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Tattoo Artist Captures the Carefree Fluidity of Watercolor Paint in Colorful Tattoos

watercolor tattoos

Watercolor paintings and tattoos seem like an unlikely pair, but when they're put together, the results are stunning. Time and time again we've been wowed by the carefree fluidity that the fine art medium brings to contemporary body art. Aleksandra Katsan is one artist creating watercolor tattoos, and she incorporates ethereal brushstrokes as well as unpredictable splatters of pigment into her body art designs.

Despite the diffused edges and lines, creating a watercolor tattoo is unlike painting with a brush. A tattooing machine is a much different tool—it uses a rigid needle—and generally requires an artist to be much more exact with their work. Katsan's beautiful pieces showcase the skill that one must have when specializing in this style of tattoo work. Hers look convincingly like a real painting and blend technical prowess with delicate abstractions.

Katsan's portfolio primarily features nature-inspired forms and animals. Her choice of splashes and splatters offer some creative liberties to birds, flowers, and even adorable pandas. And through these watercolor tattoos, Katsan captures the essence of her subjects; their lively colors and implied texture is a celebration of the vibrant joy they bring to our world.

Tattooist Aleksandra Katsan captures a carefree fluidity in her colorful watercolor tattoos.

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

watercolor tattoos

Aleksandra Katsan: Instagram
h/t: [Design TAXI]

All images via Aleksandra Katsan.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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