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Snarling traditional black panther head tattoo on the side of above a lady head piece

Traditional Panther Tattoo

Put a classic traditional panther head with bared teeth on this client, sitting above a lady head I'd done earlier. Bold single-weight outlines and dense black fills carry the piece, the formula that lets old-school work hold up for decades. I faced the panther's profile forward so it's easy to read for anyone meeting eye to eye.

High-visibility traditional work is a serious commitment and the consultation matters as much as the tattoo itself. The skin here moves with every swallow and head turn, so my line weight has to be heavy enough to survive the constant flex. I work through layout and visibility with the client before we book. Taking traditional work out of my Whitetail Tattoo studio in Wellington.

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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.