120 Watercolor Tattoos: Why It Is (or Not) To Do It!

If there is one trend that has gained traction in the art of body modification over the past five years, it is watercolor type tattoos. This tattoo style gets its name from imitation free-form modern drawing method and its absolute quality ... Thus, watercolor-type tattoos are different from the usual multitude of tattoos, which usually consist of thick black strokes.

And although they are very attractive, they still received some criticism: some say that they do not stand up to time, like other tattoos, others that this name is too often used by tattoo artists. No experience with that particular style. ... In any case, you should do a little bit more research on this topic before deciding and considering getting (or not) a watercolor tattoo.

The meaning of watercolor tattoos

Watercolor tattoos can simply represent any image or symbol, so their meanings are varied. However, the most common watercolor tattoos are usually of colorful birds or insects. The watercolor style usually shows their strokes for better visualization.

Butterflies are especially popular. Representing life, hope, metamorphosis and rebirth, these watercolor butterfly tattoos can be seen quite often. Another butterfly tattoo that is quite popular in watercolor style is the one in which the semicolon was included in the image: this tattoo represents help and hope for those who have experienced suicide.

Abstract art is very common in watercolor tattoos. Stripes or splashes of color unfold in highly attractive configurations to convey a feeling, thought, or even opinion. Some watercolor painters rely on color choices to convey much of an idea: for example, an abstract splash rainbow tattoo can be used to show your support for gay and transgender rights.

Types of watercolor tattoos

Even in the world of watercolor tattoos, there are too many different styles for us to list exhaustively. Having said that, we can probably try to reduce them to two main types of tattoos, defined by one significant difference: those that have a black ink base and those that don't.

1. Watercolors without black base.

Watercolor tattoos without a base in black ink usually do not have black working lines (this does not mean that another color cannot be used to draw these lines). The lack of black in these works gives them a particularly realistic watercolor look. The colors seem to almost blend in with the skin and fade at the edges of the picture (as far as possible to distinguish them from each other). This type of watercolor tattoo is often characterized by slight discoloration of the shades, making their borders almost indistinguishable.

Good examples of this type of watercolor tattoo are usually works in which the vibrancy of the colors is the main point of attraction. Some of the most notable tattoos have such a color combination that it is difficult to imagine that this is actually a tattoo and not body art.

2. Watercolors based on black ink.

Another main type of watercolor tattoo is a black based tattoo. By this we mean the presence of a certain line of work or base shadows in the development of this tattoo. Colors are, of course, then applied over this base or used to fill in the empty spaces that exist between the lines. What matters is that there is something about the tattoo that can be seen as a black skeleton or a black line under the flowers.

Is it important to include such a base? Yes, on many levels. Tattoos that use this particular style allow for greater contrast in effects than tattoos without a black base, due to the difference between the bolder black elements and the colors themselves. Many tattoo artists also find that these tattoos tend to age better as their black base does not fade as quickly as colored elements.

There are currently at least two ways to use black ink in watercolor tattooing. Most tattoo artists aim to keep the edges fairly simple as not everyone has the skill or experience to use another method of naturally incorporating black into colors and patterns - tattoo gradients.

Calculation of cost and standard prices

The cost of watercolor tattoos usually varies depending on the design and size. If you have a very small design in your head with only two or three colors, you can probably get by with $ 50 or $ 60. On the other hand, if you want a very complex tattoo with many colors and gradient effects, you will definitely have to pay a few hundred dollars.

Also remember that not all tattoo artists know how to do watercolor tattoos. Many people say yes - and they may be right, but they do not succeed at all. Watercolor type tattoos require a certain approach and a certain art style.

This is why we advise you to ask a tattoo artist to show you examples of their watercolor tattoos before hiring them. The best artists will charge you a high price for their work - a piece about four inches wide can cost around £ 400, depending on the design - but at least you'll be confident in the true quality of your tattoo.

Perfect place

Where you place your watercolor tattoo depends on what you can afford. Some people are limited in their body art practice by their social status or profession. In their opinion, tattoos can only be placed in places that can be easily covered if necessary. Many people of this type end up getting their tattoos on their chest, around the hips, or on their legs.

When deciding where to place yours, remember: watercolor tattoos, especially those without a black base, fade a little faster than other tattoos. The use of translucent colors, the faded style, and the overall look of the work make this type of tattoo look dated pretty quickly if you don't take care of it properly.

This means that you will need to protect it from the sun as much as possible (since sunlight will discolor the ink on tattoos) and touch up as needed. For this reason, you may prefer a spot that you can easily cover in daylight.

One thing to remember about watercolor type tattoos is that they look best on lighter skin tones, like many colored tattoos. This is because the translucent tattoo ink looks even lighter than usual in this type of tattoo. This is again the reason why choosing a covered (or not tanned) area of ​​your skin to place a tattoo will guarantee you the best results.

Tips for getting ready for a tattoo session

When it's time for you to get a watercolor style tattoo, use the following checklist to make sure you're ready:

1. Eat a generous meal before heading to your session, whether it's a hearty breakfast, a full lunch, or a good dinner. Your body will thank you for supplying it with this fuel as soon as the tattoo starts, as it will need energy for the tattoo to heal.

2. Wear clothes that are easy to put on or take off. For example, if you are planning a tattoo on your back, wearing something that can be easily removed and put on will make you feel comfortable.

3. Will your tattoo session be very long? The artist can give you more information on this so you can plan something to pass the time if needed. A good book may take a while, but you can also bring a device with a good selection of music.

4. You would probably like to have everything ready, even before getting the tattoo, for the necessary post-tattoo care. Some tattoo artists will provide you with a post-session grooming kit, while others expect you to provide the necessary products yourself. So ask your tattoo artist what you should buy, such as antibacterial creams or gauze.

Watercolor tattoo care tips

As we pointed out to you earlier, caring for a watercolor tattoo is all about protecting it from the bleaching effects of the sun. Covering him up with clothes is one way to do this, but you can also just stay in the shade.

However, consider light reverberation. Even if you are sitting under an umbrella on the beach, if your tattoo is exposed outdoors, it will technically still be exposed to the sun's rays, although the sun's rays will be less powerful than if you were just standing below. ...

If you live in a sunny location, it is probably best to carry sunscreen with you at all times. Dab a little on the tattoo as often as possible, once it has healed and you know you are going to quit. This should significantly slow down the fading.

If you follow the advice we gave you to keep your watercolor tattoo clean for as long as possible, there is no reason it shouldn't age like other tattoos you wear. Some watercolor tattoos from four years ago still look good and only need a little touch-up. But since this is still a fairly new style, old tattoos aren't enough to give us a definite idea of ​​their longevity. Thus, the debate about the longevity of watercolor tattoos remains open, but the question of their attractiveness is non-negotiable. And what do you think? Do you think they will age well? Let us know what you think by leaving us a quick comment and join the conversation!