If you’re looking for the most recognizable tattoo style out there, it’s the black-and-gray tattoo. The black-and-gray tattoo style has certainly gained popularity among tattoo aficionados. This type may seem simple, but it has a rich history and requires a skillful hand.
Black-and-gray tattoos were first known as “jailhouse tattoos” because it’s believed this style got its start in prison. Artists had to get creative because of the lack of equipment. Cigarette ashes or pen ink were used in place of tattoo ink. Guitar strings were used to make a needle, and a tape recorder would power the machine. Since prisons banned tattoos, artists had to move quickly and quietly to complete the pieces. This efficiency would result in a clean, smooth, and fast tattoo style. Toward the end of the 1970s, the style took off in popularity.
Social media has made this tattoo style more popular than ever, and it’s no guess as to why. Even though this tattoo style lacks color, it’s vibrant and striking in its own way.
What are black-and-gray tattoos? Simply put, they employ a system of shading that doesn’t require any color. You can find black-and-gray tattoos that showcase every style, from traditional to realism to portraiture. Most tattoo artists use a single needle to use various shades of black and white to create the perfect black-and-gray tattoo. Artists will achieve depth and texture by building on the black ink’s saturation, which creates a three-dimensional image. This imagery is especially important for black-and-gray portrait tattoos. The result is a clean, crisp tattoo that accurately and artistically represents the subject.
Inknation Studio boasts the most talented artists skilled in rendering and executing the best-looking black and gray tattoos. It will be a piece you can be proud of forever. Contact us today to make an appointment with our studio.
