Does the black and grey tattoo style suit you? Many people associate these kinds of tattoos with prisoners and teens trying desperately to look cool. However, if you go to a competent tattoo artist, the black and grey tattoo could look like a real work of art. Black and grey art creates a bit of a somber, thought-provoking mood with a focus on light and form that makes the viewer appreciate the image as a whole. Some great shadowing and depth effects can be achieved using the black and grey technique.
Let’s look at the favorite subjects of people who go for this austere seeming style.
Portraits
If you want to get a tattoo that is a portrait of someone, it will almost certainly be done in black and grey. The effect will look like a pen and ink drawing. Remember to go to a tattoo artist who specializes in portraits. If they know what they’re doing, the tattoo will look like a realistic depiction of the person you want to be immortalized on your flesh.
Animals
Whether it’s your pet or a wild animal you identify with, the black and grey style is perfect for depicting the texture of fur or scales. The monochrome scheme adds a sense of drama that brings out the feelings evoked by the animal of your choice.
Spiritual
Using monochrome to illustrate sacred subjects is a tradition going back to the Middle Ages. The absence of color here brings us into a different world that forces the mind to focus on the deep spiritual meaning. It can symbolize the light overcoming the dark in a very literal way,
Plants
While many people admire the colors of some plants, there is a beauty in them that can also be captured in black and grey. The shapes, the textures, the shading, the intricate veining of the leaves can all be captured in black and grey. It makes us look at the plant itself without color as a distraction.
Geometric
If you are getting the geometric tattoo, a black and greyscale will help the viewer focus more on the pattern of the shapes and lines. If you are going with something tribally inspired, the black and grey color scheme will make it look more authentic. You will find that nearly all geometric and ornamental tattoos are done in black and grey.
Memento Mori
Some people get a tattoo of a skull or hourglass to remind them that death could come at any time, so life should be lived to the fullest. The somberness of such Memento Mori (Latin for “remember, you will die”) is underscored by deep blacks and gradients of grey.