Blackwork tattoo is a direction of tattoo, which is characterized by large areas covered with black pigment, simple geometric shapes and color density. Not any tattoo made only in black can be called a blackwork. This style involves large drawings or completely black body parts.

In addition to using the blackwork style in its purest form modern masters often combine blackwork tattoo elements with other styles, for example, ornaments, ethno. Undoubtedly one of the most popular stylistic tandems is blackwork +.

Popular Plots in Blackwork Tattoo:

1. Blackwork - Geometry

The blackwork style is close to everyone who shares the views of futurist artists, and in particular cubists. Recall the famous "Black Square" by Kazimir Malevich. For art lovers, perfect geometric shape, completely covered in black - this is the standard of perfection, complete nothing and absolute everything. The idea of ​​Suprematism in painting gave rise to the development of modern design. The simplicity of forms, harmony and purity of lines are sung in the works of many artists, architects and designers.

Blackwork tattoo, as a direction that has a direct connection with all types fine arts did not stay away. Geometry and purity of lines, simple forms and the dominance of black attract a lot of people.

2. Blackwork - Full coverage

A separate example of a blackwork tattoo is the complete coverage of any part of the body with black pigment. For example, arms, legs or necks. If you connect the blackwork sleeve with small ones, you can create softer borders of the tattoo. The transition from solid coverage to air dots gives the effect of volume and does not look as sharp as a clear line of transition from tattoo to bare skin.

3. Blackwork - Patterns

When we mention patterns in a tattoo, tattoos immediately come to mind. Indeed, the blackwork style will draw some elements of ethnic style. It is only worth emphasizing that in blackwork it is important not sacred meaning patterns and their mystical meaning, and their visual beauty and regular geometric interlacing.

Many masters single out a separate direction that combines blackwork - neo-tribalism.

Using the Blackwork Style to Cover Another Tattoo

In the tattoo world overlapping one tattoo with another called a cover(from English cover - to cover, overlap). Some tattoos can only be corrected with a dense black blackwork paint. We can say that this moment slightly spoiled the reputation of the blackwork style and often large black tattoos are perceived as an extreme measure of hopelessness. This is partly true, but does not reflect reality.

If the previous tattoo has too thick outlines, then they will still protrude from under the layer of black paint. Therefore, sometimes masters are advised to go for at least one tattoo removal session, and then cover it with black. In any case, you need to initially show the old tattoo to the master and get his advice.

How long does it take to get a Blackwork Tattoo?

If you decide to do blackwork sleeve then get ready for a few sessions. Blackwork takes time and patience just like any other voluminous tattoo. The specificity of the style is that the master does not need to change colors, work on gradients and contours. But there are some difficulties: for example, the paint should lay down evenly, tightly, without gaps. After restoration, the master once again examines the tattoo for gaps and completely corrects his work, if necessary.

Does Blackwork Tattoo Hurt?

Blackwork style tattoos in most cases are voluminous, requiring dense coverage. Therefore, during the entire tattoo session, repeated trauma to the same part of the body with a needle increases pain. But experienced masters are able to switch to different parts of the tattoo and thereby minimize pain.

Read more about and methods, read in our materials.

Blackwork Tattoo Designs for Men and Women

There are no cardinal differences between blackwork tattoos for men and women. This style is chosen by people free from prejudice and the influence of other people's opinions. As a rule, men are more likely to decide on larger voluminous tattoos, and girls prefer something. This is not applicable in blackwork. Black voluminous laconic tattoos are equally loved by both men and girls.

Blackwork is one of the most popular tattoo styles. The name itself means that in the sketch there are large black spots (tone or semitone) and the rest of the colors are reduced to zero. Sometimes there are blotches of red or white elements. Such tattoos have no gender, ideal for both men and women. Sometimes it's just a beautiful image, and sometimes it's a whole story on the body, a comic book, a secret sign for its owner.

The Internet is full of photo works different masters in this style. On many sites dedicated to tattooing, you will find entire sections with works in the blackwork style. For drawing a picture, a variety of places are chosen: on the arm, leg, neck. It all depends on the sketch you choose and your desire.

Blackwork tattoos are often used to cover skin imperfections. This is one of the most convenient drawings for reworking "old" tattoos, closing scars. Due to the large dark areas in the work and the graphic lines, such a sketch will best hide the scars.

In fact, any drawing can be styled and processed in this style. If the drawing is not very difficult, you can do it yourself. For more complex and creative types of work, it is better to make a sketch to order.

Tattoo is a new way of self-expression. This is the art of modernity, the response of the era. Why don't you try to plunge into this bright world of drawing on the body and painting. Blackwork is not necessarily a rough, stylized sketch. It may well have volume and shadow parties. Often they are solved not with the help of shadows, but with the help of point work. For an accurate representation, of course, it is better to look at the photos of the works.

The complexity and price of the work can be completely different. It all depends on the subtlety of the work and the amount of material expended. Blackwork can easily be attributed to one of the most popular styles. It is easy to combine animalistic drawings, inscriptions, and even. A classic example of such work is the black square. Many now inflict themselves simply geometric figures filled with black paint.

Some of the classic blackwork patterns echo Polynesian motifs. They are similar due to their subject matter and technique. Such works take quite a lot of time, because of their complex geometric structure. Therefore, immediately calculate the time so as not to rush the master. There are many specialists who concentrate their work in this area. Just search the Internet and you will find many similar ones.

For blackwork, most often come those who are going to paint over old drawings. However, now it has become more mainstream - I have clients who like minimalism and large painted areas on clean skin.

Blackwork began to appear in the form in which it is now in Russia, three or four years ago. This is such a primitive and minimalism using the volume and dynamics of the body. Just painting a hand in black is boring, there is no dynamics in this. The composition of color spots in blackwork, as in any painting, is based on conflict - dark-light, sharp-round. If everything is filled with black, then the eye does not cling to anything.

Blackwork is such a primitive and minimalism using lines and body dynamics. It can be done quickly with a certain skill - in a three-hour session, you can have time to paint over half a hand. The simpler the shape and the fewer angles, the faster the work goes - in fact, you just sit and monotonously paint over in black. But there are some nuances - you need to understand the specifics of the machine, the specifics of the skin. Well, experience - if you look at a working person from the outside, it seems that everything is simple - draw a line and paint over it. To be able to paint black so that it looks good is a certain skill, a certain skill. Understanding of physiology, technical moments.

The amazing world of tattoos offers such a huge selection of different tattoo styles that clients are simply at a loss for a choice. This is especially true for amateurs. bright colors. With those who prefer only classic black, things are easier. Immersed in the Blackwork style, you can quickly find what you want.

Blackwork style involves applying black paint to large areas of the body. An ordinary tattoo made in black does not have the right to be called Blackwork, but drawing, for example, a black square on the body, is undoubtedly Blackwork style. In this style, not everyone is ready to transform their body, but to the surprise of lovers of such large-scale tattoos, there are enough. The choice of this style is the choice of people who admire the minimalism and rigor of black.

Combining Blackwork with other styles

Most often, masters combine the Blackwork tattoo style with other styles. Having done high-quality work, unique, beautiful tattoos appear on the body. Blackwork is best in harmony with the Dotwork style. Thanks to the black background, the dot tattoo will have good contrast.

Many come to this style because of the not very pleasant experience of applying a tattoo in the past. To hide the unsuccessful work of the wizard, over old tattoo apply a new one in Blackwork style. This technique works well and saves many from disappointment on their bodies.

Those who decide to apply a tattoo in this style, the master is simply obliged to warn that this type of work cannot be corrected in the future. Applying another style on top of the Blackwork style will only make matters worse. The tattoo will turn out to be of poor quality and cloudy.

The most common blackwork style tattoos are:

• geometric figures,
• completely filled with black paint parts of the body,
• patterns.

There are other images, but most often perform the above.

Blackwork gives direction to such styles:

• Neotribalism.
• Art Brut.
• Ethnic tattoos.
• Buddhist/Thai tattoos.

For a tattoo in the Blackwork style, good masters will ask for a large amount. A seemingly simple and unpretentious tattoo is actually the painstaking work of a master. Fulfill given style should be a person with extensive experience, beginners can not do this. The master must feel the working machine well and understand the specifics of human skin.

As a rule, tattoo lovers are divided into two camps and distinguish for themselves, respectively, two types of tattoos: colored or black and gray (Black and gray tattoo). The very same roots of the tattoo (in ethnic for sure) are saturated mainly with black ink. Actively developing in a traditional environment, over many centuries, they have grown into something more than just a tribal tattoo. Nowadays, tribal tattoos have become widely known as blackwork tattoo or neo-tribal tattoo, which are gaining more and more popularity these days. Well friends, welcome to the monochrome realm...

Some may take blackwork tattoos as an extreme or a lack. aesthetic taste, but the choice of true connoisseurs of blackwork deserves great respect for their courage! Blackwork shows dotwork (Dotwork tattoo) and linework (Linework tattoo) their impressive size clogged, more than completely, with black paint; its complex geometric and symmetrical patterns inherited from the Polynesian tattoo, as well as unsurpassed graphic art. Blackwork is focused on design, mostly ornamental, not on meaning or realism. From minimalist to extremely intricate, blackwork tattoos are varied. However, you can always add white ink to soften the black outline. Blackwork is also great for covering up old tattoos. There is great amount well-known tattoo artists in this style and even specialized tattoo parlors, so take the time to find standing master if you want to hide in black...

Well, did anyone have a desire to dye themselves black? :D Let's now explore the possibilities of blackwork in more detail on this selection of black tattoos covering the body from 1% to 90%...