Fur-Ever by Your Side: The Evolution of Pet Portait Tattoos
For as long as tattoos have been around, people have used their bodies as tapestries to tell their stories – from iconic statement pieces indicating journeys across continents through to portraits and memorial pieces, we sentimentalists are constantly looking for new ways to wear and share our worlds. Across the last few decades particularly we’ve seen the emergence of new styles, the evolution of the long beloved, and new and improved application techniques that offer hundreds of new stylistic choices with which one can tell their story.
Paw-prints became a popular choice of tattoo quite some time ago. As society started accepting tattoos as a mainstream form of self-expression, people looked for ways in which they could carry their beloved four-legged-friends with them for eternity. As a result, the classic paw-print tattoo, often adorned with a cursive name alongside, became the go-to design for anybody who wanted to eternally memorialise their fur-baby.
Classic paw-print tattoo by Taj @plasma.revolver
But the paw-print classic is not really my style… So now what?
As does everything, the concept of pet-memorial tattoos has well and truly begun its evolution. Across the multitudes of different tattoo styles, we’ve seen clients from across the globe offer inspiring new challenges to their respective artists – a pet memorial, but something different.
Here’s a few of the innovative ways the artists at Black Diamond Tattoo have immortalised the furry or feathered family members of our clients for a little bit of inspiration.
Traditional Tattooing Meets Custom Concepts
American Traditional style tattoos are by far one of the most popular styles of tattoo – but how do you incorporate your own style or flair into a tattoo style that’s been around for decades?
From left to right: Dobby by (@tradatatts), Dave & Dolly by Taj (@plasma.revolver), Dolly by Taj
A pet portrait in a traditional or neo-traditional style can be done in many different ways. For example, the gallery above shows Erika @tradatatts Taj @plasma.revolver have simply translated an image of these dear doggies into a traditionally styled tattoo. Complete with the crisp, clean lines and bold colours that are usually associated with American Traditional tattoos, these pieces pay homage to old-school tattooing while still allowing the wearer to showcase not only their personality, but their one-of-a-kind piece for their fur-friend.
Below, artist Alex @thedogsbark has taken more of a neo-traditional approach, offering a mixture of lineweights while still displaying the classic markers of trad-style tattoos encased in the clean lines and bright colours. This particular client had a vision to turn his pups into two 1920’s-style fashionistas, with two complimentary pieces for a dapper gentleman and a lovely little lady. This interpretation offers something original and fun, adding a new artistic element to these tattoos while still honouring the stars of the show (the dogs!).
Picture Purr-fect photographs…
Fine-line tattoos have exponentially risen in popularity over the last ten years, with many people looking for photo-realistic versions of their loved ones. As popularity with realism, fine-line realism and micro-realism rises, many people are considering this style for their memorial tattoos of their pets.
Our resident artist Sarah @ielasitattoos has taken years to perfect the fine-line style that is so sought after currently, and these pieces have been said to evoke deep emotions in our clients as they regain or strengthen their lifelong connection to their furry friends.
This particular piece by Sarah is quite classic in it’s design. It is simple, but incredibly effective - the encapsulation of this pup’s expression, the hint of white on the nose and in the eyes, and the softest brush-strokes of ink to allow for a ‘furry’ effect. These tiny details make all the difference in a piece such as this and really bring the tattoo to life, with the simple cursive name at the bottom really tying it together.
This piece by Sarah brings a little more unique personality into the picture - still ensuring she captures the tiny little details of this cute pupper, Sarah also added some little contemporary pops of colour to his party hat at the client’s request — it adds an element of distintive induviduality while still remaining picture perfect.
This might just be one of our favourite pet-portraits to leave the studio. Sarah has still offered high-quality detail in her transition from photo to tattoo, adding life with white highlights and soft textures. But the addition of the flowers surrounding this gorgeous dog portrait make the tattoo all the more unique for this individual. Pieces like these are a great way to add more of yourself into your tattoos and are an excellent choice for those artistic people wanting something a little more impressive.
But What else can You do?
Not into fine-line or bright and bold traditional? Never fear… the middle-ground is here! ‘Illustrative’ is a blanket-term which can be used to describe more modern tattoo designs - designs that play with colour, experiment with line-weights, and really catch your eye with a little unconventionality. They’re far from traditional tattoos, these designs often mesh realism with experimentalism to create something new and distinctive, and can sometimes encompass a level of abstractism or unusual elements that add flare or eccentricity to a piece that otherwise could have been quite simple.
These two complimentary pieces were created by Bec @borktattoos to honour her client’s gorgeous pet birds. Both pieces were designed to compliment one another as a pair, with the interchange of colours in the flowers creating consistency across the colour palette to really tie the two pieces together. The floral elements add another layer of depth as they naturally and neatly seal the design.
This piece by Wilbert @willowtattooer is simply stunning. This one-of-a-kind piece not only pays homage to some well-loved pets, but offers some amazing abstract pops of watercolour styled ink. The beautiful pops of colour compliment the entire piece and really make it unique to the wearer.
Still stuck for ideas? Get in touch today by requesting a consultation, provide some reference images of the style you’re into, and let our artists do the rest.