With World Tattoo Day yesterday, there’s no better time to get inked. And if you want something different from the conventional black and grey shaded artwork, look no further than watercolour tattoos. One of the top trends for the year, the vivid colours, and free-flowing style when done by a skilled artist can literally look like a watercolour painting on your skin. Any design or motif can be recreated in this style ranging from nature imagery to animals, abstract shapes and motifs. Read on to know more about this technique.
Enhance An Old Tattoo
Indians really like colour. At times clients come in specifically for enhancing their old tattoos, says Vikas Malani, celebrity tattoo artist and co-founder, Body Canvas Tattoos. “For some of the tattoos, the most we can do as enhancement is adding the watercolour effect (a dash of colour to a boring black and gray tattoo) that changes the look of it completely. Also, clients do come in asking specifically for watercolour tattoos, however, these are not possible on very pigmented skin as the hues don’t look the same,” explains Vikas. He finds that there’s mainly a demand for geometric patterns, flowers and mandalas as designs.
Not Suitable For Everyone
Watercolour tattoos though done in a similar style to regular ones require a lot of pre-planning for the design process. They tend to look a little more feminine and as a result more women want this style. Sunny Bhanushali, founder and tattoo artist, Aliens Tattoo Studio mentions that this technique requires a more skilled tattoo artist. Preferably with an artistic background and a good amount of work experience. “Watercolour tattoos work best on fairer skin tones. We avoid doing it on medium dark to very dark skin tones. Our skin and the pigments within play a major role in the output of the colour,” he warns.
Results Can Differ
This tattoo style has been picking up quite a bit of late, finds J’son D’souza, proprietor, Tatau tattoo studio. It is also a versatile option as any art work can be given a watercolour splash. “When opting for a coloured tattoo, whether watercolour or a regular one, the results can differ based on the individual’s skin. Some people carry it off well, while with others it fades faster. Shades of red, orange and yellow show up well on those with wheatish skin, while lighter skin has more colour options,” he says, adding that it’s advisable to get these done on body parts less exposed to sunlight such as the chest, back and leg as they retain colour longer.
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