Here, Buddha’s clothing is again cast in excellent detail, however it’s done by using negative space in counterpoint to the gray shading of the of focal point statue. The line work, crisp black and more subtle grays is a real highlight of the upper bicep piece. This form of Buddha, with the palm facing outward, is protective in nature. 

This is a beautifully devised and executed Buddha sleeve tattoo. The artist’s design and technique are almost flawless, effectively balancing the dark, heavily detailed image with savvy highlights in white ink to give it clarity. The Buddha is almost a portrait, so incorporating the shade and patterned scales of the supporting dragon image gives the overall piece a balanced range of effects. 

Stylistically this is a beautifully crafted tattoo balancing dark detail with negative space, but from a cultural perspective the Buddha is too far down the leg and could be considered insulting. Before getting work done with any religious connotation make sure to check out any possible issues your piece may trigger. 

This excellent side and upper arm tattoo utilizes Japanese Irezumi to produce a pair of Buddhas, well supported by traditional style elements waves, flowers, and clouds. It must be unfinished, given the second Buddha (upper left arm) is in negative space. Given only the Buddha’s skin is left bare in the first image it’s like the clothing at least will be incorporated into the rest of the color scheme. The trio of snakes above the second Buddha represent Naga: life, death, and rebirth. 

The different types of hand gesture Buddha makes are known collectively as Mudra. In this tattoo, the mudra is called the Dhyani, representing possession of a fully enlightened mind. The top hand – with thumb and forefinger touching lightly represents enlightenment. The bottom hand (if part of the tattoo) would remain horizontally flat and symbolize the world of appearances.