One of the latest trends in tattooing is the blackout tattoo. This involves large areas of skin inked entirely black and should be considered by anyone who believes in the words of Mic Jagger: “I want to see the sun blotted out of the sky.”
There are some among us who were simply born nocturnal.
We do not understand society’s fixation on the purity of white, the sterilized white cubes of offices and museums, or the joy that people feel in the morning. we keep the blinds down and wait until at least 5pm. m. to set foot outdoors. to fit our behaviors, we prefer black tattoos.
Many get dark tattoos to cover up drunken mistakes they made in college, but many more love the style. The look is attributed to Singaporean tattoo artist Chester Lee, a guy who made headlines in 2015 for getting the first known eye tattoo.
“Tattoos can sometimes be irrational decisions,” Lee says, “and people end up regretting it. dark tattoos are a convenient way to cover them up.”
Traditional tattoos have been stagnant for decades. The blackout tattoo, however, makes use of negative space to add a whole new dimension to body art. get a blackout tattoo and join the movement.
1. negative space blackout tattoo sleeves
opaque sleeves are dramatic. this bold approach using large swathes of black ink is inherently limited by the monochrome nature of the work. That said, there’s a clever way to create more interesting designs on opaque cases: negative space.
By exposing intact skin and applying a dense layer of black around it, these artists are able to produce a variety of different patterns and designs in these full sleeve tattoos. the high level of contrast in these dramatic tattoos demonstrates how effectively negative space can be used in opaque sleeves.
2. simple opaque tattoo sleeves
For many, these opaque sleeves are almost anti-tattooing: people who get these pieces rebel against the subtle shades and vivid colors that draw so many others into the tattoo world. instead, they choose dense black and lack of pattern to express their style and attitudes. Despite this sentiment, incorporating a limited number of patterns and designs can break up the monotony of opaque sleeves, and these pieces are excellent examples of how this can be achieved.
3. opaque mosaic tattoo sleeves
We are all familiar with the vibrant mosaics of Rome, depicting heroes and gods such as Alexander the Great and Bacchus, the god of wine, however these opaque sleeves are not your typical mosaic. Eschewing the bright colors that represent portraits and landscapes in favor of abstract geometric designs, the fully saturated black and negative space used to create negative space provides artists with a tool to create stunning designs. These opaque sleeves use more complex patterns to create unique designs that set these pieces apart from other similar tattoos.
4. opaque tribal tattoo sleeves
Tribal designs continue to gain popularity in the tattoo world, and these opaque sleeves offer an interesting take on these ancient tattoo traditions. the intricate, alternating patterns that characterize polynesian and samoan tribal designs are perfectly suited to incorporate into opaque sleeves because of the way they can create contrast. large swaths of black ink, when viewed in close proximity to the intricate tribal patterns, help the designs stand out even more.
5. geometric tattoos with opaque sleeves
The geometric patterns that have gained popularity in the last ten years are also perfectly suited to these opaque sleeves. Once again, we can see how these large, bold areas of fully saturated black ink increase contrast and help make these complex geometric designs look even more intricate. these pieces are great examples of how these seemingly opposite styles can be successfully combined to create dynamic tattoos.
6. innovative opaque tattoo sleeves
A good artist always strives to create better and more imaginative designs, and these opaque sleeves are one of the latest developments in endless tattoo innovation. Combining different styles and approaches, from intricate patterns to elements of hyper-realism, these stunning tattoos prove that just because these designs feature large swathes of black ink doesn’t mean they can’t be exciting and innovative.
7. opaque negative space/white ink line tattoos
As we’ve seen, when it comes to opaque sleeves, one of the few ways to add detail and contrast is through the use of intact skin known as negative space. Another way artists can increase this contrast and produce more interesting designs is by incorporating white ink into their approach. These artists use negative space to create the patterns and designs on these sleeves and then go back with white ink to increase contrast and make the patterns more visible and attractive.
8. opaque tattoo sleeve covers
When we think of opaque sleeves, the first thing that often comes to mind is cover-ups. As we have seen, this is not necessarily the most common motivation behind these flashy tattoos, but it would be remiss to argue that none of them are a cover-up. These pieces demonstrate how completely and successfully opaque sleeves can be used to cover existing ink.
dark sleeve tattoo frequently asked questions
How much do blackout tattoos cost?
money makes the world go round and sadly this rule applies to tattoos as much as anything else. In a perfect world, the only things to consider when getting a tattoo would be the designs and placement, but unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world and tattoos cost money…but how much?
A good starting point when thinking about tattoo prices is the national average. In the United States, the national average for artists is $250 an hour. while this will vary from store to store based on location, popularity, and experience of the artists who work there, it’s a good baseline.
When it comes to these opaque sleeves, since the designs are fairly straightforward, the biggest determining factor is time. Even though these sleeves are mostly black ink, the density with which the ink must be packed to create a fully saturated black means that an artist will have to make multiple passes over each area, extending the time period.
for one of these full sleeves expect to pay at least $1000 usd, though again this will vary from store to store.
Is a tattooor a cost-effective alternative to laser removal?
One of the reasons many people choose to apply opaque sleeves is to cover up existing tattoos – perhaps they are gang related or commemorate a failed relationship. Whatever the reasons, sometimes people would rather cover up their ink than look at it another day. but why not use a laser hair removal treatment?
The reality is that one is not the same as the other, and it depends on the person and the tattoo. There wouldn’t be much point in blacking out an entire arm to cover up a medium-sized tattoo and it’s a safe bet that walking around with a “killed” arm isn’t to everyone’s taste. That said, many people find this dark aesthetic appealing and it suits their sensibilities.
For those who love tattoos enjoy the idea of opaque sleeves and just want to forget about their old ink covering it up, this is a great option. For people who have a smaller tattoo that they regret, laser removal is a better alternative.
