Finding The Right Tattoo Artist for the Style You Want
At Alchemy Tattoo Collective, with two locations in St. Louis and over 20 talented artists, we pride ourselves on offering a diverse range of tattoo styles. Whether you're a tattoo novice or a seasoned collector, understanding the different styles can help you find the perfect match for your next piece of body art. Here's a guide to some of the most popular tattoo styles you'll find at our shop, and the artists who either specialize and/or want to do more work in that style.
Keep in mind, tattoo styles overlap and one tattoo can fall under several styles.
Traditional Tattoos (American Traditional)
Known for its bold lines, bright colors, and iconic imagery, traditional tattoos often feature designs like anchors, roses, skulls, and pin-up girls. Often using more simple designs and compositions, traditional tattoos can be done realitively fast compared to other styles. This style is perfect for those who appreciate a classic look with timeless appeal.
Realism tattoos
Realism tattoos focus on accurately replicating real-life imagery, creating lifelike designs with high attention to detail. They typically depict subjects like portraits, animals, nature, or objects, and use shading, contrast, and fine lines to mimic depth and texture. Realism tattoos can be in full color or black and grey, and do not have the outlines typically associated with tattoos. With a focus on capturing the intricacies of light and shadow to create a three-dimensional effect, the goal is to make the tattoo look as close to the real thing as possible, often resembling a photograph or a hyper-detailed painting.
Watercolor tattoos
Watercolor tattoos replicate the appearance of watercolor paintings, using soft, flowing color gradients and organic shapes. Unlike traditional tattoos, they often lack strong outlines, with colors bleeding into one another to create a seamless, fluid effect. The style mimics brushstrokes and splashes of paint, giving the tattoo a dynamic, almost ethereal look. Watercolor tattoos can stand alone as abstract art or be layered with more detailed line work to enhance subjects like flowers, animals, or landscapes. This style is characterized by its vibrant colors, delicate fades, and an artistic, free-form feel that often gives the impression of a painting directly on the skin.
Black and Grey tattoos
As the name suggests, Black and Grey tattoos use varying shades of black ink to create depth and dimension. This versatile style can be used for anything from portraits to intricate patterns, offering a more subdued and classic aesthetic.
Neo-Traditional tattoos
Building on the foundation of Traditional tattoos, Neo-Traditional tattoos style incorporates more complex shading, a broader color palette, and a greater emphasis on detail. This style often features bold outlines and a mix of traditional and contemporary elements.
Minimalism tattoos
Minimalist tattoos focus on simplicity and clean lines, often using black ink to create small, straightforward designs. This style is ideal for those who prefer subtle, elegant tattoos that make a statement without being overly complex.
Fineline tattoos
Fineline tattoos are characterized by their use of delicate, thin lines to create intricate designs with high levels of detail. They often involve highly precise line work and can range from realistic portraits to detailed floral arrangements or geometric patterns. The key feature of fineline tattoos is their sharp, crisp outlines without bold shading or heavy fills, resulting in a lighter, more subtle aesthetic. These tattoos tend to be more intricate than minimalism tattoos, which focus on simplicity and reducing designs to their most essential elements. While both styles use clean lines, fineline tattoos emphasize precision and detail, often with more complex compositions compared to the simplified forms seen in minimalism
Dotwork tattoos
Dotwork tattoos are created using numerous tiny dots to form intricate patterns and shading. This technique can be used on its own or to enhance other styles, adding texture and depth to the design.
Geometric Tattoos
Geometric tattoos incorporate shapes, lines, and patterns to create visually striking designs. Whether it's a simple geometric shape or a complex mandala, this style offers a modern and symmetrical aesthetic.
Surrealism tattoos
Surrealism tattoos blend reality with fantasy, creating dreamlike images that challenge the boundaries of conventional art. This style is ideal for those who want a tattoo that is both imaginative and thought-provoking.
Anime tattoos
Inspired by the vibrant art of Japanese animation, anime tattoos feature beloved characters, scenes, and symbols from popular series. Known for their bright colors and detailed line work, these tattoos are perfect for fans wanting to celebrate their favorite shows.
Illustrative tattoos
Illustrative tattoos combine the aesthetics of fine art with tattooing, often inspired by classical illustration techniques. This style emphasizes clean, fluid lines and detailed shading, with an approach that can range from realistic to abstract or stylized. Designs often include elements like intricate line work, hatching, or stippling to create depth and texture. Illustrative tattoos cover a broad spectrum of subjects, such as animals, flora, people, or surreal scenes, and may use black and grey or bold, vibrant colors. The focus is on artistic expression, conveying a story or concept through unique, hand-drawn imagery.
At Alchemy Tattoo Collective, our experienced artists are skilled in these styles and more. We take pride in creating custom tattoos that reflect your personal style and vision. Visit us at either of our St. Louis locations to consult with one of our artists and bring your tattoo ideas to life.
By focusing on these diverse styles, Alchemy Tattoo Collective ensures that every client finds a tattoo that perfectly matches their aesthetic and personal story.