Nature Tattoos in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Plants, animals, weather, water. Nature is the subject we get asked for most, and it covers more ground than any one style. A botanical in fine line and a tiger in Japanese color are both nature tattoos.
Our artists draw from reference. The actual plant, the actual bird, the shape a leaf makes when it curls. Then they build it into a tattoo, which is a different job from a drawing. Shapes get simplified so the piece reads from across a room and still holds in twenty years.
Bring a photo of the thing you love and we will take it from there.
What Makes a Great Nature Tattoo
Knowing what to leave out. A photograph of a fern has hundreds of leaflets, and a tattoo of a fern needs maybe thirty, placed so your eye fills in the rest. Deciding what to drop is most of the drawing.
The second part is fitting the piece to the body. A branch that follows the line of a forearm looks like it grew there. We place it on you with a stencil and move it until it is right before anything starts.
What to expect
Consultation. Send your reference through the appointments page or bring it in. The more specific the better. A named plant or a particular bird gives your artist something real to work from.
The session. A small botanical is often one sitting. A back piece or a full sleeve is a series, booked a few weeks apart so each part heals before the next.
Healing. Redness for a few days and light peeling in the first week. Color takes a little longer to settle than black and grey. Keep it out of the sun while it heals, and after.
Pricing. The shop minimum is $150. Size, placement, and detail set the price from there. A $100 to $200 deposit holds your appointment and comes off the final cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Color or black and grey? Both work. Color carries a cardinal or a maple leaf in a way black and grey cannot. Black and grey holds detail well on small botanicals and softens a little more slowly. Your artist will tell you which suits the subject and your skin.
Can you tattoo my pet? Yes, and we do it often. Bring a few clear photos in good light, including one straight on. A portrait needs more room than people expect, so plan for a reasonable size.
How do nature tattoos age? The bold parts hold and the fine parts soften. A botanical with room between the stems will still read clearly in thirty years. Sun does more damage than time, so use sunscreen once it is healed.
Can I bring a photo from the internet? Bring it as a starting point. We will not copy another artist's tattoo, and we will say so if that is what you have brought. A photo of the actual plant or animal makes better reference anyway.
Do you do realistic nature work or stylized? Both, and a lot in between. Traditional, Japanese, fine line, black and grey, dotwork. Tell us what you are drawn to, or show us tattoos you like, and we will point you to the artist who does it best.
Can a nature piece grow over time? That is most of what we do. Start with one element, leave room, and add to it. Tell your artist at the first session that you are planning to extend it and they will compose it so the next piece fits.
Ready for a nature piece? Come see us at 233 5th Avenue in Park Slope. Bring a photo of the plant or the animal you love, and we will draw it to fit.
Our other styles: Traditional, Japanese, Black & Grey, Fine Line and Blackwork.