20 ready-made designs

Blackwork tattoo flash

Blackwork uses black as the whole vocabulary rather than an outline. Solid fills, dense hatching and negative space doing the work colour would do elsewhere. It covers well, it ages exceptionally, and it is unforgiving of a rushed stencil.

What to know about blackwork work

  • Large solid fills take longer to heal than outlines and often need a second pass. Budget for it.
  • Blackwork is the strongest option for covering existing work.
  • Contrast is everything. A blackwork piece needs untouched skin around it to read, so plan the space before you plan the design.

Where it sits best

Outer arms, shins, backs and chests. Blackwork wants a large uninterrupted canvas rather than a gap between existing pieces.

Browse other styles

Fine Line (202) Traditional (5) Realism (1)