Portrait Tattoos and Their Meanings

Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing Jewelry and Decorative Headpiece Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing Jewelry and Decorative Headpiece Arm Tattoo**

Portrait tattoos have really exploded in popularity in recent years. There are so many possibilities that it can be hard to choose. A well-done portrait tattoo can look almost three dimensional and really make for an eye-catching design.

Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman covered in Dirt with a Distressed Expression Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman covered in Dirt with a Distressed Expression Arm Tattoo**

On the other hand, one that has been rushed or has been inked by someone without the requisite skill can look quite appalling and embarrassing.

Realism Right on Your Skin

Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman with Eyes Closed and Finger resting on Lips Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman with Eyes Closed and Finger resting on Lips Arm Tattoo**

The compelling qualities of portrait tattoos are in their sense of realism.

Unlike many other tattoo styles that go for an abstract look, the whole idea of the portrait tattoo is to create a realistic head design that looks complex, sophisticated, and draws in the eye.

Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman with Red Lipstick and a Red Mark across her Eye Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman with Red Lipstick and a Red Mark across her Eye Arm Tattoo**

In this sense, a great portrait tattoo can truly look like a real work of art, and that’s the whole goal that you should have in mind when considering one.

Though portrait tattoo styles adhere to the style of realism, there are a pretty wide range of renderings. For example, careful line work and shading can render a portrait that looks realistic, but some styles take a so-called hyper-realistic approach.

Hyper Realistic Black and Gray Portraits of an Oldman with Glasses and a Man with a Hat Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Hyper Realistic Black and Gray Portraits of an Oldman with Glasses and a Man with a Hat Arm Tattoo**

This is where the tattoo looks like it is jumping right out of the skin at you. This style emphasizes the use of shading, angles, and realistic perspective to create a truly eye-catching design.

Hyper Realism Tattoos: 7 Things You Should Know Before Getting Inked

What Does the Portrait Tattoo Style Involve?

Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman with Flowing Hair and Shadows across her Face Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman with Flowing Hair and Shadows across her Face Arm Tattoo**

One of the most impressive features of good portrait tattooing is how sophisticated the look is.

For the tattooist, there is an intense focus on detailed shading and lighting. This creates a portrait that looks as realistic as possible. Some are almost like photos.

Should You Consider a Portrait Tattoo?

Art Nouveau Black and Gray Side Portrait of a Woman with Flowers in her Hair Shoulder Blade Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Art Nouveau Black and Gray Side Portrait of a Woman with Flowers in her Hair Shoulder Blade Tattoo**

There are plenty of reasons why you should consider getting a portrait style tattoo. They represent a unique look in the world of tattoos, so they are great for people who are not new to inking their body.

Here are some of the most compelling reasons why a portrait tattoo might appeal to you.

Family

Large Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing a Traditional Decorative Headpiece Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Large Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing a Traditional Decorative Headpiece Arm Tattoo**

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons for getting a portrait tattoo is to pay homage to an important family member.

Perhaps you want to get one of a relative that has recently passed away. Or, perhaps you want to preserve the memory of your son or daughter just as they used to be.

If there is one thing that tattoos can do for us, it’s to help us tell a story.

A portrait tattoo can be an amazing homage to someone close to you and help you to remember them. In this way, it can be an intimate part of your life every day and remind you of how things used to be.

Eight Tattoos That Represent Family

Make a Bold Statement

Portrait of a Woman with Red Face Paint across her Eyes wearing a Native American Headdress Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Portrait of a Woman with Red Face Paint across her Eyes wearing a Native American Headdress Tattoo**

Make no mistake, there are just as many portraits as there are tattoo artists, and probably many more. A portrait tattoo is not just restricted to a family member.

You can make a very bold statement about your own personal interests in life and even have your favorite Marvel comics superhero inked on your body.

Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Native American Elder with a Traditional Headdress Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Native American Elder with a Traditional Headdress Arm Tattoo**

In this context, portrait tattoos are a bold statement about who you are and tell others about your interests and your soul.

How To Capture Your Memories In Ink: Nostalgic Tattoo Ideas

An Iconic Display

Large Hyper Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of Arnold Schwarzenegger with a Cigar Thigh Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Large Hyper Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of Arnold Schwarzenegger with a Cigar Thigh Tattoo**

Have you ever been personally drawn to a celebrity, character in a book or movie, or a historical icon? Perhaps their values align closely with your own or you idealize them for what they have achieved.

Large Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of Marilyn Monroe surrounded by Swirling Patterns Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Large Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of Marilyn Monroe surrounded by Swirling Patterns Tattoo**

A portrait tattoo can express your deep admiration for an iconic character in real life or fiction. It allows you to express your alignment with them and their value system at a philosophical level.

Vintage Tattoos: Inkings That Stand The Test Of Time

Some Portrait Tattoo Style Advice

Beautiful Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing a Art Nouveau Headdress Upper Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Beautiful Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing a Art Nouveau Headdress Upper Arm Tattoo**

If you’ve decided that you want to have a portrait tattoo done, there are some things you should definitely think about:

Get to Know Their Portfolio

Not every tattoo artist has the skill to do great portrait ink work. If you happen to find a great tattooist who can render a portrait in a style that really speaks to you, it can also be your way of paying your respect to their art.

Colorful Traditional Style Portrait of a Woman with Red Face Paint and a Wolf Headdress Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Colorful Traditional Style Portrait of a Woman with Red Face Paint and a Wolf Headdress Arm Tattoo**

A great portrait tattoo can be compelling to look at, but one that has been rushed or done badly can be a real disaster. The problem is that even small mistakes in portrait tattoos can be very visible.

This is because the human brain is so attuned to recognizing and parsing human faces that small mistakes are easily noticed.

Detailed Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman with Tears wearing a Floral Top Upper Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Detailed Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman with Tears wearing a Floral Top Upper Arm Tattoo**

You should definitely choose a tattoo artist who knows what they are doing. Look through their portfolio of work. Do they specialize in portrait work? Do they do the kind of portrait work you are interested in, such as hyper realistic?

Detailed Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing Glasses and a Rose Upper Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Detailed Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing Glasses and a Rose Upper Arm Tattoo**

Any portrait tattoo has to face intense scrutiny. A portrait tattoo that is just okay will always look a little bit “off”. Take your time to find a solid portrait tattoo artist and you’ll be rewarded.

How To Choose The Right Tattoo Artist

Take a Photo

Hyper Realistic Portrait of Pope Francis with Reference to a Printed Image Shoulder Blade Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Hyper Realistic Portrait of Pope Francis with Reference to a Printed Image Shoulder Blade Tattoo**

Due to the fact that tattoo artists go into great detail with their portrait work, you should bring in a high resolution photo of what you want.

This is especially true of family members. You want the artist to be able to capture their likeness as closely as possible.

A good photo will help the tattoo artist to single out and render details correctly. A good rule of thumb here: make sure the photo is big enough for the tattoo artist to see all of the detail so they can render it correctly.

Color Choice Is Crucial

Black and Gray Side Portrait of a Woman with Long Flowing Hair and a Large Pink Flower Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Black and Gray Side Portrait of a Woman with Long Flowing Hair and a Large Pink Flower Arm Tattoo**

Even though many portrait style tattoos are rendered in black ink, there are times when color is going to enhance the result.

A great monochrome portrait tattoo can look absolutely amazing when done by the right hands, but there are certainly times when color portraits can create a look that nothing else can match.

Mystical Portrait of a Woman surrounded by Flowers and Birds with Shades of Purple/Pink Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Mystical Portrait of a Woman surrounded by Flowers and Birds with Shades of Purple/Pink Arm Tattoo**

It can also enhance a portrait that is on a monochrome background. The only problem is that black ink will stand the test of time, whereas color inks will fade or discolor over time.

Portrait Tattoo of a Woman's Face painted in the Traditional Sugar Skull Style with Shades of Black/Red | selftattoo.com — **Portrait Tattoo of a Woman’s Face painted in the Traditional Sugar Skull Style with Shades of Black/Red**

On a related note, many portrait tattoo artists will use a monochrome or faded background for their portrait. This allows the head of the subject to really pop and stand out.

Color Tattoos Versus Black and Grey

Be Prepared

Close-up Realistic Black and Gray Portrait Tattoo of a Woman with Lines/Shapes across her Face | selftattoo.com — **Close-up Realistic Black and Gray Portrait Tattoo of a Woman with Lines/Shapes across her Face**

A portrait tattoo is something that you really don’t want to rush. Those small mistakes can really stand out, and the last thing you want is for a job to be done quickly.

Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Traditional Japanese Woman Calf Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Traditional Japanese Woman Calf Tattoo**

Consequently, you should be prepared for the tattoo to take up to eight hours in many cases.

But this will depend largely on the complexity of the piece. Some pieces can take up to 12 hours in total, and this may mean that it needs to be completed over several inking sessions.

How Long Should You Wait In Between Tattoos?

Place That Tattoo Properly

Ornamental Portrait Tattoo of a Woman wearing a Moth Shaped Mask with Mandala Background | selftattoo.com — **Ornamental Portrait Tattoo of a Woman wearing a Moth Shaped Mask with Mandala Background**

Portrait tattoos are not just your everyday tattoos. You need to ensure that you choose the right placement for them.

A portrait tattoo tends not to look good when it’s too small, so you should be prepared to give up a sizable area for one.

Make sure you choose a body part without creases. The back can be a great location especially for large portraits.

However, the biceps, the calves, and the chest also work very well. Given the amount of detailed inking involved, it’s definitely always best to choose an area that is easier to work on, such as a crease-free zone.

Full Guide to Tattoo Placement

Some Portrait Tattoo Ideas

If you’re committed to the idea of getting a portrait tattoo, but you’re not entirely sure what to get, here are some ideas:

A Family Member

Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing a Art Nouveau Headdress Thigh Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Woman wearing a Art Nouveau Headdress Thigh Tattoo**

If a loved one in the family has recently passed away, having a portrait done can be a fitting tribute that will last for a lifetime.

Just make sure that you bring a high resolution large photo with you so that the tattoo artist has something solid to work with when they render the likeness.

6 Memorial Tattoo Ideas

The Surreal Tattoo

Realistic Black and Gray Surreal Double Exposure Style Portrait of Medusa Upper Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Realistic Black and Gray Surreal Double Exposure Style Portrait of Medusa Upper Arm Tattoo**

If you have a flair for art or you want something truly unique, why not opt for a portrait in the surreal style?

Salvador Dali was a proponent of the surreal movement in art, and his likeness is ideal for this. Otherwise, get some ideas from art history books and use your imagination.

Full Guide to Tattoo Styles

Music Icon

Realistic Black and Gray Portrait Tattoo of a Man wearing a Bandana with a Contemplative Expression | selftattoo.com — **Realistic Black and Gray Portrait Tattoo of a Man wearing a Bandana with a Contemplative Expression**

Likewise, having a favorite music artist inked on your body can also speak volumes about your own interests.

7 Music Tattoo Ideas

Conclusion

Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Cowgirl in a Dramatic Noir Style Depiction Upper Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Realistic Black and Gray Portrait of a Cowgirl in a Dramatic Noir Style Depiction Upper Arm Tattoo**

Portrait tattoos have really become very sophisticated in recent years. More and more tattoo artists are willing to express themselves through this intense style of tattoo. The question is this: should you get one for yourself?

Vintage/Pin-up Style Portrait of a Woman with Long Flowing Black Hair and a Red Rose Arm Tattoo | selftattoo.com — **Vintage/Pin-up Style Portrait of a Woman with Long Flowing Black Hair and a Red Rose Arm Tattoo**

Every tattoo requires a commitment, but portrait tattoos require intense focus and concentration from the tattoo artist. In this sense, there is a commitment from both parties during the process.

But the results can truly speak for themselves. A portrait tattoo that has been rendered wonderfully can really look amazing and capture the eye.