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Black panther head tattoo with bright red flames and tongue

Roaring Panther Tattoo

Dropped a roaring panther head into the panel, framed by a curl of red flames spilling out behind it and a long red tongue forward. I followed classic traditional rules here: bold black outline, limited palette, hard contrast between the black fur and the bright red flame work.

Whip-shaded fur breaks up the silhouette so the head reads with depth without losing the graphic feel. A flat canvas at this scale gives the design enough room to breathe, and the limited colour palette means saturation holds even as the piece ages.

I'm booking traditional colour pieces out of the Wellington studio, get in touch if you want one.

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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 Colour in Wellington

Will colour fade faster than black?
Yes. All colour eventually softens, particularly with sun exposure. Solid blacks hold the longest, reds and warm tones hold well, and lighter pastels and whites are the most exposed. A well-placed and well-cared-for colour piece still looks great for many years, but it'll need touch-ups earlier than blackwork.
Does skin tone affect what colours work?
Absolutely. Some pigments read very differently on deeper skin tones, and white highlights can disappear entirely. I plan palettes per person rather than applying a stock formula, and I'll often swap white highlights for negative-space techniques where it makes sense.
Can I mix colour with blackwork in one piece?
Yes. Some of my strongest work is blackwork with one or two saturated colour accents. That combination tends to age well, because the black holds the composition together as the colour softens.