The Complete Guide to Tattoo Styles in Mississauga

Did you know that there are over 1 million Canadians proudly sport tattoos? That comes out to an estimated 28% or more of the Canadian population having ink. That’s a lot of ink, and a lot of tattoo styles floating around. No one knows tattoo styles better than the best tattoos shops in Mississauga, Chronic Ink Tattoo, having over a decade of experience providing local area residents with some of the most impressive artwork out there. Tattoos can be inked using a variety of techniques. They can come in a wide variety of shapes, designs, sizes, colours, shading options and patterns. When it comes to placement the sky is the limit, and subject only to your desires and any biological limitations. For example, hand tattoos often wash out. But before you decide on a place to get your tattoo, it’s best to first learn about some of the more popular tattoo styles out there today. Some of the most common and popular styles include Realism tattoos, Fine Line tattoos, Asian tattoos, and Blackwork tattoos. This complete guide to tattoo styles in Mississauga will dissect each style to help you get a better idea of which one will be the best option for you. If you have more questions, or are ready to hop in the tattoo chair, give us a call, drop us a line or stop by our shop today. Our team of highly talented award-winning tattoo artists are ready to help you turn your vision into reality. Popular Tattoo Styles in Mississauga

Realism Tattoos

Realism tattoos use techniques that make the artist’s depiction look exactly like an actual photograph or a virtual 3D object. The word realism refers to art that is detailed, precise, and an accurate representation of an image in real life. This particular styling of ink is most commonly used for depictions of faces, portraits, animals, objects, and scenery. The style requires patience, both on the part of the artist, and the person sitting for the tattoo. The artist painstakingly captures every inch of detail, including the many layers, colours, and features of the person, object, or animal being depicted. Realism tattoos require many colours and layers in order to get an ideal amount of contrast and 3D effect out of the imagery. In fact, artists can even make the tattoo appear wet, glazed, shiny, smoky, shady, or fuzzy. The devil is truly in the details with realism tattoos, but given that this style is so unique, you’ll want to make sure that your artist either specializes or is highly familiar with the style. At Chronic Ink Tattoo, we have award-winning artists on staff that are highly capable in this style of ink, and who can help you find exactly what you need.

Fine Line Tattoos

Fine Line tattoos are elegant, discreet, small, monotone, and delicate. Recent advancements in tattoo technology now enables tattoo artists to work in unbelievable amounts of detail into fine line tattoos — so much so that sometimes Fine Line tattoos can look as if they were carefully sketched onto the skin with a specialized mechanical pen. Fine Line tattooing utilizes straight and/or curved lines, without gradients of colour or shade, in order to capture 2D or 3D objects in a very unique way. They emphasize outline and form over texture, colour, and shading. People who seek to get these types of tattoos on their body are looking to showcase a tattoo that has an exquisite level of detail. Even though these tattoos lack bold accents of colour, there are areas of pigment and dots that are sometimes used in combination with the lines. Fine Line Tattoos are inked using a round liner needle, which explains why these types of tattoos tend to be less painful as a traditional tattoo, where the lines are thicker and bolder. Common fine line tattoo designs include:

• Symbols
• Geometric Shapes
• Quotes and writing
• Musical notes
• Outlines of flowers and nature
• Simple sketches
• And more

Asian Tattoos

Asian tattoos stem from an ancient and ever-evolving tradition of traditional Eastern tattooing. Asian tattoos often have elements of wind, fire, waves, lotus flowers, dragons and more incorporated into the overall design of the tattoo. There are two main types of Asian tattoos: traditional and neo-traditional. Traditional Asian tattoos are usually large and interconnected across the body in order to form a single piece of artwork. They also have a strict structure to them with bars of wind and waves defining the edges of the tattoo. Neo-traditional Asian tattoos, on the other hand, are a take on traditional Asian tattoo designs and motifs. Instead of following a strict structure, Neo-traditional Asian tattoos use the body’s natural curves to hug the body in order to get a better fit and flow to the tattoo. Common Asian Tattoo Designs Include:

• Lotus flower
• Warrior
• Dragon
• Tiger
• Ying-yang
• Calligraphy and characters
• Symbols
• And more

Blackwork Tattoos

Blackwork tattoos are more commonly known as tribal tattoos. These pieces of art are best known for their rich background and history. Blackwork tattoos are characterized by their bold, black shading and unmistakable motifs that range from abstract angles to sharp, swirling waves. Blackwork tattoos are highly symbolic and derive largely from Polynesian culture. Blackwork tattoos are commonly inked in solid, black patterns that may be geometric or abstract in nature, and feature recognizable subjects and forms or figurative forms. Most Blackwork tattoos tend to carry a host of symbolism. Originally, they were worn by Polynesian tribes thousands of years ago as a way to communicate identity, ideas of warfare, and religious beliefs. Today, these types of tattoos have taken over Western culture and continue to be a solid style of tattoo chosen by both men and women.

Tattoo Styling to Impress

No matter which style of tattoo you choose, always make sure you select the style that best fits your personality and style. Our skilled and reputable artists are ready and excited to help you decide on the best style and design to bring your vision into reality. For more information give us a call at (416) 341-0311 to schedule an appointment, or drop by our tattoo shops in Mississauga today, we’d love to learn more about how we can help.