A fast rising trend in skin art has taken off and is sure to stay in the body modification scene for long – watercolor tattoos! Watercolor tattoos stand out compared to other tattoo styles that tend to come with very strong, bold, dark lines. Attractive as they come, though, many find them to not hold up well as conventional tattoos over time. Whatever the case is, learn more about water color tattooing first before you permanently ink one on your body.
The Different Kinds of Watercolor Tattoos
Let us narrow down the classification into 2 types: with black base, and without.
With Black Base
Watercolor tattoos are predominantly made with a black base. There is a line work created and foundational shadows to establish the skin art. The vibrant hues and colors are then placed on top of it. The black base serves as a skeleton framework for the final artwork. Many expert tattoo artists find that these tattoo type tend to age better due to the black color base that do not fade fast as other color elements.
Without Black Base
This kind of watercolor tattoo does not bare any dark line work. The absence of dark colors makes the final work watercolor-like to the viewer. Colors appear to almost melt with the skin and fade into its edges.
The Underlying Meaning of Watercolor Tattoos
Watercolor tattoos can portray any symbol, image, or even design that has varied meanings and symbolisms. The most common watercolor tattoo designs often showcase colorful flowers, birds, butterflies, dragons, unicorns, cartoon characters, and more. The style shows very vivid colors and hues to reveal a very eye-catching design.
Some people use semicolons designs to show support for suicide survivors and those who suffer from depression. Abstract art is another very common watercolor design. It shows swatches and spatters of various colors with varying configurations to reveal thought, feelings, or any form of expression. The color choices in themselves convey idea, feeling, experience, symbolism or anything that is valuable to the individual.
The Ideal Placement of Your Watercolor Tattoos
There are some individuals who have certain restrictions on skin art due to social or professional considerations. For them, they can only place it on areas that they can easily cover up when the circumstance require. So, many people would have it on their upper arm, back, torso, hip area, legs, or chest area.
When you have yours made, keep in mind that watercolor tattoo types especially those without very strong black base will fade easily and quickly than other tattoos. They can age very fast if not cared for properly. The right aftercare treatment will make a huge difference in prolonging the life of your watercolor tattoo.
Maintenance and Aftercare Tips for Your Watercolor Tattoos
The main goal is to keep your watercolor tattoo away from the sun’s fading after effects. Cover it with clothes if you can to avoid direct exposure. A good idea would be to place some sunscreen over your tattoo. Place it as often as you can, especially if you are to go out in the sun.
The Bottomline
There are watercolor tattoos that are 3 to 5 years old that still look good to this day. The debate on watercolor tattoo’s longevity remains, but what about you? Do you think they have the potential to look good as they age? We’d love to hear from you, so pitch in the conversation below!
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