a collection of terms commonly used when discussing work
just to make sure we’re all on the same page
terms listed alphabetically w/ photo example
ABSTRACT CALLIGRAPHY
ABSTRACT CALLIGRAPHY refers to work that is made using lettering as a shape guide but is ultimately an exploration of shape and flow.
ABSTRACT CALLIGRAPHY can be done as linework (pictured here), linework with a shaded fill, or with a solid black fill.
BLACKWORK
blackwork tattoos are characterized by a heavy use of black ink, high contrast, bold lines. Blackwork pieces are just blacks no greys or any other colors. Can range from a full sleeve of black ink to a high contrast rendering of an image. Blackwork differs from blackouts in the sense that blackwork pieces incorporate design elements instead of being a field of solid black ink.
BLACKOUT
the use of black ink to entirely cover a part of the body. Usually refers to complete coverage of a body part such as a forearm or full arm. Blackouts differ from black work in that there is no design work, it’s just a field of solid black ink.
BLASTOVER
blastovers refer to tattoos that go over pre-existing tattoos without fully covering them. Blastovers can be any design, color, or composition the only element inherent to their identity is that they don’t exist to intentional cover a specific tattoo and rather serve to interact with the existing pieces.
Pictured is a tattoo of a statue placed over a several year old red flower. Both tattoos are clearly seen and readily identifiable.
Body Flower
This refers to a single flower that spans the entire length of a body. Body flowers are the primary form of asymmetric flower heads that I’m working with. Usually starts at the ankle and ends somewhere on the upper torso.
Body Lines
Body lines are a type of blackwork design that is intended to connect various parts of your body. They are freehanded on and can be symmetrical or asymmetrical but are defined by their length and often contain hints of repetition.
You could say “I’d like some symmetrical body lines going from my wrist to my chest” and you’d get a piece like the one shown.
BOUQUET
*this definition is specific to PrettySkinStickers* bouquets are collections of 8 sided flowers with stems. The flower heads can be of uniform size or varied size, they can be large or small
Calligraphy
Abstract designs whose shapes originate in script but whose ultimate form references iron work, art nouveau, architecture etc etc.
Single words or phrases can be used as a starting point and then broken down, most of the time it’s just single letters that are repeated and abstracted though.
Calligraphy can be done as linework, linework with a shaded fill, or with a solid black fill (pictured here).
COVER UP
The intentional placement of a design to cover an existing tattoo. This is what you refer to when you no longer want to see or be able to easily perceive the tattoo underneath the new tattoo. Every artist has a different way of achieving this and certain styles are better than others at achieving this effect.
Pictured is an example of a cover up in process.
CUSTOMS
The word “custom” refers to a piece of work that is drawn specifically for a client, to fit the needs of the client.
Custom work typically lives in a similar world to the available flash (see below) but is drawn from scratch as part of a conversation between the client and tattooer.
Pictured is a custom drawn and fitted head piece
FLASH
Flash has had many definitions over time throughout the tattoo industry. For our purposes flash refers to any work that has already been drawn by the artist before the appointment, without input from any client. Slight changes can be made to flash pieces to fit placement or client aesthetic.
Pictured is the original flash overlaid over the final tattoo. The color was changed from red to black and the legs lengthened to better fill the space.
Linework
Any design that exists solely as small lines. Generally characterized by a lack of shading or fill.
Sometimes an initial session is all linework to make sure the piece can accurately be worked on at a later date.
Sometimes the piece is just linework.
Linework can be useful to fill space without the weight of blackwork, it can serve as a useful texture layer by blasting over existing work, or it can be used to lay the groundwork for future blackwork to go over it.
Multi-Session
This term refers to pieces that require multiple sessions to complete.
Multi session pieces usually mean the first session is devoted to design work & lining with subsequent sessions used to fill out the design.
Sessions are usually booked 2-3 months apart.
Pictured is the end of the third session on this flower. First session was drawing and lining. Second session we filled in the stem, and the third session was all petal work. We’ll only need one more shorter session to finish the last two petals.
Script
Usually refers to text work based on cursive writing. Most of my script work is reflected in order to highlight the shape and flow of the word rather than the meaning.
Meaning is impossible to escape unfortunately and the text reads correctly in the mirror.