Japanese tattoo

Composition is what gives a Japanese tattoo its strength. I place the main motif so that it works with the movement of the body: a dragon wraps around the upper arm, a koi swims up the forearm, a tiger comes down the shoulder blade.

The background is not filler. Waves, clouds and wind bars lead the eye, separate the motifs and make a sleeve or a back read as one piece rather than a set of separate tattoos. Thanks to the background, a large project can be built in stages and still stay coherent.

That is why planning starts with the whole: where the piece begins and ends, what its centre is and how it should look from a distance. The details come later.

A Japanese tattoo works in both. Colour gives saturated reds, oranges, blues and greens against a black and grey background. A piece in black and grey alone is calmer and shows the drawing more strongly.

The choice depends on the motif, your skin tone, the placement and what you like. I often combine both: a black and grey background with one or two accents of colour, for example red cherry blossoms.

Each motif has its own story and associations that have recurred in Japanese art for centuries. The dragon stands for wisdom and strength used for good, the koi for perseverance, the hannya mask tells of emotions that transform a person, and the tiger protects against evil.

Motifs are also paired with seasons and flowers: peony, chrysanthemum, cherry blossom, lotus or maple leaves. The meanings are not rigid. What matters is that the design is coherent and suits you.

Japanese style looks best at a large scale, but you do not have to start with your back. A single motif on the forearm or calf can be a complete piece, and if you want to extend it later, the background lets you add further elements.

With sleeves, backs and legs we plan the whole from the start and divide the work into sessions.