A traditional tattoo, also called old school or American traditional, is a classic style built on a thick black outline, a limited palette of strong colours and simple, iconic motifs. They include swallows, anchors, roses, hearts, daggers, pin-ups and ships.
Where does the traditional style come from?
The style took shape in the first half of the twentieth century in the United States, in port tattoo shops visited by sailors. Its best-known figure was Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins. Ready-made designs were collected on flash sheets.
Why does traditional age well?
A thick outline and saturated colour keep the design bold for decades. A simple drawing stays legible even as the skin changes. The modern development of the style is neo-traditional, with richer detail and a wider palette.
We compare the two styles in Old-school vs neo-traditional tattoos, and you can browse our work in the gallery. Traditional tattoos at our studio are done by Gozdi.
