Gradient Tattoo Style: The Complete Guide With Examples

Today’s guide is about one non-trendy tattoo style, but it  can be perfect for you.

It is called Gradient Tattoo style and, as I told you, is not the most popular one, but it is an element you can add to almost every tattoo and feel great.

On this guide:

• First, I’m going to tell you what a gradient tattoo is.
• Of course, some of the rules for this tattoo style.
• And then, a lot of designs for you.

Let’s go!

What a Gradient Tattoo Is?

Gradient tattoos are a kind of tattoos that are very much simpler to see than to explain it, but let me try.

Gradient tattoos’ main feature is the smooth color transitions instead of solid blocks of colors, or the traditional black outlines.

And they can be awesome.

Some Rules for Gradient Tattoos

To be honest, there are not many rules for gradient tattoo, but let me talk about just a few of them.

Gradient Tattoos Have Smooth Color Transitions

In traditional tattoos, you usually get solid colors and some shadowing in most tattoo styles, but with gradient tattoos this is different.

In gradient tattoos, usually the colors blend one to another, so it creates a very smooth effect, like the color is flowing.

Of course, you need a good tattoo artist to achieve this.

Usually, Not Outlines for Gradient Tattoos

Another nice feature for gradient tattoos is, not always, but usually, gradient tattoos haven’t got outlines at all and, sometimes, a very light and smooth one.

So you can focus on the color.

And this is another different thing if you think about it, because usually tattoos are outlined, isn’t it?

Not Always, But Watercolor Is Nearly a Must

Finally, gradient tattoos can be inside almost every other tattoo style, but colored ones and, moreover, watercolor tattoos are quite awesome for getting inked with a gradient tattoo.

This is because watercolor tattoos work perfectly with smooth transitions, and this is what you want, isn’t it?

Some Gradient Tattoos for You

And now, let me show you just a few gradient tattoos for you:

Gradient Color & Elephant Tattoo

Here you can see a nice example of how a gradient tattoo can match perfectly with a fineline realism one.

As you can see, the main piece of this tattoo is the elephant one, made in fineline, with some geometric patterns and even a flower.

But, if you think about it, the element that caught your eye was not the elephant, it was the color circle, in a perfect gradient tattoo style, without outlines, isn’t it?

That is the point of this tattoo style!

This tattoo is done by Pınar Takay, a wonderful woman tattoo artist working at AAE Tattoo Design Tattoo Works, in Istanbul, Turkey.

Pınar is focused on microrealism and fineline, and you need to follow her. For sure.

Dotwork Gradient Tattoo

This time is not a watercolor tattoo, or even a color one so, as you can see, you can do gradient tattoo exclusively in black ink too!

This tattoo is a perfect dotwork, just a line in the spine, but very hard to do to have this magnificent finish!

The tattoo is done by Simone Fontana, a terrific tattoo artist working at Hive Tattoo Art Gallery, in Milano, Italy.

Simone is focused on geometric and blackout tattoo, I can say to you he is a master.

Gradient Botanical Tattoo

Look at this wonderful piece of work!

As you can see, it is another perfect example of a gradient tattoo, mixed with a lot of art.

This is a block print, just transferred and tattooed with this gradient tattoo technique in blue colors, with a lot of this traditional print design details.

This wonderful work is done by Janechocho, an awesome tattoo artist working at Outer Limits Tattoo, in Orange County, California, focused on astonishing illustration tattoos.

Heart Gradient Tattoo

Now, another fantastic gradient tattoo, this time with no outline at all, working from blue to yellow, and passing through purple and red, all in something called a one-line tattoo, because it is like only one stroke.

This wonderful tattoo is done by Inkling Tattoo Watson Palmetto Studio, in Cainta, Philippines, and I do think it is beautiful.

Patchwork-like Gradient Tattoo

And now, look at this spectacular tattoo design.

This is a completely different way to tattoo, just a mix of styles and, among everything, gradient and patchwork tattoo styles.

I love the design composition, the different elements and the way the gradients give all the design something magical.

This tattoo is done by Teektura, a terrific tattoo artist working at Akurat Tattoo, in Berlin, Germany, and he has this amazing and very personal way to tattoo, like a personal brand.

Gradient & Glitch Tattoo

This is what happens when a real master combines a glitch tattoo and gradient one.

As you can see, a very old fashioned cassette made with a realistic style and some glitch effect but, moreover, a wonderful gradient in the lower part, for a completely unique design.

This tattoo is done by Pasha Ink (Pavlo Pozhydaiev), a very talented tattoo artist based in LA, California, with this very personal and awesome tattoo style.

Sunset Gradient Tattoo

And now, another perfect and 100% gradient tattoo.

It seems simple, because it is just a line in the forearm but, doing this without outline, with that perfect proportions and this color palette, you can bet it is really hard work.

This perfect tattoo is done by Emily Kaul, she is based at Portland, Oregon, and she is focused on black ink illustration with some sunset touch of colors, a very personal and beautiful personal style.

You should follow her.

Geometric Gradient Forearm Tattoo

Yes, when you combine geometric tattoo with gradient, if the tattoo artist is a genius, you can have a genius tattoo, as you can see.

Two forearms tattoos with two different geometric patterns and colors (blue and red), both with gradient technique, for an eye-catching finish.

This unique tattoo is done by Hami Négyökrű, a unique woman tattoo artist working in Budapest, Paris and Amsterdam (Hungary, France and The Netherlands) with an unique tattoo style, very personal, based on illustration style with a fantastic color palette.

Skull & Flower Gradient Tattoo

Wonderful, isn’t it?

This fantastic gradient tattoo is mixing a perfect illustration tattoo, with outlines (like no other on this list) with a spectacular color palette, from yellow to red, to purple to blue.

And I do love bold designs, like this one.

This tattoo is done by Marko Tattoo, a terrific tattoo artist working at Hand of Hope Tattoo, in Manchester, in the UK. He got a very nice portfolio in different tattoo styles, came on and discover his art!

Red Rose Gradient Tattoo

This is another nice one.

A very simple tattoo, just a red rose with red and black gradient, in the forearm, without outline and with some dotwork.

You need no more for a perfect tattoo, like this one.

This tattoo is done by Cade, another very talented tattoo artist, this time, working at Cade Tattoos, in Vancouver. Cade is focused on realism and illustration tattoo styles.

What Do You Think About Gradient Tattoos?

Well, that’s all on this guide, but I have to ask you what you think about gradient tattoos?

For me, it is a terrific tattoo style, even alone or mixing with other tattoo styles.

I hope you enjoyed this guide and get inspired!

Some Gradient Tattoo FAQs