21 Pointillism tattoos for ink inspiration

by Ally Hirschlag

optional screen reader

Ally's Most Recent Stories

February 24, 2016 at 2:00pm EST

Pointillism tattoos are some of the most impressive we’ve ever seen. All those little details we love in the more traditional line-based tattoos are created with thousands of little points that are often placed there by hand rather than machine. That means these particular tattoos often take much more time and energy to complete, but when they’re done, they look that much more impressive. 

Related story Shoppers Say This Helen Mirren-Approved Brand's $10 Foundation Gives Their Skin ‘the Glow of a 30-Year-Old’

Pointillism gives tattoos an incredible depth that other methods simply can’t achieve. Take this wishbone for example.

• The kiss

  

  It’s hard to believe this tattoo, based on the famous “Lovers” painting by Magritte, is made up almost entirely of dots. 

• Maple leaf

  

  The fade work on this maple leaf tableau is truly stunning.

• Baby prints

  

  Baby prints: perhaps the most adorable idea for a tattoo ever. 

• Modern wolf

  

  This wolf is made up of a variety of dot lengths and sizes, making it look super modern. 

• Skeleton love

  

  The way dots capture the detailed crevices in bones is just incredible. 

• Elephant

  

  Hello, amazingly cool elephant!

• London calling

  

  The dotwork on city and landscape tattoos is some of the most impressive.

• Complex

  

  Except for those middle outlines, this is all dots. Seriously. 

• Raptor

  

  For the archaeologists and/or Jurassic Park fans.

• Diamond tree

  

  Tree tattoos have always been my favorite, but I’ve never seen one come to life in such perfect detail like this before. 

• Giant owl

  

  I can’t even talk about the absurd awesomeness of this owl. 

• Full moon

  

  You’ll usually see dotwork tattoos done in black because it captures natural shadows so beautifully.

• Moving cat

  

  Did that cat tattoo just move? I’m pretty sure it did. 

• Butterfly

  

  You don’t need color to make a butterfly tattoo jump out at you. 

• Eye see you

  

  However, sometimes little pops of color in pointillism tattoos are very effective. 

• The raven

  

  I think someone had a little Edgar Allan Poe obsession…

• Hogwarts

  

  Harry Potter enthusiasts, behold! The most unbelievable version of Hogwarts!

• Time

  

  What better way to use pointillism than to make grains of sand?

• Wolf moon

  

  The wolf and his moons. Creepy and beautiful all at the same time. 

• Flying

  

  And finally, no tattooed bird looks more real than one made out of thousands of tiny dots.

optional screen reader

Tags

Never Miss a Thing

The stories you care about, delivered daily.

ad

{{ result.published_at | date: "%h %d, %Y" }}

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tLTEpKWor6NjsLC5jq6lnJmkmrSwvsiznJ1no6G2pbHSoaawZ2VlhXJ7z6igp6yZobmqv8xmq5qspKS8tHs%3D