat blue and pink ground, painted 'gold cobra' lettering along the top. Part of my Wellington studio's colour painting collection, not a tattoo.

The values and outline weight echo the choices I make on skin: limited tones, confident contour, no fussy modelling. When clients walk in and see these on the wall they get a quicker read on what a custom piece will look like than scrolling through my phone. Tattoo bookings come through @pokestaytattoo or by emailing the studio.

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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 Colour in Wellington

Will colour fade faster than black?
Yes. All colour eventually softens, particularly with sun exposure. Solid blacks hold the longest, reds and warm tones hold well, and lighter pastels and whites are the most exposed. A well-placed and well-cared-for colour piece still looks great for many years, but it'll need touch-ups earlier than blackwork.
Does skin tone affect what colours work?
Absolutely. Some pigments read very differently on deeper skin tones, and white highlights can disappear entirely. I plan palettes per person rather than applying a stock formula, and I'll often swap white highlights for negative-space techniques where it makes sense.
Can I mix colour with blackwork in one piece?
Yes. Some of my strongest work is blackwork with one or two saturated colour accents. That combination tends to age well, because the black holds the composition together as the colour softens.