Book Tattoo
Traditional black tattoo with a spread-wing eagle, head of Christ, weeping eye, skull and sacred heart

Traditional Eagle and Christ Tattoo

Put a spread-wing eagle at the centre, then flanked it with a Christ head wearing a crown of thorns, a weeping all-seeing eye, a hooded skull and a sacred heart pierced by a nail. Every element is a classic American traditional motif and I tiled them across the canvas with consistent line weight and shading so the whole layout reads as one composition rather than a collection of separate pieces.

Bold single-weight outlines and a saturated black ground make this kind of work hold up over time. The piece sits on a surface that flexes constantly with breathing and movement, so heavier line weight earns its keep here in a way it wouldn't on a flatter canvas. Booking custom traditional torso projects out of my Wellington studio.

Book Similar PieceSee All Traditional

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

Similar Tattoos

See All
Traditional shaded spiderweb with a negative-space centre and scrollwork border across the forearm
Shaded traditional spiderweb centred on the point of the elbow with a scrollwork border and eagle above
Black traditional Athena profile tattoo with plumed helmet
Black and grey traditional eagle perched above a girl head

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.