Tattoo Styles I was a big success and there I discussed five of the most popular tattoo styles in the world. Here we’ll look at some more good Tattoo Styles which are somewhat under the radar but popular nevertheless. Let’s dive right in.
If you haven’t checked out the first part you can check it here.
Sak-Yant
Sak-Yant is definitely my favorite style of all when it comes to Tattoos. It’s a style originated in the regions of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. It’s an ancient style that’s woven into the cultures of these South East Asian countries. Thailand has been the Mecca of Western party escapes for a long time. With this prolonged exposure much of Thai Culture like Sak-Yant tattoos and Muay Thai fighting have been exported all over the world. Major A-List celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Cara Delevingne sport Sak-Yant ink on their body. Angelina’s back is completely covered in Sak-Yant.
Sak-Yant style is anchored by the Buddhist philosophy and the lifestyles of the Thai and Cambodian people. It’s not necessarily Buddhist tattoos but a combination Hindu, Buddhist and Vedic lore from Asia combined into a great art form. Sak-Yant Tattoos typically consists of Mythical Imagery, Khmer and Thai calligraphy and Buddhist symbols. These words don’t sound much promising by themselves but when combined results magnificent Sak-Yant Tattoos.
Sak-Yant tattooing is done ritually. They are applied either by a Buddhist monk or an Ajarn(An elder teacher) and they use traditional stick and poke type tools to apply the ink. The monk or the ajarn will chant Mantras all throughout the ceremony. It is believed that getting a Sak-Yant like this has magical powers that protects you from harm. It also creates a sacred bond between you and the elder(Monk or Ajarn).
Geometric
Geometric is another great Tattoo Style that emerged in the recent years. Well geometry has been a part of tattooing for centuries. Polynesian tattoos also incorporate some geometry into its’ designs. Much of all ancient forms of tattooing have geometric elements in them. However in the recent years a style has emerged where the core foundation of its’ designs are based on geometry.
Some of these are based on Sacred Geometry. Sacred Geometry is a representation of the mathematics underlying the existence of the Universe in geometric shapes. In basic sense this style has geometric elements like circles, triangles, squares and hexagons integrated into seamless beautiful designs. They are normally done in black ink and some artist use a black and gray variation to add more depth to the designs.
This style doesn’t specifically belong to any one culture, so if you’d like to get one you can find an artist anywhere in the world from whom you can get this type of a tattoo. However this is an advanced style of tattooing and it’ll help if the artist you choose has experience in this style and knows how to combine the geometric designs together. If it’s the artist’s first time doing this kind of a tattoo you’re better off somewhere else. So talk with the artist and make a decision based on their experience and their ability to design what you want.
Micro-Realism
Micro-Realism Tattoos are done by single needles or three needles. They have the 3 dimensional and lifelike look of Realism Tattoos to them but in a very small size. Micro-Realism tattoos when properly done will look very good. But you have to be aware of how the tattoo will age with time. Tattoos never look the same way as when it was first done, once it heals. With time the lines become a bit thicker and the ink spreads out of the initial fine lines. In the case of Micro-Realism tattoos the risk of this fading is higher.
But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done if the artist knows what they are doing. Generally your every corner tattoo artist won’t be able to give you a lasting Micro Realism Tattoo. So speak with specialized artists, look at their previous work and how they have healed, and make an informed decision if you are thinking of getting a Micro-Realism Tattoo.
Script
Script tattoos are a classic 90s Tattoo right along with cringy Tribal Tattoos. Though it was more popular in the 90s than they are now Script Tattoos have evolved into a great genre of tattooing under the radar. There are great Script Tattoo artists who do magnificent work.
Script Tattoos however, are not basic wording tattoos that are printed out from a computer font. Script tattoos are hand drawn by artists who have studied calligraphy extensively. Artists have to balance all the dimensions of the letters by themselves to make the Script look uniform. This is a high-risk, high-reward Tattoo Style. If done wrong it will look absolutely horrible but if done right it will be great work of art.
One thing that’s really great about proper Script Tattoos are their versatility. If your artist is talented they can customize the design to fit any part of your body by designing the Tattoo to flow with the shape of the body part.
Neo-Traditional
I discussed about American Traditional Tattoos in the first post on Tattoo Styles. Check it out here .
Neo-Traditional Tattoos are a newer take on the classic American Traditional style. American Traditional Tattoos had a set of go-to images like ships, hearts, daggers and eagles and they also had a go-to color palette of Reds, Greens, Yellows and Whites. In Neo-Traditional Tattoos the imagery and the color palate is more diversified while keeping the structural integrity of the Traditional Tattoos. That means the clean bold lines, bright straight forward imagery are the same in Neo-Traditional Tattoos as their predecessors’.
This is also a specialized style of tattoo that you shouldn’t get from a non-Neo-Traditional artist. I’ve seen artists who don’t know a clue about this style doing tattoos on clients and it looks really bad.
More???
With Tattoo Styles I and Tattoo Styles II I’ve discussed most popular Tattoo Styles in the world. There are a couple more like dot work, line-work, watercolor that can be discussed in a future article.
