Crab Tattoo Photo #17331

The crab's hard shell suggests self-defense and guarding what's vulnerable inside. Its sideways movement can symbolize indirect approaches or non-linear paths through life.

By placing thousands of tiny dots at controlled spacing, dotwork artists achieve smooth gradients and intricate patterns. This labor-intensive method gives tattoos a unique texture that stands apart from traditional line-based work.

The collarbone's clean horizontal line provides a natural guide for elongated designs. This placement adds a subtle accent to the upper body and works especially well with fine-line and minimalist styles.