The alternating clarity between two types of Chinese calligraphy works to make this an arresting chest and stomach tattoo. The smaller characters are sharply drawn, think black line work etched with typewriter precision. This contrasts beautifully with the large character that looks like it’s been lazily painted on with a wide, thick brush, and is more art than communication.

Love the central line of this Chinese tattoo. It scrawls down the ‘page’, losing ink before it peters out in an inky realist fashion. Making a tattoo not like a tattoo is a brilliant skill the artist has been able to apply to this artwork.

This is a peerless full back tattoo featuring legendary Chinese General Guan Yu (he was a bad ass that helped China end the Han Dynasty and is hugely popular in Chinese film and literature). It is flawless body art, from the emerald color robe interlocking with golden armor, the stylized swirling gray clouds behind him, all the way down to the broad blade resting near the ground. The level of detail, clarity, and crispness of each tattooed inch makes the price tag sail well over $5000, but for an unforgettable artwork such as this one any price is a bargain.

This is a beautifully drawn, almost minimalist Chinese tattoo. Love how the piece operates within the circular border to deploy water color aspects heightened by unique black ink line work. It’s simple, but hugely effective, even down to the two smudges of white ink used to convey light insight the building.

This text tattoo looks like a parchment list drawn on skin, with the characters drawn in cleanly with single needle black ink.

This cool foo dog tattoo grasps a pearl, not unlike a dragon would. These are enjoyable tattoos to look at because they mix the serious with absurd across every style of ink. The eyes and facial features capture expression with clarity, while the flowing, wave-like beard is another key feature to the success of this half sleeve tattoo.