Book Tattoo
Black and grey traditional crawling panther on the back of the upper arm, head turned mid-snarl

Traditional Crawling Panther Tattoo

A classic American traditional crawling panther heading down the back of the upper arm. Solid black body with soft grey shading through the muscle, claws out, head turned back over the shoulder mid-snarl. I kept the line weight heavy on the silhouette so the cat reads as one clean shape from across a room.

The crawling panther is one of the oldest pieces of flash going, and it earns its place because the pose follows a limb so naturally. I ran the body along the line of the arm so it moves with the wearer rather than sitting flat. Shot here next to a little crying face I did on the other arm.

If you want a traditional panther here in Wellington, DM me at @pokestaytattoo or email pokestaytattoo@gmail.com.

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.