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Abstract tattoos have been a rising favourite since tattoos have become more accepted within society. While other tattoos and styles are going out of style, abstract tattoos are on the rise! Taking one of the popular art forms from over the years and turning it into a tattoo style has been becoming frequently more popular. An idea that works wonders with abstract tattoos. So what is the abstract tattooing style?
To really answer that question, we have to start with the art form that inspired it.
Abstract Art: A Brief History
There is one artist synonymous with abstract art that everyone has heard of. That man is Jackson Pollack. However, despite knowing the name and that he’s an artist, fewer people know about his art style than should.
We should probably start with what abstract art is. Essentially, abstract art is a form of art that utilizes all things abstract. All sorts of different elements of colour, line, shape, texture, etc. Abstract is a form of art where the imagery of things from the visual world has little or no place. That’s it in a nutshell.
Now, how abstract art was born is under debate. Some argue that Picasso’s Cubism is the earliest form of abstract art. Others think Hilma af Klint was the first. A lot of people think that Joseph Mallord William Turner’s later works may have kicked it off. Whomever it was, it seems abstract art was meant to be born.
However, it is generally agreed upon that Vasily Kandinsky was the pioneer of this art form from 1910-11 when he painted the Aquarella Abstraite, “Sans Titre”.
Despite it starting in the early 1900s, abstract art didn’t flourish and exploded in popularity until the 50s, when artists such as Jason Pollack and Willem De Kooning came on the scene. Instead of labelling it abstract as Kandinsky had, they instead called it abstract expressionism. As it got more popular, artists would call their form something different as well.
Eventually, the 60s came about and with it, optical art and minimalism, both of which take the concept of abstraction and abstract art as their base.
To this day, whether it’s in tattooing, painting, or some other form, abstract art still lives on and continues to thrive.
So What Is The Abstract Tattooing Style?
The abstract tattooing style takes all the best things about abstract art and puts it into tattoo form. Abstract tattoos can work on their own but tend to be combined with other styles for the best effect. They can range anywhere from a design that looks like a work of art with no particular image – meant only to invoke emotion or a particular feeling – to an intricate, ornate framework to make the rest of the piece pop.
Yet, the main premise is almost always the same with tattoos that heavily incorporate the abstract tattooing style. They tend to be a deconstruction of objects and ideas using various colours, shapes, and shadows to evoke a variety of thoughts, emotions, and feelings by portraying the image through an unrealistic lens.
Plus, they are meant to look really fucking cool.
Our Favourite Style Combinations For Abstract Tattoos
There are some styles that work together and some that really don’t (We’re looking at you, tribal butterfly tramp stamps). Now that we’ve gone over what the abstract tattooing style is, we wanted to share some of our favourite style combinations for abstract tattoos.
Geometric
Although, both the abstract and geometric tattooing styles have a tendency to use shapes, integrating these two styles is an interesting choice. They use their similar aspects in wildly different ways. This is quite often to some of the craziest tattoos we’ve ever seen.
You wouldn’t think that two very conflicting styles would work as well as they do. Which is probably why you don’t see it often.
Negative Space
The negative space tattooing style complements the abstract tattooing style perfectly. Using the lines, shapes, and randomness of the abstract style to create an image within the tattoo’s negative space just works so well.
Portraits
Most people wouldn’t think of portraits when thinking about abstract tattoos. However, the variety of shapes and lines often leads to excellent framing and a similar concept to leading lines in photography. This can make certain aspects of the portrait pop or be a natural guide to where one’s eyes should focus.
Another way one could go with it would be similar to Picasso’s portraits using cubism. After all, it is said that Picasso almost accidentally invented abstract art.
Realism
The Realism tattooing style is the style that is found most often combined with the abstract tattooing style. The combination of these two styles is so common that it is what most people think when they think of abstract tattoos. Primarily those of the nature-focused realism style.
This combination of styles is a tried and true variation that has become a classic when talking about abstract tattoos.
Surrealism
Even though Realism is fairly common with abstract tattoos, a good amount of time putting those two styles of tattooing together will make the tattoo surrealistic. However, whenever someone fully commits to surrealism, something amazing is made. You could even say that it’s surreal.
Many of these tend to be associated with mental health.
Final Thoughts On Abstract Tattoos
Although the abstract tattooing style is technically “new”, due to the vast history of the abstract art form it could be argued it’s not new at all. Whatever side of the fence you sit on for that argument, I believe we all could agree on one thing.
Abstract tattoos are here to stay. They have become an instant classic and we love them. No matter what form they take. As time goes on, we believe that not only will you continue to see all sorts of abstract tattoo style combinations, but also a lot more that are purely just in the abstract tattooing style. Not only that, but we also believe as time marches on, these tattoos will become bolder in what they attempt.
We look forward to seeing what the future holds for this style of tattooing.
What do you think of the abstract tattooing style? Do you have any of your own?
If you want to submit any of your tattoos to possibly be featured either here on the site or on our Instagram, please send them to tattoos@nomadicinscriptions.com. Remember to treat your artists right and avoid annoying the ones that are permanently marking your skin.
As always, we believe we should live with intention, travel with purpose, and let the world inscribe its stories upon us.
So until next time, stay authentic, stay Nomadic, and let the world inscribe its stories upon you more than you do upon it.
