Black and gray or color applications are equally valid, with styles ranging from American Traditional to realism and beyond. They fit naturally to positions like shoulder and chest and are also successful components in sleeve designs. Quality tattoo artists are able to produce 3D designs playing off light and shadow. They also utilize forceful shading and clean linework for realistic clocks or more surreal images.

2. Roman Numeral Eye Tattoos 

Perplexing as it may seem, the human eye is a common thematic element applied to Roman numeral tattoos. Often, they are matched stylistically to clock faces in parallel, creating a cool and dynamic piece of art that’s both surreal and profound.

The key to this approach is mastering realist application, meaning your tattoo artist will need strong skills in shading and light sources to achieve a realistic eye ringed by strongly inked Roman numerals. The design should have that sense of dampness in the eye itself. This is achieved by strongly contrasting dark shading and negative space to create the illusion of reflection.

A strong grasp of the human anatomy is key to getting a realistic image. The eye has subtle features — lash follicles, tear ducts, and in-eye capillaries. These are often overlooked by less skilled artists but can transform a tattoo when applied skillfully.

One thing to avoid with this design is over heavy shading. Some eye tattoos can get too dark and ruin the overall effect, and create an illusion that the tattoo is part of a cover-up.

3. Roman Numeral Date Tattoos 

Dates are arguably the most popular use of Roman numerals in contemporary tattooing. They can be applied in delicate script or richly shaded bold digits that bring sophistication and a classical history to your tattoo‘s depiction. Because dates can be small, they are well-suited to placement on the body. Even the knuckles and palms of your hands can make an effective canvas for a special date tattoo.