Tattoo Dotwork
Tattoo in the style of Dotwork - A special direction in body painting. It has its roots on the African continent, where a few thousand years ago were found the cave drawings of people on the body of which the dot ornaments are depicted. The word itself consists of two parts - dot and work. The first, from the English language translates as "dot", the second - "work. Based on this, the main feature of this style of tattoo becomes apparent. All work is done with the help of dot technique, which as a result becomes a full-fledged tattoo.
Tattoo in the style of dotwork
Tattoo Dotwork on the arm
Tattoo in the style of dotwork on the hand
Nowadays, the popularizer of this trend is considered to be the Englishman Xed Le Head. The native of London in the early 90's actively began to use the dot technique, thereby spreading the work in this style around the world. According to Le Head, at the time, he did not even know how to draw, but he was determined to invent something new. After trying different options, Xed came to the spot technique at random. He said he liked its effect best.
A girl's Dotwork style tattoo
Tattoo mandalas in the dotwork style on a man's shoulder
Tattoo bracelet in the dotwork style
Tattoo in the style of Dotwork on the forearm
By the way, the choice of the master is a key factor in obtaining a quality picture. This may have to go to larger cities, as to find a craftsman working with this direction - another problem. But in the end, the result will be justified.
History of the development of the Dotwork technique
Petroglyphs of Kanozero
Picture of dots
Xed le Head.
Many people believe that Dotwork is one of the newest tattooing techniques, but this is not true. For thousands of years, similar tattoos have been received by young men who underwent initiation rites in African tribes, evidence of which ethnographers and anthropologists cite petroglyphs - cave paintings.
There is evidence that Tibetan monasteries use a similar technique. In painting you can also find representatives of "dot work", they are called pointillists.
The popularity of the dots was brought by Xed le Head, an English tattoo artist at the end of the XX century, who calls himself the inventor of the original style. Whoever was the first, at the moment the technique is hugely popular in the West.
The first main feature of Dotwork is size. If you prefer small laconic tattoos of an inscription or a symbol, this technique is not for you. The point is that images made with dots are three-dimensional and dynamic. To transfer these features a small picture is not able, the dots need space.
Tattoo Styles: Dotwork
Though Dotwork tattoos are considered one of the modern trends - their history goes back to antiquity. For example, caves with cave paintings have been discovered in Africa, depicting people whose bodies were decorated with dot patterns. Scientists believe that the archaeological finds date back to 7,000-6,000 years BC.
Dotwork style can also be associated with painting. So the technology of dotted strokes was actively used in the works of neo-impressionists, who created in the late 19th century. Perhaps their paintings inspire tattoo artists to this day.
In our time, the surge in popularity of Dotwork is associated with the name of the Englishman Xed Le Head. The tattooist did not know how to draw in the classic style and decided to come up with something new - geometric patterns created from dots. He liked the effect and began to develop this trend. The starting point can be considered the 90s of the last century.
Abstract motifs in the Dotwork technique
The main motifs are abstract geometric patterns, which, as a rule, are textured and will never go out of fashion. Due to the fact that the dots only give shape to the pattern of pure leather, each image made in the technique of Dotwork is characterized by a special contrast and expressiveness.
The canonical colors are red and black, but modern masters use any color.
Dotwork is the technique that requires a highly experienced master, able to think through the image in detail, calculating the necessary distance between the dots for the ideal effect: a large cluster of dots gives a darker image, small - on the contrary, and their skilful combination is the cause of volume.
Remember! The best Dotwork masters prefer to work without a tattoo machine.
If you do not classify your tattoo master among the best, we caution you - refrain from experimenting. Each point in such a tattoo is applied deep under the skin, and in case the paint will flow, it will be very difficult to correct the master's mistake.
Versatility and combinability is another feature of Dotwork. Many masters combine several different styles in one drawing. Especially well Dotwork looks with the styles of tattoos, Linework, Ornamental, Graphics, Geometry.
Dotwork
Tattoo style Dotwork
The style of Dotwork, was known in the 90s and is still popular today, thanks to the professional artist from England, Xed Le Head.
Xed Le Head / Photo:pinterest.com
Dotwork means "spot work" in English.
Technology for applying Dotwork tattoos
To give a pattern consisting of dots more reality, the master applies the following technique: the dots are densely applied, and maintained a certain distance between them. In other words, the denser the dots are next to each other, the darker the picture seems to be, and vice versa, the less dots are placed, the lighter it is.
Of course, it sounds simple, but in fact it is not so easy, it is very hard and laborious work, which takes a lot of time. Such tattoos are subject only to experienced masters. They correctly and qualitatively put the image on the body. The basis for the drawing is the skin, contrasting it is able to create deep patterns.
Not unimportant is also the fact that when creating a tattoo, the method of application plays a big role. The tool works faster, but not always accurately. As a rule, Dotwork is performed manually. The dots are very deep and there is little chance that the ink will turn blue and lose its shape. It should be noted that handmade work has always been more expensive. Many craftsmen do Dotwork by alternating between hand and machine work.
FERANK MANSEED / Photo:furfur.me
Tattoo style Realism. Examples of work, artists style, technique, history
How are tattoos Dotwork
The main themes of Dotwork are numerous patterns, geometric figures. Often you can find the use of all-round symmetry, black shades are often found. This style is ideal for painting mandalas, floral designs, all sorts of symbolism, and more.
Black shades are sometimes combined with red, which makes the drawing more contrasting and bright. To date, the style of Dotwork is developing and modern masters often use blue, green, yellow colors in their work. Dotwork easily harmonizes with other styles, Old School (OldSchool) and trash polka (Trash polka). Basically, this style performs the role of backgrounds. Thus, point ornaments advantageously distinguish the main image. By complementing any picture with dots, it becomes more refined and unique in its kind.
Black and Gray tattoo style - all about the black and gray tattoo
The best masters of style Dotwork
- Parvick Faramarz
Russiablack and gray tattoo of author's style Dotwork
- ILYA CASCAD
USA
black black and gray ornamental polynesia dovework blackwork
- Alejandro Prada
Spain
Black Dotwork Blackwork ornamental style
- Ivan Androsov
Russia
color black watercolor Dotwork graphic realism
Geometry - the main core of Dotwork
Geometry is the main motive in the technique of Dotwork: various geometric figures are decorated with intricate rich ornaments of dots. Classical sketches are ornamental "bracelets" and "collars", however modern masters expand the canons, and here already a collection of tattoos in the technique of Dotwork replenish the new sketches: from simple floral and hieroglyphic forms to the most complex three-dimensional portraits.
In recent years, spot images of animals and birds, such as lions, wolves, owls and swallows, have been particularly popular. The latest innovation were tattoos with insects and spiders.
As previously mentioned, red and black are the classic colors, but style reformers have long used blue and green for a more vivid and realistic image. White images have a special charm: geometricity here becomes lacey and weightless.
Features of Dotwork
The main feature of the Dotwork style is, of course, the dotting of the pattern.
However, you can also highlight a number of other distinctive features:
- color scheme. Two colors are used in the creation of the drawing - black and red, with their help you can create a bright and contrasting image, in addition, the colors are perfectly combined with each other. Tints of color are achieved through a different density of dots, the closer the dots are to each other, the more saturated the color looks, and the farther the dots are, the lighter the image, so you can create a gradient or shadow effect;
- the geometricity of the image. Although now in the style of Dotwork make and classic old-school images - its main application remains in the creation of strict geometric shapes. They are used to weave fancy bracelets on wrists, collars around necks, etc. Geometric patterns can be compared to lace;
- ornamentation. This is the most popular application of Dotwork, although recently it is more and more often possible to see a mixture of styles. For example, in the technique of dotwork in the tattoo can be performed background composition, and the main image in the style of realism, etc.
Such images are diverse. Among dotwork tattoos it is difficult to distinguish certain motifs. In this technique you can create almost any image. If you are an adherent of strict geometry, but you do not want to create a geometric pattern, you can choose a tattoo triangle - it can be either an independent object, or a part of the composition, in the same ornament it is from triangles can be weaved the main pattern.
In the style of dotwork recently portrayed and classic tattoos in the form of animals and plants.
For example, girls give their preference to the rose tattoo. And if the classic image of a flower can be found quite often, the application in the manner of dotwork will add a highlight and tell about the originality of the lady.
The peculiarities of dotwork tattoo include the complexity of the work. There are very few competent artists working in this technique. That's why it is necessary to take the choice as seriously as possible. Correctly made dotwork tattoo does not change color and is not blurred - the dot application pigment is introduced deeper into the layers of the skin, so these tattoos are among the most durable. If performed incorrectly, the dots will quickly lose their clear outlines, and the black color can go into the blue. Therefore - not enough to choose a style, you also need to find a professional tattoo master.
Distinctive features of dotwork tattoos
Dotwork differs from other techniques by the painfulness of the padding process. The point is that the dot appears due to deeper penetration of the needle under the skin. In addition, the duration of this tattoo will be longer, and, accordingly, you will have to endure longer. This is also reflected in the price.
Because dot tattoos require a lot of space, masters recommend to impose them on those parts of the body, where their volume will be clearly visible, such as the shoulder, forearm, hips, back.
Men's themes
Men's tattoo in this technique, first of all, volumetric and large-scale. Dotwork is a great choice for a sleeve or fully battered back, as this technique, like no other, conveys the depth of a large ornament.
Frequent choices among men are ethnic and Nordic motifs, large animal images, skulls. By combining Dotwork with styles such as Oldschool, Thrash Polka and Polynesian, craftsmen give these classic images an unconventional, modern and unique look.
Dotwork is versatile, which makes it popular with the fairer sex as well. By maneuvering the dots, a good craftsman can create an effect of lightness and airiness.
Dotwork themes for girls
Girls prefer to do tattoos on the hips and shins, breasts, under the chest. However, experts advise to choose more independent of weight changes and skin deformation places, such as shoulder blades, neck, wrists.
Floral and geometric motifs, mandalas, combinations with Linework, Geometry are especially popular.
The usual insignificant dot is familiar to us only at the end of the sentence, however, modern masters are able to surprise us, bringing their masterpieces to life with such a small detail.
