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Traditional black lady head tattoo wrapped in curling flames on the back of below a scorpion piece

Traditional Flaming Lady Tattoo

Wrapped a lady's face inside a swirl of curling flames, tucked below an existing scorpion piece. Heavy outline carries the flames while soft greywash sits inside the face, the values pulled apart enough to keep the portrait clear at a glance instead of muddied by competing greys.

I used the natural curve of the canvas to sweep the flames upward and faced the eyes forward so the portrait looks back at the viewer when the limb is held normally. High-visibility traditional work is a commitment piece and the underlying structure dictates the layout. I plan these around the natural anatomy so the design holds shape across years of constant movement. Booking traditional work in this style out of my Wellington 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 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.