Tattoo styles
Japanese tattooing is built for large-scale work. Bold outlines, wind bars, waves and clouds tie a design together across a whole sleeve, leg or back, with dragons, koi, hannya masks and folklore creatures at the centre.
Alan Aldred is our resident Japanese specialist. He takes on everything from single pieces to full back pieces, and his love of Japanese folklore runs through his work.
The classic Japanese canvas, planned as one composition and tattooed over multiple sessions.
Designed to wrap and flow with the limb, with backgrounds that connect each element.
A hannya, a koi or a yokai on its own, designed so it can grow into a larger piece later.
Alan has published a limited-edition hardback art book of Japanese yokai, the spirits and monsters of Japanese folklore. It holds over 150 sketches, 18 full-colour illustrations and a tattoo gallery, with a foreword by Horisaru (Geoff Horn) and a cover commissioned from Shisamu Iwase of A Design Lab, Japan. Only 100 physical copies were made.
Email us with the subject you have in mind, the placement and a rough size. For large-scale work Alan can quote a day rate.
Recent work
Who to book
Questions
Alan Aldred is our resident Japanese specialist. He tattoos everything from single pieces to full back pieces, and has published Yokai: Strange Apparition, an art book of Japanese folklore.
Large Japanese work is usually priced by the hour or by Alan’s day rate. Our minimum price is £100 and the hourly rate is £100. Send your subject, placement and size for a quote.
It depends on the design and how much colour it has, and it is always spread over several sessions. Alan will give you a time estimate with your quote.
Traditional subjects carry meaning: koi stand for perseverance, dragons for strength and wisdom, hannya masks for protection, and tigers for courage. Alan can talk you through the symbolism when you plan your piece.
Yes. Japanese work can be done in full colour or in black and grey, with the same bold outlines, wind bars and backgrounds.
16 Trinity Street, Colchester, CO1 1JN
Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 3pm. Email info@blackhopetattoo.com or send an enquiry.
Tattoo styles in Colchester
Black & grey tattoosDotwork & geometric tattoosJapanese tattoosRealism & portrait tattoosFine line & botanical tattoosCover-up tattoosVisit
16 Trinity Street
