Blackwork style tattoo – style features, an overview of popular subjects, sketches for men and girls, photos of works

A bit of history

The popular style of tattoos in the spirit of intense black can be called a continuation of ethnic embroidery that originated in the Middle East several centuries ago. According to another hypothesis, Polynesians decorated themselves with underwear painting Blackwork (“black work”) to visualize their talents and occupation.

Sailors brought a similar fashion to Europe, they believed in protecting jewelry on the body from death in the depths of the sea. If the Europeans of the past were more fond of embroideries for court ladies, then since the 60s of the last century, strict dark ornaments have become tattoos.

What is the peculiarity of the Blackwork style

A characteristic feature of the popular trend is the covering of vast areas of the skin surface with a mysterious pattern according to a pre-made sketch. For the work of the master, they use mainly black pigment. Occasionally, clients order a dilution of the dominant color with red or white blotches. There are two camps among Blackwork fans:

• lovers of black and gray tones;
• color fans.

However, saturated paintings of any type have a common feature – they must be well painted over, not have bald spots, not gape gaps.

The non-standard appearance of the universal Blackwork is in harmony with any image, suitable for any style of clothing.

The examples in the photo fascinate with the monochrome realm of blackness, the brightness of the multi-colored tribal tattoos, and the neo-tribal style.

Review of popular stories

The modern version of the tattoo does not look rough, as the sketches are often complemented by contrasts and shadows of other techniques. Among the manifestations of a new way of self-expression, there are several plots that are most popular among salon clients.

Blackwork in geometric shapes

Among the most popular sketches can be attributed three-dimensional geometry in the style of cubism. These are not only strict figures, but also stylized panels with animals, assembled in the spirit of geometric shapes.

The standard of the idea of ​​supermatism for fans of the Blackwork direction was the geometry of Malevich’s “Black Square” – the silent splendor of blackness.

Blackwork with full coverage

Many fans of graphic art were attracted by the possibility of completely filling with black pigment parts of the body of impressive size (neck, arms or legs). To soften the boundaries of the tattoo masters use a combination of different styles. For example, the connection of a blackwork sleeve with a small element in the spirit of dotwork, made using the dot technique of applying paint.

It is smooth transitions from solid arrays in the figure to air dots that create a three-dimensional effect, smooth out the sharpness of the tattoo break line.

Blackwork in the spirit of ornament

Elements of patterns of modern tattooing can be repeated or alternated with each other. The special beauty of the ornaments on the body is achieved thanks to the unique design work of the master or a fancy sketch of the client. The presence of ethnic blocks in blackwork patterns is akin to a tribal tattoo.

However, similar style has some differences. In Blackwork, the bet is on the visualization of the beauty of regular geometry, the tribal is based on the mystical meaning of sacred patterns. The combination of the two directions is called a characteristic manifestation of neotribalism.

Blackwork for disguise

Progressive technique is often used to cover up boring or unsuccessful tattoos, old scars. Such work requires the special accuracy of the master to apply one pattern to another. The reason for careful adherence to technology is the difficulty in removing blackwork tattoos.

Male and female sketches

Unusual technique has no gender differences. This is a modern style of free people, not burdened by the influence of prejudice and other people’s opinions. Both men and women are fond of volumetric painting on the body, but there are still some differences in the plots.

• Men. The stronger sex prefers voluminous blackwork sketches for large tattoos. Most often, men choose images of wolves and bears, there are deer and even snakes that adorn the hand. Of the birds, these are ravens, eagles with open wings that cover their backs, as well as patterns from snake skins, variations of the skeletal theme.
• Women. Girls decide to fill laconic blackwork miniatures without aggression or intimidating elements. Some ladies are fond of drawings on a marine or space theme, others like mountain landscapes of forest expanses. Blackwork fans often also fill transparent buds on a shaded background.

Of particular interest is the blackwork sleeve, which occupies a separate niche in tattoo art. A bold version of the tattoo, which has no age restrictions, usually begins on the head of the shoulder, beautifully flows down the arm, covering the wrist.

In some cases, the pattern goes to the back and chest with an original play of shades of dark color. Among the many options for a blackwork sleeve, you can choose the most unusual fantasy, order a Blackwork master according to your own sketch.

Features of the tattoo process

A tattooing session cannot be called painless, since for voluminous cases it is required to create a dense coating. The pain increases due to repeated needle pricks in the same area. An experienced specialist can reduce pain by alternating sections.

To fill a voluminous blackwork sleeve, you will need more than one session and patience. The complexity of the technique is in achieving an even application of the pigment, and the simplicity is in the absence of the need to change paint when forming contours and gradients. But checking the work for the absence of gaps is necessary.

The direction of Blackwork has given impetus to the development of other popular styles that are applied manually by professional masters of modern salons. The past peak of popularity has been replaced by a stable band of mass fashion for tattoos, the meaning of which should not be associated with a deeply hidden secret meaning.

Photo ideas of blackwork tattoos