Book Tattoo
Three horse heads grouped together inside a circular daisy wreath frame

Traditional Horse Cameo Tattoo

Grouped three horse heads inside a circular daisy wreath. The cameo form is borrowed from old printer's vignettes and works well on a curved canvas because the frame holds the composition together no matter the viewing angle.

I sat soft greywash shading on the horses against the bold black outline of the wreath, the two weights pulling the eye through the piece without crowding either subject. Traditional cameos are a strong fit for portrait subjects that need a clean border, since the frame stops the design from feeling open at the edges. Custom cameos in this traditional style are bookable through 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.