Blackwork

The technique of Blackwork, or Blvckwork as some circles spell it, is very similar to Black & Grey (B&G). To the untrained eye they are the same, but in reality, extremely different. A B&G tattoo, or traditionally referred to as, Greywash, isn’t a tattoo designed to “add color later”. B&G is not half a tattoo that you just “fill in later”. If that’s what you’re wanting, then make that clear to your tattoo artist. The style of Blackwork is different for every artist. Some take it beyond just the technique applying just black for the shading/packing instead of the varying values of black that will then turn grey after healing (B&G), and make it their entire theme; generally darker themed images like bats, demons, occult, etcetera. For me, my approach to Blackwork is different for each design. For one design it could be a “half a tattoo” that I could easily add color later like my other designs. For others, they are completely finished. Either way, my idea is to achieve high contrast, because of the lack of color. This technique can be applied to all the styles just like Color, True Grey, and Black & Grey.