Art Styles
Tattoo Styles
At Space Monkey Tattoo, our team of talented and experienced artists utilize a wide range of art styles in both tattoos and piercings to provide unique, quality art for clients. Whether you have a inspiration from more traditional styles or want more personalized, modern, and unique work, Space Monkey will create art that exceeds expectations.
Traditional (American Traditional)
Bold lines, bright colors, and classic designs like skulls, roses, and anchors.
Neo-Traditional
A modern evolution of traditional tattoos with more shading, intricate details, and a broader color palette.
Realism
Hyper-detailed and lifelike images, often portraits or landscapes, in both black & grey or color.
Anime
Hyper-detailed and lifelike images, often portraits or landscapes, in both black & grey or color.
Pastelgore/Kawaiicore
A blend of cute (kawaii) and horror (gore) elements, featuring pastel colors, often with eerie or unsettling themes in a cartoon-like style.
Fine Line
Minimalist tattoos using delicate, clean lines for a subtle, precise look.
Blackwork
Solid black ink used to create bold, graphic designs, often featuring heavy contrast.
Horror
Dark and eerie imagery, inspired by horror themes, often in black & grey or dark tones.
Stippling
Detailed shading and patterns made entirely of small dots, often used in geometric or illustrative designs.
Dark Art
Gothic or macabre designs with a focus on shadows, darkness, and dramatic themes.
Geometric
Symmetrical designs using geometric shapes and patterns, sometimes combined with other styles like dotwork.
New School
Cartoon-like, exaggerated, and vibrant designs that often feature playful or surreal imagery.
Watercolor
Soft, flowing designs that mimic the look of watercolor painting, often used for abstract or artistic tattoos.
Surrealism
Dreamlike or abstract imagery that challenges reality, inspired by surrealist art.
Black & Grey
Designs created using only black ink and grey shading for depth and realism.
Trash Polka
A bold, graphic style that often uses a mix of black and red ink with abstract elements.
Dotwork
Tattoos made from thousands of tiny dots to create shading and intricate designs, often geometric or illustrative.
Illustrative
A style blending realism and drawing techniques, often resembling sketches or paintings.
Irezumi (Japanese Style)
Traditional Japanese tattooing with bold imagery like koi fish, dragons, and samurai, often covering large areas of the body.
Tribal
Bold, black designs rooted in cultural symbolism, particularly from Polynesian, Maori, and African traditions.
Abstract
Tattoos focused on shapes, forms, and artistic interpretations that stray from realism.
Rubber Hose
A vintage cartoon style reminiscent of early animation, featuring exaggerated limbs and a playful, flowing movement (think early Mickey Mouse or Betty Boop style).
Renaissance
Tattoos inspired by classical Renaissance art, often using themes from famous paintings or sculptures, with an emphasis on realism, detailed shading, and artistic precision.
Fine Art-Inspired Tattoos
Tattoos influenced by traditional fine art movements, including:
Schedule your next tattoo appointment
When you’re ready to schedule a tattoo, please send us a detailed message or email with all the important information. Include a clear description of what you’d like, along with any reference images, even if they’re just inspirational ideas. Let us know the approximate size, placement, and whether you want color or black and grey.
A straight-on photo of the area you want tattooed is extremely helpful. If you can mark or outline the area in the photo, even better — this helps us plan sizing, layout, and appointment timing. If you have a budget in mind, you’re welcome to share it. The more information you provide, the quicker and easier we can get you booked and matched with the right artist.
Preparing for your tattoo
01.
Stay hydrated leading up to your appointment and avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior. Please avoid prolonged sun exposure for at least 10 days — we cannot tattoo over sunburned or damaged skin. Get plenty of rest the night before.
02.
Dress in clothing that allows easy access to the tattoo area. If you’re unsure what to wear, feel free to ask — we’re happy to help. Please do not bring children to your appointment; no one under 15 is permitted in the studio unless being pierced.
03.
Go light on caffeine the day of to avoid added anxiety or restlessness. Sessions can take time, so feel free to bring something to quietly keep you entertained. You may bring one companion, but seating in tattoo stations is limited and they may need to wait in the lobby.
04.
Good personal hygiene is important — our artists work closely with you, and for both sanitation and comfort, please arrive clean and fresh.