Book Tattoo
Black traditional wolf head tattoo with long tongue hanging

Wolf Head Tattoo

Dropped the wolf head into a compact panel, offset from a midline, with a long hanging tongue running downward. Bold black outlines and tight whip shading on the fur push the silhouette forward, and the tongue and bared teeth carry the energy of the piece.

A tight traditional animal head works in high-movement areas when the design stays compact like this. I don't have to wrap or stretch the design across difficult skin. The canvas flexes a lot, but a tight composition with strong outlines holds up well because there's nothing fine inside to blur.

I take torso work at the Wellington studio, drop me a line.

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.