Portraits and photographic detail built purely from light and shadow. The most technically demanding style, and the least forgiving of an inexperienced artist.
What it is
Realism reproduces what a camera sees: portraits, animals, objects, landscapes, rendered with the tonal range of a photograph. Its defining feature is what it leaves out. There is no black outline containing the image. Every edge is created by contrast alone.
It comes in black and grey, which ages more predictably, and in colour, which is more striking and harder to keep.
Why the artist matters more here
In most styles a competent artist produces a good result. In realism the gap between competent and excellent is visible to anybody. A portrait that is five per cent wrong does not look like a slightly imperfect portrait, it looks like a stranger.
Realism specialists are specialists. Look for a portfolio that is almost entirely realism, not a page of it among other styles.
Size is not negotiable
Realism needs space. Detail that a good artist can hold at palm size collapses at coin size, because the skin spreads ink over time and fine tonal transitions merge.
If an artist tells you your idea needs to be bigger than you planned, that is the correct answer and not an upsell.
Living with it
Black and grey realism ages well with sun protection and holds its depth for decades. Colour realism fades faster, particularly reds and the lighter tones that create the highlights. Sunscreen is not optional on either.
Reference work
This gallery fills up with real realism work from studios in the directory. We would rather show you nothing than show you somebody else's tattoo and call it an example.
Find someone who does this
Browse the directory and check healed work before you book. Every studio in it has real Google ratings and reviews you can read.