Neo Traditional tattoo: a new perspective on American classics

Neo Traditional is a style that combines modern body art techniques with the classical aesthetics of traditional American tattoos.


This genre emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as a continuation and evolution of the old school, which gained fresh breath and a new level of technical complexity.

Neo Traditional tattoos have some characteristic features:

• Use dark, bold and expressive contours.
• Bright, rich and often contrasting colors.
• Illustrative view of compositions.
• The feeling of fine measure and balance in each picture.

This body art style extends the traditional American style, giving tattoos a wider color palette, depth and new dimension. It is also important to consider that neo-traditional compositions are usually larger in size, so they are best seen in the areas of arms, legs and back.

Between traditional American tattoos and Neo Traditional, as the second is a logical continuation of the first one. Both styles differ in bold and sharp contours, bright but limited color palette.


However, the works created in Neo Traditional look more modern, deeper and more extensive.

In order to better navigate these two styles, we offer a list of their most significant differences:

• Both Neo Traditional tattoos foe men and women can depict a variety of subjects. Restrictions in this case are minimal. Key motifs and images are: flowers, vines and other plants, necklaces, pearls, predatory animals (eagles, wolves, bears, tigers, snakes, etc.). The more decorative elements, the better.
• Unlike the old American school, where all canon lines have the same thickness, in Neo Traditional this characteristic often changes.
• The current direction is more diverse by topic. Tattoo artists often modernize classical themes, beat them in a new way, looking for fresh interpretations and techniques.
• The use of more complex palettes and smooth color transitions in the Neo Traditional was unacceptable.
• Shading and glare effects create three-dimensional compositions, while the old cheekbone allows drawing exclusively in 2D, which can make them look flat and monotone.

Among the popular female Neo Traditional tattoos there are many images and motifs.


These can be: portraits, hearts, plants, lanterns, birds, all kinds of ornaments and patterns, cartoon characters, etc. Take three popular ideas and consider them in detail.

Lovers of meowing tailed often decide to apply the image of a pet on themselves.


Such body art depicts not only the beauty of cute cats and love for them, but also symbolize their mystery and close connection with the afterlife. In addition, the four-legged are the embodiment of luck, well-being, but also all paranormal, witchcraft, magic, etc. Some people apply cat tattoos to honor their pet or his memory.

Tattooing a fish in a neo-traditional style is a great solution, as its image benefits from the use of bright and rich colors.


Koi embody such positive qualities as determination, confidence and perseverance. In Asia, these fish are believed to bring wealth and luck. They play a particularly important role in Japanese and Chinese culture.

Neo-traditional body art with butterfly is a great way to experiment with flowers.


The image of this insect symbolizes beauty, growth and transformation. For many, a butterfly is a symbol of change and a wonderful way to show the world that you are going through an important period of life.

Oddly enough, among the male Neo Traditional tattoos are often found Japanese motifs and Oriental themes in general.


The most popular ideas focus not so much on folklore and its meaning, but on serving, style and visual component. Such images are more brightness and color depth. Most often there are portraits, drawings of skulls, animals, flowers, birds, snakes, etc. However, they are found in neo-traditional style and many other images.

A powerful and majestic bird associated with courage, pride and endurance.


Depending on the culture, the meaning of this image can vary greatly. For example, Native Americans treat this animal and its feathers with special respect. While Aztecs associate it with aggression.

The Neo Traditional style eagle can be filled with bright ink or H/B depending on how bold the design is. Often, who decides to put on his body a bird with spread wings (against the sun or with a snake in its claws). However, it is important to consider that to place such an image will be a lot of space. The most optimal are the hips, breasts, back and shoulders.

Neo Traditional Ram tattoos can look a little intimidating and gloomy.


This will certainly play into the hands of people who want their body art associated with strength, power, determination and defiance. And to create the appropriate context and a small story you can add additional details.

Neo-traditional bear tattoos have an impressive effect.


This animal represents strength, endurance and bravery. Depending on the posture, the bear may have different interpretations. While the nude mouth symbolizes active protection, for some people bears also have spiritual value, as they are often associated with extraterrestrial life.

Depending on their preferences, Neo Traditional bears can be performed using bright colors or only black with shades of gray. By adding some geometry, plants and other pleasant elements, you can create a softer and more pleasant vibe composition.

Neo traditional tattoos look fresh and modern. They are perfect for people who like the traditional American style, but to whom it seems limited. Sketches in this direction have more room for imagination and creative expression. At the same time, they are not deprived of rebellious aesthetics and refer to classic body art.