BLACK & GRAY TATTOO 

Black and grey work builds depth out of tone alone — no colour, just the range between black and grey. With colour taken away, shape and shading carry the whole piece, so how the lines and densities are layered decides the result. Alongside fine line, it is what Studio Goun works in most.

 

1. Take colour out and what remains is form and light. Where you go dark and where you leave the skin open sets the whole impression.

2. So a design starts with the tonal skeleton. We settle the darkest point and the lightest, then agree how many steps sit between them.

3. It suits weighty subjects — religious imagery such as angels, Madonnas and crosses, and portraits or animals.

4. Pieces done in this style include the Madonna across the back, the Lucifer angel, wings and stars, the whale on the arm, and the manta ray.

5. The larger the area, the longer the shading takes. Depending on size and placement, a piece may be split across more than one session.

6. It also works well for covering scars or older tattoos, because shading can soften an existing edge.

7. Whether a cover-up is possible depends on the condition of what is underneath. Send a photograph first and we will tell you honestly.

8. Fresh photographs always look sharp. Judge an artist by healed work instead.

9. No colour also means no colour to shift over the years, which makes it an easy style to live with for a long time.

10. Worked in a private studio in Hongdae, strictly by appointment. Design, placement and size are settled together at consultation.