American Traditional & Neo-Traditional Tattoos
Bold lines, solid color. Classic and illustrative.
I take on American traditional and neo-traditional tattoos on occasion: one or two pieces a month alongside my bio-organic, Japanese and floral work. This page brings that work together in one place.
It's a style built for time. Bold lines and simple, solid designs hold better over the years: ink expands in the skin as it ages, and traditional was designed for exactly that. My fine-line years taught me what time does to a tattoo; traditional planned for it from the start.
American Traditional
Neo-Traditional
Traditional vs. neo-traditional
American traditional
Simple on purpose: bold lines and bold, solid color. The classic backbone of tattooing.
Neo-traditional
Mixed line weights, bold and thin, with more in-depth shading and a wider range of color tones over that same backbone.
Built for time
Ink expands in the skin as years pass. Bold, simple designs were made for that. They hold.
Traditional & Neo-Traditional FAQ
What's the difference between American traditional and neo-traditional?
American traditional is simple: bold lines and bold, solid color. Neo-traditional mixes bold and thin lines, with more in-depth shading and more color tones.
Do traditional tattoos age well?
Yes. That's the point of the style. Ink expands in the skin over time, and traditional's bold lines and simple designs were made for exactly that, so they hold better than most styles.
Do you take on traditional and neo-traditional work?
Yes, on occasion. I do one or two of these pieces a month alongside my bio-organic, Japanese and floral work. If the style fits your idea, bring it to a consult.
More styles by Carlos
Ready to start a traditional or neo-traditional piece?
Free consultation, in person or remote. Based at Koi Dragon Tattoos in Murray, Utah, booking clients worldwide. Coming from out of town? How traveling for a tattoo works.