Black and grey

Black and grey tattoos work with black ink and a range of grey tones. Areas of bare skin often provide the lightest parts of the image, while shading creates volume and depth. The result can feel soft and understated or dark and dramatic.

This approach works across flowers, animals, portraits, ornamental pieces and illustrations. Black and grey describes the palette, so a tattoo can use these tones and still be realistic, graphic or a mixture of both.

When collecting references, look at the shading as well as the subject. Do you prefer gentle transitions and plenty of open skin, or strong areas of black? That choice can change the mood of the same design considerably and gives your artist a useful starting point.