Ornamental tattoos in Seattle

About ornamental tattoos

Ornamental tattooing borrows from many decorative traditions: South Asian and Middle Eastern mehndi (henna) patterns, mandalas, Victorian filigree and lace, Art Nouveau, and jewelry design. The goal is adornment. The tattoo is meant to decorate and frame the body, like a necklace across the sternum or a pattern following the spine.

Placement is part of the design. Sternum and underbust pieces, spine pieces, shoulder caps, and hand and finger designs are classic, and good ornamental artists design symmetrically to the body's center line. The style often uses dotwork for shading and can range from delicate fine-line lace to bold blackwork patterns. It suits people who want elegant, decorative work and are comfortable with somewhat painful placements.

Ornamental gets an aging score of 3 out of 5. Bold ornamental patterns hold up well. Very fine filigree, lace and dot gradients soften over time, and hand and finger ornaments fade fastest because of constant washing and friction. Giving fine elements a little more space and line weight improves longevity.

Defining traits

• Decorative, often symmetrical patterns
• Filigree, lace, mandala and jewelry motifs
• Fine linework with dotwork shading
• Designed to frame the body's lines
• Black ink, sometimes with subtle color