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Full back tattoo of a mermaid sat by crystalline rocks under a moon, framed by roses and flowers

Traditional Mermaid and Roses

Built a large-scale piece out of classic traditional ingredients on this one. A mermaid perches on crystalline rocks under a smiling moon, twin roses flare out across the upper register, daisies anchor the lower frame, and a banner reading ROA runs along the base. I kept most of the piece in black and grey, with a subtle warm wash tinting the rocks and clouds.

The layout is symmetrical, roses left and right and the mermaid centred, and I used a strong vertical axis to organise everything. That's how I usually compose a large-scale piece that reads at every angle, because the body's natural symmetry does part of the work for you. Designing around the central axis instead of against it is also kinder to ageing, the eye keeps finding the centre even as edges soften.

Large-scale Wellington bookings 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.