Tattoo styles

Tattoo Styles in Gelsenkirchen: Fine Line, Blackwork & More

Three artists, three signature styles: what defines each style and who tattoos it at Meduza Ink in Buer.

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Fine line tattoo of a prowling tiger among peonies on the thigh, by Cindy

Styles at a glance

Fine line
Very thin lines, light and delicate.
Black & grey
Black only, in many shades of grey.
Blackwork
Pure black, strong contrasts.
Blackout
Whole areas filled solid black.
Dotwork & pepper shading
Designs and shading made of dots.
Mandala & ornamental
Symmetrical patterns radiating from the centre.
Lettering
Names, dates and quotes.
Illustrative & abstract
Like a drawing, often with humour.
Colour
Full colour or with accents.

Fine line tattoo of a hammerhead shark with small flowers and stars on the upper arm, by Cindy

Fine line tattoos: delicate lines, lots of detail

A fine line tattoo is made up of very thin lines, done with especially fine needles. It looks light and delicate, often with little shading.

Which designs suit fine line?

Flowers and vines
Ornaments
Lettering and dates
Small symbols and animals
Delicate pieces along the spine

A speciality of Cindy, who won several awards in “Best of Small” (4 × 4 cm) in 2025 and 2026. Motte also does fine line.

Fine line in detail

Where on the body does fine line hold up well?
Forearm, upper arm, shoulder blade, back, ribs, thigh, calf. On hands, fingers and feet, fine lines tend to fade faster in our experience.
What should you look out for?
- Not too small: otherwise fine details blur together over the years.
- Look at the artist’s work beforehand.
- Adapt the design to the placement during the consultation.
- Look after it well: tattoo aftercare.
How does a fine line tattoo age?
Lines soften over the years, and with fine line this is more visible. Sun protection helps. Lines that have become too faint can be touched up – discuss this with your artist.

Black & grey

Black only, in many gradations: soft transitions and depth. Typical subjects are portraits, realism, skulls, animals and religious motifs.

A speciality of Cindy (1st place Black & Grey in Wipperfürth and Lahnstein 2025) and Paul (3rd place in Wipperfürth).

Blackwork

Pure black: bold lines, filled areas, graphic shapes. It reads well from a distance and stays legible for a long time.

A speciality of Motte, Cindy and Paul.

Blackwork tattoo of an angel smiley and a devil smiley with paint drips on the forearm, by Motte

Blackout

Larger areas are filled completely in black – as a look of its own or as a base for further designs. Very permanent, so get thorough advice first.

A speciality of Motte.

Blackwork tattoo of a small smiling animal (quokka) with raised paws, a chain and rays on the arm, by Motte

Dotwork & pepper shading

The design is built up from lots of dots. Pepper shading uses dots for shading: grainy rather than smooth, and the denser the dots, the darker it gets.

Pepper shading is a speciality of Cindy; dot shading also features in the animal designs of Motte.

Fine line tattoo with lilies, ornaments and crescent moons on the forearm, by Cindy

Mandala & ornamental

Circular, symmetrical patterns, complemented by arches, lace, beads or geometry. Works well on the forearm, shoulder, back and thigh, also combined with flowers or dotwork.

A speciality of Cindy.

Tattoo of two butterflies with the lettering “Don’t judge my choices if you don’t understand my reasons” on the thigh, by Paul

Lettering (script tattoos)

Names, dates, quotes – from fine script to block letters. Important: a legible size and spacing that still work in years to come. Check the spelling carefully beforehand.

A speciality of Paul; Cindy also works lettering into larger designs.

Blackwork tattoo of a masked harlequin figure playing a flute on the upper arm, by Motte

Illustrative and abstract designs

Illustrative means: like a drawing, with clear outlines, often with humour. Abstract designs play freely with shapes and lines.

Raccoons, hyenas, quokkas and co. are mainly Motte’s territory; abstract work is Cindy’s.

Black & grey tattoo of a roaring gorilla with a globe and red accents on the forearm, by Paul

Colour tattoos

Full colour or with accents, such as a red rose in black & grey.

Cindy works in colour or black and grey; you will also find colour work in the galleries of Motte and Paul.

Who tattoos which style?

Cindy
Mandalas, Fine line, Pepper shading (dotwork), Blackwork, Black & grey, Abstract designs, Colour
Motte
Blackwork, Blackout, Fine line, Illustrative designs
Paul
Blackwork, Black & grey, Lettering