'Jail house' tattooists would jury-rig home made tattoo machines powered by any small, available motor. Since colored tattoo inks weren't available and cigarette ash made an acceptable, easily emulsified pigment, the tattoos were invariably black and gray. They developed the refined, detailed style that has become popular these days.
The advancement of this underground technique was refined in the 1970's, turning black and gray or 'joint style' tattoos into a mainstay of modern tattooing. Black and Gray is customary used for portraits or for achieving a very realistic effect. The artist's concentration is focused on the line and shading of the piece. They can look awesome particularly if the tattoo artist is experienced with shading. Just like the name they are done only in shades of black and gray.
Click below to see view pictures of tattoos from site visitors, rate their ink and read comments from others about your tattoos.
Black and Grey Backpiece
Black and Grey Dragon and Wizard Backpiece, 37.5 hours to complete, work was done by Scott Sheene of Studio Ink Tattoo in Danville, KY.
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Black and Grey Motobike Tattoo
The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
We took a pic of a my mates bike and ...
Black & Gray Tattoo
Black & Gray Skull & Dragon
Artist, Nathan- Yakuza Tattoo, Campbelltown
Skull Cost $400.00
Dragon Cost $350.00
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Black and Grey Tattoo
Its a black & grey 'joint style' smoky dragon, 3/4's of my arm length. Took approx 2.5 hours cost total $350.00.
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Black and Grey Indian Tattoo
It took approx 3 hours and is located on the back. The tattoo was done by Ray Tutty, at The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK 01443 438664....
Black and Grey Viking Cover up
This was a cover up of an old tattoo, if you look you can see it slightly under the vikings helmet. It took approx 4 hours and is located on the upper ...
Black and Grey Tattoo
Shrunken Head of the Mudurucu tribe.
By Chris Saint Clark of Kustom Thrills In Nashville.
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Angel Tattoo
It took 3 hours from a great artist.
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Bricked Heart Tattoo
Just after my third divorce i decided that i had it with long term relationships, so its sex and conversation that makes me happy. Done at Yonge Street ...
Black and Grey Half Sleeve Dragon
My tattoo is a half sleeve black and grey dragon done by Corey Miller from Six Feet Under Tattoo. The outline was done at the Fresno Tattoo Expo in April ...
Mythical Dragon Tattoo
My tattoo is of a mythical type dragon, holding an eyeball with a wind effect background, the artist was from West Wales and his shop is called 'Nobbys ...
Large Koi Fish Tattoo
10 hours .. a cover up.
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Portrait Tattoo
This is a portrait tattoo of my little girl Bailey, it was done by Darren Stares of Portsmouth, England, 2007. It took 5 hr's to do, and is 100% like for ...
Black and Gray Script Tattoo
Family - Impact Tattoo (Portugal)
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Smile Now, Cry Later Clowns
It is the famous and most popular Smile Now, Cry Later tattoo.This tattoo took me bout 3 and a half hours to do. Its covers his whole top shoulder and ...
Black & Grey Portrait Tattoo
Piece was done by Tom Ptolomey of Southend, about eight or nine years ago. It took about three and a half hours in one sitting, is on my left thigh and ...
Remembrance Tattoo
This tattoo was done in 2hours by Derrick Young of 'Yankee Tattoos' in Dundee, Scotland, Derrick is especially good at black and gray work,and horror scenes....
Black and Grey Full Sleeve Tattoo
13 hours into sleeve at Fine Line Topeka,KS
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Black and Grey Tattoo in Progress
I'm a fan of black and grey work. I have got 5 or so in the past 6 weeks, by Tattoo John at Eastcoast Tattoos in Alsford Nova Scotia Canada.. Each one ...
Black & Grey Tattoo
This tattoo is what i call my "three faces" it was tattooed by Phil (Lynxy) @ 'The Bluebird Tattoo Studio' in North Shields, England. It is on the top ...
Florida State Tattoo
it took about one or so hour it didn't hurt too bad. It SCABBED UP NASTY it was my 1st tattoo proud of it though rep my state of birth and growth forever ...
Mexican Tattoo Art
It's a picture of a Mexican soldier w/a fighting rooster. This took about 3 hrs to complete.
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Memorial Tattoo
Heather Dewar at Tribal Skribe, Dundee, Scotland took 8 hours. Dundees female tattoo artist.
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Black & Grey Tattoo
I'm the artist my brother was the recipient. It only took about 3 hours. Had he not been a pussy it would have taken two hours.
Pinoy Tribal Tattoo Design
Full leg tattoo called Pinoy tribal.. done by a well known tattoo artist in the Philippines..
Evil Tattoo
Freehand head ripping out of flesh. It took me about twenty minutes to do.
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Koi Fish Tattoo
Check it out!!
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Tiger Lily With Swirls and Stars
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Red tiger lily with a few stars and some swirls. It took about 3 hours and still needs some finishing touches. Robb Stout is the artist.
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Black Ink
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Tattoos by JoKeR Oxnard Calif.
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Black and Gray Tattoo
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Skull and Bones Tattoo
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My tattoo is a black and grey style skull with cross bones. It has a banner at the bottom with my wife's initials.I think this tattoo took about an hour ...
Koi Fish Tattoo With Traditional Japanese Elements
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The tattoo is not complete. There is still a lot of shading to do on the front part of my arm, and underneath is still not complete. It will be a half ...
Stars Tattooed Up Girl's Leg
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It is a exploding shooting star that travels up my leg...
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Cross Tattoo With Shading
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My tat is a log cross with clouds behind it done in black & gray with a shredded ribbon with my kids' names in it. There is no outline it is all shaded....
Sun and Stars Tattoo
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My tattoo is simple but its nice...
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Black & Grey Tattoo
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I did this dragon on my own leg...took my 3 hours to do...still have the shading to do after it heals.
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Skull Tattoo
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Skull with a bandana and hat 2 the left. Done originally by a cat named (AK)
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Freehand Style Tattoo
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This tattoo was freehand and it's suppose to be this guys dad who was sentenced to life in prison for an armed robbery. I did not use a stencil. I was ...
Vine Tattoo On Foot & Ankle
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My tattoo comes from a design that me and my children came up with. It is an ankle bracelet that wraps around my leg down to my foot. The bracelet is a ...
Colour Lily Tattoo
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
This took approx 4 hours to do.
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Colour Gremlin Tattoo
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
This took approx 4 hours to do.
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Black and Grey Pin Up Girl
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
This took approx 4 hours to do.
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Black and Grey Knight With Wings
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
This took approx 4 hours to do.
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Black and Grey Samurai Tattoo
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
This took approx 3 and a half hours to ...
Black and Grey Memorial Tattoo
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
Took approx 3 hours to do!
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Black and Grey Pheonix Tattoo
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
This is a Pheonix tattoo and took approx ...
Black and Grey Pin up Girl!
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
It took approx 4 hours to do and is a ...
Black and Grey Dragon with Daffodils
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
It took approx 2 and a half hours to ...
Black and Grey Portrait Tattoo
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The Tattoo was done by Ray Tutty @ The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK CF41 7BS ( 01443 438664)
It took approx 3 hours to do and is a ...
Elvis and Marilyn Tattoo
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Not sure how long it took maybe 2 hrs, but the lips hurt the worst. The artist was the great John Ballesteros from Indigo Skin Design in Antioch Calif....
'No Guts - No Glory' Tattoo
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Black and Gray tat with green shamrock in the center. The words "No guts, No Glory" written in on banners above and below. American and Ireland flag on ...
Tribal Inspired Tattoo With Letter
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It's a V with tribal style.
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Black and Gray Half Sleeve
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Great artist at 'Darkside Tattoos'. Tic Toc did this n bout 2 hrs only 200 bucks cuz he did my dads work let me kno wut u thnk?
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Psycho Realm Gasmask Tattoo
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The psycho realm gas mask.
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Black and Grey Joint Tattoo
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Its a black & grey "joint style" smokey dragon, 3/4's of my arm length. Took approx 2.5 hours cost total $350.00.
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Ballerina Slippers Tattoo
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Was about the size of a half dollar.
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Black and Grey Fantasy Tattoo
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This is an image taken from a Victoria Frances painting, it took approx 2 hours and is located on the forearm. The tattoo was done by Ray Tutty, at The ...
Black and Grey Skull Tattoo
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A Skull looking through the skin, it took approx 2 hours and is located on the upper inner arm. The tattoo was done by Ray Tutty, at The Tattoo Studio,...
Black and Grey Metallica Tattoo
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This is an image taken a Metallica album cover, it took approx 3 hours and is located on the forearm. The tattoo was done by Ray Tutty, at The Tattoo Studio,...
Black And Grey Viking Tattoo
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It took approx 3 hours and is located on the calf. The tattoo was done by Ray Tutty, at The Tattoo Studio, Pentre, Rhondda, South Wales UK 01443 438664....
Black and Grey Fantasy Tattoo
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This is an image taken from a Victoria Frances painting, it took approx 3 hours and is located on the calf. The tattoo was done by Ray Tutty, at The Tattoo ...
Koi Tattoo
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It took 1 and half hour by a friend of mine who is a tattoo artist..and for me it looks good..
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Portrait Tattoo of Marilyn Monroe
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Marilyn Monroe Portrait took 7 hours. It was done by Chris Saint Clark at Kustom Thrills Tattoo in Nashville.
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Realism/ Portrait Tattoo
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This is of the girls Grandmother. It took 5 hours. It was done by Chris Saint Clark of Kustom Thrills Tattoo in Nashville.
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God Bless the Philippines
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BLESS THE FLAG OF THE PHILIPPINES. IT TOOK 4 HOURS.
ARTIST: AKA AMBOK
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Warrior Tattoo
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A dragon and a Japanese warrior which I gave the name of 'Roja Boy'. It comes from my son's name. It took 5 hours to complete.
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Skull Tattoo
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Harley motor/ skulls. Took 7 hours.
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Black and Grey Tattoo
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Screw tattoo done by Jim Stafford of 'Minds Eye Tattoo' in Helena Montana. Took 2 Hours.
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Zodiac Sign Tattoo
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Simple zodiac Cancerian symbol that also looks like a 69 which is why I tattooed it on myself.
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Raven Tattoo on Foot
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A black raven on the foot, very detailed but only took about an hour. The artist was Janene from 'Bob's Piercing & Tattoos' in Surfers Paradise of the ...
Tribal Cover-up Tattoo
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It took about 2 hours.
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Stick Man Tattoo
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Only person to stick by my side.
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Koi Fish Tattoo
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By marlon of 55tinta.
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Black and White Tribal Tattoo
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i often free hand designs on to the skin using skin markers, as i have done with this one. i used a variety of white tribal lines mixed with black solid ...
Anchor Tattoo on Girl
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This tattoo was $50+$10 tip. represents staying grounded. took about 30-45 minutes.
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Names Tattooed on Back
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My tattoo had taken 3 hours, I was 15 when Ii got it done, I am 16 at the moment soo yeah hope you like it. Cheers ...
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Black and Gray Tattoo
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This is the 'Sumatran Rat Monkey' from the Peter Jackson movie, 'Dead Alive'. it's a screen shot from the movie. The tattoo only took about 2 and a half ...
Black and Gray Tattoo
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It took 2 hours.
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Beautiful Black and Gray Tattoo
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It took 2 hours ...
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Black and Grey Tattoo
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This is a gods warrior tattoo done by David and Dragons Den Too in Augusta,GA...hes such a great artist. It took about 3 and a half hours to do it.
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Prison Tattoo
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Iron cross with skull and S.D.M.F it stands for strength, determination, merciless, forever.
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Black and Gray Tattoo
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Butterflies on my lower leg to my foot with my mom's name in it. It took 3 1/2 hours done by Keith McCabe.
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Collection of Tattoo Art
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i started off just getting a collection of tattoos that i liked and that meant something in the larger scheme of my life. got those done at Yonge Street ...
Ohm Tattoo
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I had a piece of flash for about a dozen years stashed in my desk drawer. so just before i got my phoenix done i had this piece done my a new artist at ...
Phoenix Tattoo
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got it done at new age tattoos and piercing in Toronto, Ontario, by Alex - the mad Russian. took two sittings and about two hours. i wasn't in a rush to ...
Image of Christ Tattoo
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This tattoo took us around 5hrs & is one of our studio's most favorite tattoo's.
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Koi Fish Tattoo
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MY tattoo of a koi fish. It took 90 mins. The artist was I.STYLES from Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
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Love and Hate Tattoo
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I like to think there's a thin line between love and hate so I got it tatted on me one way says LOVE and upside down it says HATE. My dude B.J. Deshazo ...
Black and Grey Tattoo
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This tattoo took 4 hours to complete in one sitting,
it was by Steve at the ink well County Durham approx 4 years ago!
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Sun Tattoo
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A sun and face done at Nutatu Neath. Took 2 hours. I explained that i wanted a face on it as I have a thing for faces not sure why and also a thing with ...
Black and Grey Rose Tattoo
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This took 2 and a half hours, and was done by the homie jon harrington. a bad ass artist.
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Awesome Black and Grey Tattoo
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Reptiles, insects, amphibians sleeve in progress. Tattoo work done by Marcus (Ark City,KS).
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Black and Grey Tattoo
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Moths by tattoo artist Marcus (Ark City,KS)
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Black and Grey Tattoo
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Tattoo is of a black and grey skeleton pirate that covers up a moth that I have done myself on my thigh. Tattoo artist is from MO.
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Devil Tattoo
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Devil...,2 hrs, Poloy...
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Angel Tattoo
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Angel with arms out in front of him, head up and eyes shut, guiding you on your path. This took me about 1 hour to complete.
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Free Hand Tattoo
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got bored one night ...
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Black and Gray Ink
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This tattoo was done by James Brennan a self taught artist. It is a Liverpool liverbird. It took 2 and half hours. Feedback from the tattoo was described ...
Joker Tattoo
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Its just a simple joker. It took about 3hours the artist is from Philippines..
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Script Tattoo on Foot
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Black and Grey Tattoo
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THE ART SPEAKS FOR ITSELF ..TOOK 1HR 45 MINUTES. COLUMBUS MISSISSIPPI WEB PAGE OF SOME OTHER TATS OF MINE ON MYSPACE.COM/19THREE18
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Cartoon Tattoo
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It's good what can I say!
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Religious Tattoo
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It is on my foot, took about an hour, but it was in the 3 sittings. the top of the foot is so painful but it was totally worth it. I get a lot of compliments ...
Black and Grey Religous Tattoo
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Praying hands with 'Only God Can Judge Me' written around it. It took 3 hours in a shop in Bayonne NJ by an old school tattoo artist Tattoo Todd.
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Memorial Tattoo
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Tribal Tattoo Design
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Tribal swirls, 5 hours. Done at 'Borderline Tattoo on the Gold Coast Queensland, Australia.
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Religious Tattoo Design
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NOSSO TRABALHO É SIMPLES MAS FEITO COM MUITA DEDICAÇÃO E ESTAMOS APRENDENDO A CADA DIA QUE PASSA FORTE ABRAÇO A TODOS VISITE NOSSO SITE OFICIAL www....
Black and Gray Tattoo
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Sad Happy Life wit two demon clowns the reason i got them is becuase sum people r sad sum people r happy thats life it took like 45 min and hour including ...
Black and Gray Tattoo
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Good the tattoo was I throw with machine throws in house and I have been 2 days in finishing it were 2 days without resting neither the tatuador as much ...
Black and Gray Mermaid Tattoo
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Mermaid and ship framed in a palm tree. Took about 4.5 hours to do. by Ralphy at he nuclear crayon in Springfield, Mass.
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