Book Tattoo
Black ink leaping tiger speared by an ornate dagger with floating swallow

Traditional Tiger and Dagger Tattoo

Tiger and dagger is one of the foundational American traditional combinations, and on this one I had the tiger leap speared by an ornate blade, with droplets falling toward a swallow tucked into the lower corner. The client's existing pendant collarpiece sits above the composition.

I ran the design across a strong diagonal axis to give the leap its momentum. Tigers in traditional flash are almost always shown mid-leap because the angle suits a broad upper-body canvas, and the diagonal carries the eye through the piece. Black ink only, with heavier outline carrying the silhouette and finer interior work in the stripes and dagger handle. It sits inside a broader collection without competing with the surrounding work.

Wellington, @pokestaytattoo on Instagram or pokestaytattoo@gmail.com.

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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.