Style Guide: Illustrative

In this article we explore the history, motifs and artists within the Illustrative tattooing style.

• There are many different styles and art movements that influence Illustrative tattoos. Etching and engraving, sketch like gestures, Old Masters preliminary outlines for masterpieces, Abstract Expressionism, German Expressionism are only some of them.
• Techniques like stippling, dotwork, linework, cross-hatching, modes of applying the ink vary for different textures or desired looks, are also often used in varying degrees.
• The beautiful thing about Illustrative work: it’s always enhanced by the personality and style of the artist.

1. The History of Illustrative Tattoos
2. The Styles and Artists of Illustrative Tattoos

Immediately recognizable due to their ‘hand-drawn’ feel, Illustrative tattoos could easily be mistaken as mere etchings on skin. With an origin deep in the antiquity of man, from primitivism to modernism, we discover the history, styles and artists who have used the organic and varied techniques of sketching to create their work.

The History of Illustrative Tattoos

There are many different movements within the history of drawing that has perpetuated the technique to the forefront of fine arts. However, since there are so many artists, techniques, and moments in historical contexts, that are a part of the Illustrative tattooing style, we’ve highlighted the most popular strains within this genre. We’ve included the style of etching and engraving, sketch like gestures, Old Masters preliminary outlines for masterpieces, Abstract Expressionism, German Expressionism and more. There are also many different techniques involved in Illustrative tattooing style. Stippling, dotwork, linework, cross-hatching. modes of applying the ink vary for different textures or desired looks. We’ve tried to include many of the different way artists work within this style, but with personal tastes and concepts the options are almost virtually endless!

The oldest cave painting is circa 40,000 years old. It seems self expression is about as old as humankind, and although you may think these paintings would be simple, they are far from. Dated at about 20,000 years ago, the bison paintings in the Altamira cave in are incredibly detailed and expressive. Showing the form of the animal in the abstracted shapes of Cubism, they are eerily haunting in their modernity. The same could be said of Chauvet Cave, the focus of the 2011 documentary by Werner Herzog. The Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave, nestled in Southern France, is one of the best preserved examples of cave paintings dating back to around 30,000. The movement, the line quality, the layering of pigments are all some of the most beautiful examples of human illustration. And although it may seem a far cry from Illustrative tattooing, the caves prove just how intuitive and integral this style is to humanity.

Although influence of cave painting can be seen, perhaps, in cubism, abstract expressionism and more, drawing was typically seen as a preliminary sketch coinciding with architectural proposals, or in the process of a planning a painting. However, even still, some of these are still used by Illustrative tattoo artists as inspiration for their pieces. Take for instance the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo Da Vinci. A sketch he made in the late 15 century depicting the perfect proportions of man as expounded by Vitruvius, an ancient Roman architect. Not only the image, but the idea of sacred geometry is often used in Illustrative work due to its origins and techniques. So while illustration has often had expressive means, it can also help in recording ideas and events or even as visuals for advertising. Obviously, before the invention of the camera in 1816, people had no means of conveying or replicating reality without the means of drawing and therefore many styles developed globally.

The Styles and Artists of Illustrative Tattoos

The etching and engraving style most often seen in Blackwork, is inherently a part of Illustrative tattooing. Woodcuts are also considered to be in this family. In most cases illustrating the envisioned finished product includes drawings as an initial step in creating detailed work. Odd Tattooer, Aaron Aziel, and Franco Maldonado are some artists who frequently employ this line-heavy style for their work. Inspired by the works of Goya, Gustave Dore or Albrecht Durer, this can have a very surreal or dark look depending on the tattooists personal tastes. Artists who tend towards this style of Illustrative tattooing usually use fine line needles in conjunction with drawing techniques like cross hatching, parallel hatching, and, at times, small dashes. These particular line styles are great for replicating the texture of fur, or the look of antique etched or engraved prints.

Tattooists who are inspired by engraving and etching often fall into the category of Blackwork or Dark Art. It’s pretty understable why; the visual artists and past masters who have influenced these works were often interested in esoteric philosophies, alchemy, and magic. Sigils, demons, and mythical creatures can be illustrated in many varied ways, but these pieces usually rely heavily on blackwork, or Black and Grey. Alexander Grim is a very good example of this. Some artists, such as Cristian Casas, are inspired by these same concepts and tend to straddle a few different styles; merging Dark Art and Neo Traditional, Casas still tends towards very bold Illustrative tattooing.

Another Illustrative tattoo style is highly influenced by the art movement German Expressionism, an aesthetic that started before the first World War and had its peak in the 1920’s. Perhaps one of the most influential artists from this era and movement is Egon Schiele.

Of course, art movements are all incredibly varied, but Abstract Expression, Cubism, and Fauvism are closely