Pirate Tattoo Photo #8579

Common motifs include ships, compasses, skulls, anchors, and maps. This guide covers style, placement, and practical design choices for ships and compasses.

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 ribcage offers a private placement that only shows when the wearer chooses. Its curved surface adds dimension to designs, though the area is known for being one of the more sensitive spots to tattoo.