Black & grey realism
David works primarily in black and grey realism.
His style leans toward hyperrealism without feeling photographic.
His tattoos show strong emotional depth.
Forms are built with soft transitions and layered shading.
Harsh outlines are avoided.
Classical art and sculpture influence his work.
He often uses cinematic lighting creating depth and dramatic impact.
Backgrounds fade softly into the skin.
The subject remains clear and undistracted.
Skills
David showcases remarkable skill in tonal control, achieving deep blacks that remain clear, rich mid-tones, and crisp highlights, essential for tattoos that will age gracefully. His ability to render skin is particularly impressive; he captures the essence of pores, softness, and subtle flaws without exaggeration, lending a lifelike quality to his portraits.
The way he portrays eyes is noteworthy, as they serve as focal points in his work, characterized by sharp detail, reflective highlights, and emotional resonance. This level of realism is consistent across various textures, including fur, feathers, fabric, hair, and stone, each distinguished through technique rather than mere outlines.
In terms of composition, David demonstrates a keen understanding of body anatomy and flow. His designs seamlessly wrap around arms, hands, and shoulders, ensuring they are visually appealing from different perspectives. Even intricate sleeve designs maintain a sense of cohesion and balance, avoiding any overcrowding.
Designs
Design-wise, his work is story-driven and symbolic. Rather than decorative imagery, each tattoo feels intentional and meaningful. Recurring themes include spirituality, justice, inner conflict, strength, identity, and duality. He frequently blends elements, human faces with animals, architecture with portraits, religious symbols with realism, using techniques like double exposure and soft overlays to unify them seamlessly.
There is a consistent emotional tone across his designs: calm, introspective, powerful, and restrained. Even intense subjects (wolves, crucifixion, predatory imagery) are handled with control and dignity, avoiding shock value.