Book Tattoo
in progress with traditional lady head, snarling panther and swallow and

Lady Head and Panther Traditional

A traditional full coverage piece coming together panel by panel. I anchored the composition with a lady head at the top, a snarling panther curling through the middle, a swallow tucked below, and mandala line work running across the upper register. Each element earns its own room rather than fighting for space.

That's my usual move with a traditional full coverage piece. Give every motif its own breathing room and let the negative space between them do as much compositional work as the ink itself. Black and grey throughout keeps the surface tones consistent as future panels get added, which matters when I'm building work across multiple sessions over months or years.

Large-scale bookings in Wellington through @pokestaytattoo or 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.