Western Traditional

Traditional or Western Traditional or Old School

This is the European and American experience in tattooing.

In the mid 1800 Thomas Cook brought back a Maori Chieftain for exposition in England, re-igniting the interest in tattooing, and with the beginning of trade throughout the East, Sailors and the military began to get tattooed on their travels. These were small pieces as most of the men were in transit so not able to get larger tattoos. The subject matter was mostly commemorative for loved ones or those that have passed and places visited. The military would tend towards insignia or power images, dragons, eagles and tigers, and the cheeky pin-up for those more risky.

So Western Traditional is governed by method of tattooing and equipment and inks available. Solid broad lines, reduced detail and a limited colour palette, Black, blue, red, yellow, green and brown. The placement was often random, but in the skilled tattoo studios of the time each piece’s relation to one another was very important.