Watercolour Tattoos

Popular worldwide, anime tattoos feature characters, symbols or scenes from anime series, movies or manga. 

This tattoo style offers fans a way to express their love for anime, show off their favourite characters and carry a piece of anime culture with them permanently.
Popular worldwide, anime tattoos feature characters, symbols or scenes from anime series, movies or manga. 

This tattoo style offers fans a way to express their love for anime, show off their favourite characters and carry a piece of anime culture with them permanently.

What Are Watercolour Tattoos?

Inspired by the soft colours and shading of watercolour paintings, watercolour tattoos create a dreamy aesthetic. 

In contrast to the traditional tattoo style with bold, black lines, watercolour tattoos are less detailed and more colourful, making them an excellent choice for individuals seeking a subtle yet beautiful tattoo. 

Compared to other tattoo styles, watercolour tattoos are relatively new, with the first designs only being seen in the early 2000s. Since then, they have gained popularity, especially among creative individuals seeking to step away from traditional tattoo designs.
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Technique of Watercolour Tattoos

While watercolour tattoos may differ greatly from other styles, tattoo artists don’t require different equipment to create the soft watercolour look.

Instead, for a watercolour tattoo to flow the way the paintings do, the tattoo artist must know some specific techniques, including
Gradients
Layering
Blurring
Fading
Colour running
Shading
Splattering
With a smaller needle that picks up less ink, artists use light pressure and quick movements to create the watercolour’s light, watery look. 

For gradients and shading, one of the main techniques used for watercolour is diluting the ink with water (like you would with a watercolour painting), making the colour lighter in some places and darker in others. 

However, one of the main things to note about watercolour tattoos is that, unlike a watercolour painting, you can’t add water on top of ink that’s already been tattooed. So, gradients and ink splatter must all be considered beforehand, so it’s essential to choose a tattoo artist who is experienced in watercolour tattoos.
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Different Styles of Watercolour Tattoos

Unlike traditional tattoos that are characterised by black, bold lines, there is no limit to what you can do with watercolour tattoos.

If you have an idea for a watercolour tattoo but would like an expert’s opinion, book an appointment at your nearest Celebrity Ink. Our tattoo artists trained in watercolour tattoos can sit down with you to discuss your needs and wants within your tattoo design. We’re ready to help you bring your vision to life!

No Outline

Some watercolour tattoos are created without any outlines at all and instead use the gradients of ink to portray an object. 

In this style, colours are blended, often with soft edges that mimic watercolour paintings to achieve a more abstract appearance. 

For example, an animal watercolour tattoo can be created using different shades and darker pigments to create contrast and movement through the ink design. The blending of colour often closely resembles a watercolour painting.

Colour as the Background

Another style that is popular amongst watercolour tattoos is to use colour as a background. 

Instead of a traditional black or neutral background, the entire design is filled with colourful washes or splashes, making your tattoo stand out, a great choice for designs such as butterfly watercolour tattoos. 

This style allows the subject of the tattoo to emerge from a sea of colours, enhancing the dreamlike quality of the design. 

Fine Line Outline

Some watercolour tattoos incorporate fine-line outlines around the subject or elements of the design. 

These outlines provide definition to the tattoo, allowing for a delicate balance between the soft, flowing colours and the more defined edges. 

Each of these styles offers a unique visual appeal when it comes to watercolour tattoos. You can choose the one that best suits your preferences and the overall concept of the tattoo.
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