Available Tattoo Styles to Choose From

Tattoo Styles

New York City residents love their tattoos and for many astounding reasons. When you have one inked on your body by one of the many talented NYC tattoo artists here in the city you become a walking piece of art and instantaneously contribute to the city’s aesthetic that makes New York one of the most iconic cities in the world.  New York City also helped birth another street art – graffiti and this together with your tattoo makes it so awe-inspiringly cool. While our Native American brothers have been refining the art of tattooing for hundreds of years, NYC’s passion with ink goes way back as well. The first tattoo shop in New York opened in 1870, in the shadows of the then incomplete Brooklyn Bridge.  Interestingly tattooing in New York City was considered illegal until 1997 but that did not deter the growing number of tattoo artists honing their craft over the years. Today, approximately 47% of Americans aged 18 to 29 have some form of tattoo on their body. Continuing with this proud tradition, many of the most notable contemporary artists in any medium are also working in a tattoo shop near you and pushing the boundaries of this beautiful art form. Hand of Glory Tattoo here in Brooklyn New York is proud to be part of this tradition.

There is no doubt that getting a tattoo is a huge commitment. There are many things that you have to consider, from the tattoo artist that will perform the ink to the placement of the tattoo on your body to determining whether you want something classic black or grey or go full color. One of the most important decisions you will make is determining the type of tattoo that will get inked on your body. At Hand of Glory Tattoo here in Brooklyn New York we can guarantee you will have a lifelong appreciation of our artwork and all of our tattoo artists can help guide you on your journey towards achieving the perfect tattoo. We would like to remind you that when our artists offer creative suggestions it is for your benefit and for your brand new tattoo, so it is imperative that you take the time to listen to your artist. We offer all kinds of popular New York City tattoo types ranging from old school, new school, portraits, face tattoos, tribal, horror, Japanese tattoos, black and grey to full color tattoos and more. If your intended tattoo style is not listed, do tell us what you prefer. All our experienced Brooklyn tattoo artists possess a wide and varied range of styles and skills that let them assist you to conceptualize a design of your choice in order to create tattoo perfection.

Traditional Tattoos

New York City is known as a melting pot of diverse cultures and as such there is a healthy collection of traditional tattoos inspired from the culture of people that immigrated to New York from different parts of the country and the world. Traditional tattoos form an important facet of American culture. They are indelible marks that remind us of our past and our experiences as a country and as a people. Part art movement and social phenomena, the traditional style is a classic tradition much like American pie. Expect bold black lines that form the image of a wing spreading eagle or a rose encrusted anchor. Ask our Brooklyn tattoo artists about traditional tattoo images such as animals, landscapes and shapes of stars and hearts including military insignias. Each image in a traditional tattoo design convey a specific meaning. An image of a swallow refers to the distance a sailor has traveled or a symbol of his return as this bird is often known to find its way home.  Images of panthers, sharks and snakes signify a position of strength and a visual quintessence of the personality of the wearer. The dragon tattoo is influenced by Japanese culture and symbolizes power from a mythical creature. From an aesthetic and philosophical standpoint, traditional tattoos form part of traditional Americana similar to what Irezumi is for the Japanese and Tribal for indigenous peoples. It is a celebration of culture. Hand of Glory is your guide to the world of traditional tattoos.

Japanese Tattoos

Elegant, beautiful and mystical Japanese tattoos have had a long and storied history as its glorious past connects to the present.  They are one of the most popularly requested tattoo styles here in New York.  Japanese tattoos began during the Yayoi period (300 BC– 300 AD) and at the time the tattoos were mostly associated with spiritual imagery and societal status. They were used to identify who was slave and who was the master.  However, things changed during the Kofun period (300-600 AD) when the tattoos became associated with criminality. During the 18^th century, Japanese tattoos underwent a transformation. Due to the popularity of colorful and pictorial woodblock prints, the tattoos became associated with groups such as peasants, laborers and street gangs. The art of Irezumi was eventually outlawed in Japan and to this day is still considered taboo to be seen having one in the workplace.

Japanese tattoos are filled with color, symbolism and rich with history and steeped in spirituality that it is virtually impossible not to admire the intricate artwork and images associated with this sometimes controversial tattoo style. Hand of Glory tattoo studio in Brooklyn New York can make you beautiful, colorful images of Japanese tattoos for you. Our highly skilled and experienced NYC artists know the proper composition and placement of such images so they are expressed correctly on your body.

Japanese Style Tattoos

Japanese style tattoos are some of the most requested tattoo styles here in Brooklyn New York due to the intricate artwork and symbolism involved in its concept and creation.  Japanese style tattoos are often designed with nature elements that are associated with Japanese culture such as cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums and peonies. You also see a lot of divine symbolism associated with this kind of tattoo. These are sophisticated icons whose symbolism represents centuries of culture and tradition. You can find elaborate Japanese masks, water symbols like waves and blood often symbolized as red patches. You can also appreciate more culturally identifiable figures in Japanese style tattoo such as dragons riding in the win, demons, koi fishes and graceful faces of geishas. Regardless of what symbol or image you end up choosing, each image has a corresponding meaning and to ensure you do not risk distorting the symbolism involved, your Brooklyn tattoo artist will help you place the proper symbol or design in your body.  Beautiful, colorful and at times scary, Japanese style tattoos always stand out from the crowd. They are the perfect tattoos for someone that is heavily into symbolism and meaning. Trust Hand of Glory here in Brooklyn New York to make you the most alluring of Japanese style tattoos for your body.

Traditional Japanese Tattoos

One of the most requested tattoo styles here in New York City are traditional Japanese tattoos. The art of traditional Japanese tattooing is called Irezumi, which literally means “inserting ink.”  Like most of Japanese art, the traditional Japanese tattooing can be traced back centuries. At the beginning, the tattoos signified societal status to determine between master and slave. However, in the ensuing centuries, Japanese traditional tattoos became closely associated with criminality or gangs. By the 18^th century it was identified with people of the lower socioeconomic classes and organized crime. Not long after, the art was banned but foreigners based in the country can still acquire them. As a result, Japanese traditional tattoos along with the symbols, cultural motifs and styles became famous the world over. While still considered largely illegal in Japan today, the style has achieved global popularity.  Japanese traditional tattoos showcase the culture’s affinity for nature especially flowers and animals. Traditional Japanese tattoos depict animal figures that are known for courage, strength and protection such as dragons, tigers and lions. Koi fish in particular is quite popular in traditional Japanese tattoo as it represents good fortune, success and good luck. The Sakura or cherry blossoms are the most popular flower motif for traditional Japanese tattoos. Likewise, you can also find Chrysanthemums, the Lotus flower and peonies as they are widely favored due to their inherent beauty and prevalence. Hand of Glory Tattoo studio here in Brooklyn New York offers authentic traditional Japanese tattoos. Our expert tattoo artists have trained with some of the best Japanese tattoo masters to give you a beautiful rendition of this mystical tattoo style on your skin.

American Traditional Tattoos

If there is a tattoo style here in NYC that never goes out of style, it is the American traditional tattoo.  This is the kind of tattoo drunken sailors’ get after a night on the town. Interestingly, tattooing was introduced in New York City from bored visiting sailors who wanted to pass the time and eventually became an underground phenomenon till it became a mainstream means of expression. There is no shortage of perfect little pin-ups and vintage appeal this tattoo offers. Ask any of our Brooklyn tattoo experts about  American traditional tattoos that feature full black outlines with minimal yet lush color palettes combined with iconic tattoo imagery makes this one of the most popular tongue-in-cheek tattoo styles here in New York. Also known as old school, the tattoos are usually two dimensional images. Quite popular back in the day, the images associated with this style also includes nautical symbols, ships, anchors, mermaids, banners, sparrows and the ever popular pin up girls. The tattoos feature solid red and green colors and sometimes but rarely some yellows, blue, purple and brown with very minimal shading. For nautical and military imagery like eagles, ships, hearts and flags, the artists use thicker lines to convey the subject.  The success and popularity of American traditional tattoos is largely credited to Sailor Jerry, the legendary tattoo artist who honed and developed his craft from Japanese tattooists and developed a completely American feel to the tattoo style. This is the tattoo style worn by the counter culture rebel movement.

Oriental Tattoos

Inspired by Asian culture, oriental tattoos symbolize spirituality and beauty. It is a tattoo style that always reinvents itself. Steeped n culture and history the style has a subtle flexibility while being able to retain its meaning. There are so many options for you to discover with this tattoo style. Just ask any of our expert Brooklyn New York tattoo artists and they will be able to guide you on some wonderful designs for your skin.  Choose from literally hundreds of images and themes that explore Asian folklore and time-honored traditions. Most oriental tattoos can be attributed to the Japanese style of tattooing but other cultures also contribute to the robustness of this tattoo art. For example, Tibetan tattoo is filled with Buddhist and spiritual imagery while Chinese skin art work hearkens influences from the Japanese with ubiquitous symbols such as the phoenix and tiger. Choose from images inspired by nature closely identified with oriental culture such as chrysanthemums and cherry blossoms.  Some of the most popular oriental tattoo imagery are koi fishes, dragons and geishas. Regardless of what you end up choosing, each oriental image is filled with symbolic meaning. Talk to our New York City tattoo artists for advice on proper placement and composition of the images. At Hand of Glory studio Brooklyn NY we can provide you with the assistance you need to help you choose the perfect oriental tattoo that symbolizes your true self.

Watercolor Tattoos

Typical tattoos consist of solid colors and straightforward shading as well as thick, black lines. However, watercolor tattoos are totally something different altogether.  Our Brooklyn tattoo artists can create them in ethereal and fluid forms blended with vivid colors. They are unique tattoos that was inspired from freeform as well as the transparent characteristic of actual painting techniques.  This kind of tattoo wants to standout. For subjects, watercolor tattoos can depict virtually any symbol or image, therefore meanings may also vary according to the wearer.  Many watercolor tattoos depict colorful birds and insects as the watercolor style allows these subjects to get the colors needed for full detail. You can also expect a lot of butterflies as these represent hope, life or rebirth. The semicolon symbol used in a lot of watercolor works is quite popular here in New York as this symbolizes support and hope for survivors of attempted suicide.  There are also a lot of abstract art images as the colors do tend to blend well with the designs. Watercolor tattoos are notorious for fading and those that are done without strong black foundations will fade a little quicker compared to other tattoos. It is important that you protect your watercolor tattoo as much as possible from sun exposure.

Tribal Tattoos

Among the different tattoos popular in New York City, tribal tattoos continue to be one of the most requested designs. Tribal tattoos often have a broad coverage and not all tribal tattoo designs actually refer to a specific tribal culture but may only draw some inspiration from the original designs and patterns seen in the original one. This means that your NYC tattoo artist may conceptualize almost any design. What you do need to know is that most tribal tattoos often have a repeating pattern such as an emphasis of black ink, bold line motifs and involve spiritual symbolism and mythical beasts. Traditional tribal tattoos are based on authentic tribal designs that have been passed on from one generation to the next.  The Ta Moko designs of the Maori tribe are good examples of authentic tribal tattoo design. This tattoo represents the person’s place in society as well as a hallmark of that person’s spiritual and inner self. Hand of Glory Tattoo studio in Brooklyn New York also offers modern tribal tattoo designs that show an element of classical tribal tattoo esthetic with a modern twist. What you get is  cross-cultural design that is not only very beautiful but also quite outstanding. Tribal tattoos also connote a spiritual meaning and intended as protection against evil in some cultures. Some modern designs are for purely aesthetic purposes.

Portrait Tattoos

Portrait tattoos are considered to be one of the most popular tattoo design choices here in New York City as they can be quite versatile and may be accomplished in almost any style you prefer. Portrait tattoos are usually done to commemorate the memory of a loved one that has passed on. However, the image you choose can be anyone you prefer and the most popular ones are celebrities.  The portrait tattoo is rendered in a realistic or artist way. Iconic celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and other Hollywood classic beauties are commonly represented in many portrait tattoo designs here in Brooklyn. In order for a portrait tattoo to truly represent the person or subject of the design, an accurate image must be obtained. The bigger and more detailed the image, the better it will be transferred as a tattoo. Portrait tattoos are not rush jobs and normally might take several hours to complete in order to do right.  The size of a typical portrait tattoo can be similar to the size of a fist or around the size of a softball. Placement should be in a large area of the body particularly areas without creases such as the forearms, calf and biceps. This area is the best for your artist to really convey as much detail as possible to the tattoo.  Hand of Glory Tattoo studio here in Brooklyn New York specializes in many different tattoo styles including portrait tattoos.

Blackwork Tattoos

Another iconic tattoo style you can find in New York City are blackwork tattoos. Blackwork tattoos are immediately recognizable due to the absence of vivid colors and grey tints. This tattoo only use black inks to convey the image onto the skin.  They feature huge black tint sections with complex geometrical as well as symmetric patterns that are inspired by graphic art as well as Polynesian tattoos. This kind of tattoo emphasize on design, which is mostly ornamental in purpose as opposed to a statement of realism.  You can get blackwork tattoos here in Hand of Glory studio Brooklyn New York that range from the most minimal up to the most intricate images and designs.  An optional white ink may be added in order to soften the black tint. The majority of blackwork tattoos are tribal in design but also includes also lettering as well as calligraphic scripts as long as black ink is the only one used. Blackwork may also include geometric designs in the form of esoteric sacred geometry and even ornamental tattoos inspired from Henna designs. The origin of blackwork tattoo lie in ancient tribal tattooing. More specifically, Polynesian designs whose emphasis include abstract patterns in swirls made from large strips of black ink alone. Hand of Glory tattoo artists in Brooklyn New York can create for  you the best blackwork tattoo for your body.

Illustrative Tattoos

Identified very easily due to the trademark line quality and style, Illustrative tattoos can easily be mistaken as skin drawings. Art movements that have influenced this tattoo style are etching and engraving, sketch like gestures, abstract expressionism and German expressionism to name a few. The Illustrative style of tattooing blends the features of American traditional and realism using bold outlines and realistic shading for the purpose of depicting illustration-like designs. There is no limit as to number of colors just as long as the tattoo looks like it could have been drawn on a piece of paper. If the tattoos are done in black and white, they will feature minimal shading only. A lot of Brooklyn New York tattoo artists choose to do the stipple method as opposed to gradiated shading, The effect allows the monochrome tattoos to match longer than they normally can. With Illustrative tattoos, there is practically no limit or precedent to how it should look like which means tattoo artists have more freedom to express their artistic ideas with this style. Other methods used in the illustrative tattoo style are Dotwork, linework and cross-hatching. These methods call for the application of ink for different textures or to achieve an intended look.  At Hand of Glory Tattoo here in New York Citywe specialize in all kinds of tattoo styles including illustrative tattoos. Call us today to know more on how you can get one inked on your skin.

Biomechanical Tattoos

One of the iconic tattoo styles you can find in New York City are biomechanical tattoos. Biomechanical tattoos are unique among the different tattoo styles in the sense that its biggest influence is science fiction. It was born at the time when sci-fi was the biggest thing to hit popular culture. Largely attributed to H.R. Giger, the maker of Alien, the aesthetic of biomechanical tattoos largely consisted of a blend of organic and mechanical imagery. A slimy coating of viscera over bone and metal structures. Brooklyn New York tattoo artists create biomechanical tattoos are done to look cool and show the wearer’s fascination and association to anything science fiction. Biomechanical tattoos share the same features with one another namely the illusion of tearing flesh for the wearer, images of mechanical joints, wires and rods replacing normal bone and muscle, a sinewy look and lastly the element of something alien-like biology mixed with alien technology. Some variants of biomechanical tattoos feature mostly the mechanical element by integrating pistons, gears and even shock absorber like springs. There are two sub styles associated with biomechanical tattoos, the first is the more visceral, horror themed version that concentrates on the image looking alien-like and the mechanical style that makes the wearer look more as a cyborg machine. The Hand of Glory Brooklyn NY tattoo artist designs an image using freehand that is based on the body flow of the client to create the alien and mechanical aesthetic onto the skin. The result is absolutely astounding.

Dotwork Tattoos

Intricate, requiring the masterful hand of a skilled NYC tattoo artist, Dotwork tattoos feature sophisticated geometric images created with nothing more than just dots.  Dotwork tattoos are completely a style of their own and the intricate shading work can make it almost 3D like in appearance. There is no other method to do this type of tattoo other than the Dotwork technique. This style of tattoo is most often associated with geometric, spiritual and religious tattoo symbols.  The Dotwork is normally done using black or grey ink although some red might also be used in order to offer a contrast to the geometric shapes.  Dotwork tattoos have spiritual affinities to Asian or tribal Maori culture. They believe that tattoo artists are healers and the tattoo itself has a specific energy involved embedded in the symbols and these are believed to be very powerful.

When you get this tattoo done in New York City do not expect to have a tattoo gun used as it is not considered to be the best tool for creating the dots. The hand poking method requires skill and a lot of patience but is the best means to really get the details on the skin correctly. Getting this kind of tattoo normally takes more time than a usual color filled artwork but the results are truly worth it.

Geometric Tattoos

Geometric tattoos are one of the most fun tattoo designs you can get from Hand of Glory Tattoo Studio here in Brooklyn New York.. These tattoos form several geometric shapes and lines that if combined form a much larger shape. Some of the popular geometric tattoo designs include leaves, stars, lines as well as other popular shapes and patterns.  Expert NYC Tattoo artists most often use black ink to create these fun tattoos. This tattoo is popular because it gives you the freedom to do pretty much anything you want with the shapes and forms of your choice. This is the kind of tattoo that most people do not regret getting.  They are beautiful, mesmerizing and can hold a symbolic meaning to the user much like other tattoo types.  The symmetrical lines and shapes associated with it look intricate and simple at the same time.  The tattoo shapes associated with this design symbolize ancient spiritual mantras of nature and life. For instance, geometric shapes can represent different elements such as fire, water and wind. A mirrored and symmetrical geometric tattoo symbolizes balance and harmony such as the famous mandala design that has its origins in ancient Hinduism. The shapes and lines associated with geometric tattoos are naturally sharp and clear-cut and often with a sense of continuousness and reverberation, which is the reason why, they beautifully stand out to the wearer.

Neo Traditional Tattoos

Lively, vivid and with a palette that recall rich velvet fall hues combined with intricate details, neo traditional tattoos are considered the most opulent and grandest aesthetic tattoo style in New York City. It combines the methods of traditional American tattoo with a deep history of arts and crafts. Although it does seem to be a far cry from the traditional American style, the neo traditional look aligns itself with the technicalities involved in traditional tattooing.  The line width may be different however, the black outlines are common along with the bigger designs that can be discerned even from a distance. Clearness of composition  as well as giving importance to a black carbon barrier in order to capture color is what is common between the two. The main difference being neo traditional tattoos often have lush details and intense colors. This is mainly attributed to influences from artistic movements of the past that have lent the inspiration for New York City tattoo artists all over to specialize in this type of ink. The artistic movement that is most closely identified with neo traditional tattoos is Art Nouveau and an understanding of the symbolism and context is necessary to discern its influence on the style. Let Hand of Glory in Brooklyn New York achieve tattoo perfection for you with our collection of neo traditional tattoos.

New School Tattoos

Intense color tones, characters that tend to catch the eye, cartoonish and rounded shapes make up the tattoo style known as new school.  The style first made waves on the West coast sometime during the late 70s and early 1980s. Tattoo artists from California began experimenting with designs that involved cartoon characters, popular celebrities of the day and science fiction.  The style came full circle during the 1990s and was considered to be the most influential tattoo style of that particular decade. Since then it also found popularity here in New York City and has evolved to include many subgenres and it remains a popular tattoo style today. New school incorporates bold black lines in order to prevent the color from spreading. The use of big shapes and designs make this as clearly identifiable tattoo. New school tattoo is also heavily influenced today by video games, anime, graffiti art and comic books.  Its core foundations are American traditional and neo traditional tattoo styles.  If you are a serious pop culture fan then this tattoo style is definitely for you. Clearly evolving with the times, it offers a snapshot of American pop culture. Due to its easy adaptability, new school tattoo is a popular specialty with many Brooklyn New York tattoo artists and is influenced by their own personal influences and tastes.

Realistic Tattoos

Realistic tattoo is a specific tattoo style quite popular here in New York that pertains to any ink work on the skin that is done to look as genuine as possible. Subjects can be anything the wearer wants such as a rusty old bike or an old picture or your pet dog. It really does not matter. What matters is how the Brooklyn NY tattoo artist make it almost life-like in appearance. Portraits are of course part of realistic tattoos. They are completely amazing as it seems you are actually wearing a photo on your skin. Experienced New York City tattoo artists use different methods to make the tattoo as realistic as possible. However, the shortfall of realistic tattoos is they can be prone to fading over time. Realistic tattoos are done using very little line work and a lot of emphasis on gradual shading in order to establish the realism the wearer wants. Lots of light and shade effects make the image more lifelike and because little black ink is used, it does tend to fade quicker compared to other tattoos. For realistic tattoos that are done in color, the black ink tends to hold up better compared to the rest of the tattoo and the colored pigments. The fact that this tattoo is fairly new, it has already taken the tattoo world by storm.

Trash Polka Tattoos

Attributed to German tattooists Simone Plaff and Volko Merschky, trash polka is a tattoo style that mimics fine art collages. It blends realistic imagery with smears and smudges in order to create a kinetic image that encourage a chaotic and dissonant feel to the tattoo. Sometimes words are included in the tattoo but not all the time.  This iconic New York City tattoo style is only done using red and black ink as according to the inventor of the style, these colors denote a form of opposites attempting to integrate themselves into a rhythm of harmony with the body.

If you are considering getting a tattoo done in the trash polka style here in New York City there are a few things you need to consider. Keep in mind that only red and black inks are to be used.  It is considered a bold style of tattooing and therefore they tend to stand out due to the implementation of bold and fine lines plus the emphasis on red and black inks only. The result is one truly dramatic tattoo on your body. It is considered a rare style of tattoo, having originated in Europe but has already gained prominence in New York and all over the world. It has a fresh or just finished feel to it as the gloss adds to how great it looks and benefits from the weakness of red and black inks known for fading over time.  Let Hand of Glory Tattoo studio here in Brooklyn New York create for you the most beautiful art work on your skin done in the trash polka style.