American traditional

American traditional tattoos are recognised by their bold black outlines, clear shapes and limited palette of saturated colours. Roses, eagles, hearts, daggers and nautical imagery are familiar subjects. The designs give the main image enough weight to be recognisable from a distance.

Much of the appeal is in the drawing itself. A single black panther can have as much presence as a whole collection of colourful pieces. If you enjoy the old school look, you can start with one standalone tattoo and gradually add other designs around it.

Think about the image you keep coming back to and the mood you want it to have. Even a familiar subject takes on a different character through its pose, proportions, colours and placement on your body.