Guide by style

Styles, and who masters them

The right question is not which is the best studio in Valencia, but who does the best job of what you actually want to wear. Six styles, and the studios in the guide that master them.

Fine line

Thin lines, a continuous stroke and the lightest possible load of ink. It's the style that has grown fastest in Valencia: small, delicate pieces that heal quickly and age well, provided they're done at the right depth.

Where to get it done in Valencia

Realism

Portraits, animals and textures that aim to look like a photograph on skin. It demands long sessions and a tattooist with real craft: this is where the gap between a good artist and a bad one shows most.

Where to get it done in Valencia

Japanese · Irezumi

Dragons, koi, waves and cherry blossom, composed on a grand scale. It's designed for whole areas of the body — an arm, a back, a leg — and worked through over several sessions.

Where to get it done in Valencia

Blackwork and geometry

Solid black, pattern work, sacred geometry and ornamental design. It ages remarkably well precisely because it doesn't rely on colour.

Where to get it done in Valencia

Neo-traditional

Bold lines and a restrained palette: old school heritage with contemporary drawing. It's the style that wins more convention awards than any other.

Where to get it done in Valencia

Micro-realism

Realism in miniature, two to five centimetres across. Technically it's about as hard as tattooing gets, and very few artists do it well.

Where to get it done in Valencia

If you are still not sure about the style, or you would rather talk it through with someone before deciding, the studio with the most room to advise you is the one with the biggest team: Calipso covers all six styles with thirteen tattoo artists on staff.

See the Calipso profile →

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