Book Tattoo
Black and grey traditional eagle perched on a branch with folded wings

Traditional Eagle Tattoo

Straight-up American traditional eagle on this one. Hooked beak open, wings folded back, talons gripping a branch. Black and grey only, built with the heavy outline and packed feather rendering that defines the style.

I designed it in vertical proportions, with the head high and the talons dropping below, so the piece runs along the muscle line rather than across it. It works as a clean stand-alone, but I built the composition so it would seed a full coverage piece cleanly if more work gets added around it later.

Reach me via @pokestaytattoo on Instagram or pokestaytattoo@gmail.com for Wellington bookings.

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.