Traditional vs. Neotraditional Tattoo

Some say that there is no difference between traditional tattoos and neo-traditional tattoos; although the differences are slight, they are still there. Traditional tattoos consist of thick, dark line strokes and solid colors. They are intentionally simple in design and use a limited color palette consisting of red, green, yellow, brown, and blue with little to no shading.

Tattoo culture at the time was very marginal and on the fringes of society, unlike the mainstream appeal and credibility of fine art it has today. These sailors would receive iconic images emblazoned on their bodies as a celebration of their service; only accomplished sailors who have been to faraway lands and traveled a certain number of miles can get swallows, for example. Traditional tattoos were not custom created, but simply quickly peeled off the walls.

“Traditional” sticks to specific images: patriotic symbols like eagles, ships, anchors, the American flag, daggers, pin ups, swallows, and nautical stars. All of these symbols were derived from the classic sailor and Navy icons that were prevalent at the turn of the 20th century, when the military returned to the United States and got tattooed.

Neotraditional tattoos pay homage to the classic and timeless art form through the same techniques; bold lines and great color saturation with minimal shading and detail. However, the images and designs used are generally more diverse and the color palette used is more diverse. A purely “American” style of tattooing, Neo-Traditional has included candles, lighthouses, diamonds, coffins, and other concepts and depicted them in a “traditional” manner.

Not to be confused with “New-School”, a more cartoony, exaggerated and colorful style of tattooing, Neo-Traditional is a revival of “Old-School”, a celebration of roots and origins.

The innate beauty offered by the traditional tattoo style appeals to all generations of enthusiasts; Bold lines and solid colors tend to fade less, offering the longevity and long-lasting quality so many desire.

Aside from black and grey, the traditional has proven to be one of the only tattoo styles that will stand the test of time and will always have an audience to wear. The beauty of the traditional tattoo is just that; There will always be artists looking to recreate classic tattoos and the culture that helped pave the way and make the tattoo industry what it is today.

Today, artists like Myke Chambers are grooming the new generation of professional traditional tattoo artists, taking the art to a new frontier and keeping the tradition alive.