She tattoos in a hybrid style of old school and new school. Her old school techniques consist of thick bold lines and the classic colour scheme, with an added almost cartoon-ish look.
Mickey and Minnie meets Ice CreamMaui, Hei Hei, and Pua
Lots of her work features cartoon characters from popular Disney movies and shows like Mickey and Minnie, Moana, Mulan, and more. Her Instagram is also full of old school classics like swallows, reapers, skulls, pinups, and lady heads.
Mulan, Mushu, and Cri-KeeGrim Reaper on holiday
Much of the work she does can be done as smaller pieces if you’re a tourist in the area, and she also puts together fantastic larger pieces such as full sleeves.
Party sharkA beautiful red cardinal
If you’re traveling in the area be sure to send her an email and get yourself an appointment, or if you live nearby add a few new pieces to your collection.
A classic swallow and rose on the neckDaria’s Jane Lane
Moon Cheon is a tattoo artist working out of Kodzunak in Seoul, South Korea. Cheon, tattoos traditional Korean motifs in various styles.
Beautiful traditional woman on the handFreehand river and flower sleeves
Most of Cheon’s work is done freehand in a more loose style that closely resembles an ancient Chinese style of painting called “Xieyi” or “写意.” This is mostly used for landscape paintings, and Cheon follows this style by applying this technique to land and waterscape tattoos, often including free flowing rivers and flowers.
Korean eagle as part of a sleeveBlack work freehand river
Cheon also does delicate black and grey tattoos of Korean and East Asian animals, mythical creatures, and Gods and Goddesses.
Freehand mountain landscape on the chestRooster on the stomach and onto the chest
While much of his work is delicate and beautiful, he also doesn’t shy away from blood, gore, and violence, in the form of severed heads, and Japanese ghosts and demons (yōkai and yūrei).
Healed namakubi (severed head)Freehand river and flower sleeve ending with the hand
If you live near Seoul or are passing through, Moon Cheon is a must-see artist.
A darker version of a craneFlowers right in the ditch as part of a sleeve
Demons and monsters by OsangThree witches spinning the threads of human destiny done by Sojung
Osang and Sojung are a South Korean couple who tattoo at Hysteric Garden, Seoul, and also do guest spots around the world, including America, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Taiwan.
Burning candle, skull, and magic hand by OsangA goat and its brides done by Sojung
Both artists specialize in black work that is heavy on detailed lines, and macabre subject matter. As Halloween is right around the corner, they are a perfect pair to get a couple of tattoos from!
Burning church set ablaze by a mischievous demon, done by OsangA burning witch done by Sojung
You can bring in your own ideas or get an original piece from either of them.
Torture device and a big ole bug done by OsangGuillotine by Sojung
The couple do lots of specifically occult pieces such as demons, devils, black goats, witches, etc. They are also happy to tattoo more traditional Korean designs such as tigers and ravens if that’s more your style.
A meeting with a demon done by OsangA dance with the devil by Sojung
If you want a one of a kind, detail oriented black work piece, look no further.
A witchy hanging done by Osang
Anatomical human by SojungTraditional Korean tiger done by Osang
Medieval torture by SojungBeheading done by OsangDemonic Angel by SojungGallows and face done by OsangVision of the valley of dry bones by SojungGallows in Hell done by OsangThree eyed goat by Sojung
Keep an eye out on their Instagrams for their travelling guest spots, or pop in while you’re in South Korea. @osangbrutal @goatblackeyed you can find their emails for bookings on their individual Instagram accounts
Jinpil Yuu is tattooer and owner of the tattoo studio The Ravens Ink in Seoul, South Korea. Jinpil is famous for his flower tattoos, particularly his peony’s. Jinpil uses brilliantly deep and vibrant colours for his colour pieces.
Bright peony flowers on the sternum coupled with a black snake.Fantastic life sized jellyfish on the ribs.Traditional Korean styled tiger, bird, and tree.More of a neo traditional style fox on the thighs, with bright jewels and flowers for ornamentation.A Korean/Japanese styled kitsune, or fox spirit that can have multiple tails and great wisdom.
For his flower tattoos, Jinpil uses heavy contrast between red/orange, and black/dark greens.
Beautiful flowers alongside a very dark whale.Brilliant dark red and pink peony flowers that wrap around the arm.Beautiful, matching fish and flowers.Vibrant dark red peony as an arm filler in the elbow ditch.Bijinga (beautiful woman) with multiple flowers, from the arm to the chest.Stunning pink peony flowers with dark green leaves with a large dark snake wrapping around them.
He is also known for his blackwork, and Korean style pieces. Particularly gakubori, such as clouds and water, as well as snakes.
Bijinga, flowers, and traditional Korean background.Blackwork goldfish.Terrifying blackwork hornet.Blackwork hannya mask.Brilliant blackwork peony flower on the neck.More American traditional blackwork horned wolf head with dagger.Gakubori traditional Korean cloud back piece that extends onto the shoulders.Absolutely stunning full head piece featuring flowers, a snake, and traditional Korean background.Traditional Korean gakubori cloud wrist cuff piece.
Gara is a South Korean artist working out of Lighthouse Tattoo in Seoul. His work is black and grey, dark in both composition and subject matter, often featuring skulls and skeletons, beasts, and weapons. Much of his work is surreal, creating tattoos that look 3D, and some very realistic looking pieces. He also draws influence from both Korean and Japanese art and style.
Full macabre chest piece with some Japanese influence in the flowers.Realistic tiger head piece.Grim looking Jesus Christ with crown of thorns.Greek/Roman figure in statuesque format.Skull king and snake in a regal pose.Surreal skeleton figure trapped in a hand.Skull with broken jaw and rose.Praying Mary in robes with rose.Skeletal praying hands.
Gara has clients from all over the world and is a highly sought after artist thanks in part to his ever growing Instagram following.
Knights armoured hand with beautiful detail.Surreal skeleton bent to create a skull.Webby knee and a big ol’ spider.Surreal sea captain with his ship.Realistic portrait in profile and black rose.Plague doctor mask and skulls.
(Beautiful set of hands with skulls, webs, flowers, and snakes.)
If you are in South Korea, Gara is a must see artist.
Foo, or Fu Dogs as they are known as in the West are Chinese lion guardians called Shi. These creatures are both guardians and good luck charms. When placed outside buildings they are meant to protect those inside from negative energy and to stop those with intent to harm from entering. These ancient symbols have been around since the Han Dynasty (206 BC- 220 AD).
American traditional Foo head by Alex T. Frazer at Bravest Kids Tattoo, Manchester UK.Realistic Foo statue done by Andy Pho at Skin Designs Tattoos.Huge rib piece with Foo and flowers by Danh Vu at Inkman Tattoo in Brooklyn, NY.
As a tattoo this creature is also meant to be protective. Keeping the wearer safe from harm. This creature is also tattooed to be a representation of the wearer’s strength, courage, and heroism.
Realistic stomach piece by David Hoang at Chronic Ink Tattoos in Toronto.Back of neck foo by Tristen Zhang at Chronic Ink Tattoo in Toronto.Brilliant Japanese backpiece by Hori Taka in Kyoto, Japan.
Foo dogs are firstly a Chinese tattoo, but are also associated with Japanese tattoo’s and can be incorporated into Japanese pieces. They are often also done as black and grey pieces, American traditional, and realism pieces.
Golden foo and daruma doll and flowers by Horiei Shinshu in Matsumoto City, Japan.Foo and flower chest piece by Jin Q Choi at Seoul Ink Tattoo Studio.Black and grey foo by Kentzho Starbrade at Black Bamba Ink and Orc tattoos.Forearm filler foo by Steve Black at All of One Tattoo Studio.Foo head chest piece by Sue Kidder at Old Ironside Tattoo, Honolulu.Bright foo sleeve by Yan Jingdiao in China.
Foo dogs are often placed on hands, with the head fitting perfectly, lining up with the knuckles.
Blue foo by Anna Waychoff at Powerhouse Tattoo.Red and blue foo head by Brian Donovan at Davidian Tattoo Studio.Black and grey foo with a third eye done by Nicolas Malagon Casas in Columbia.Colourful hand foo by @pandern8er at Main Street Tattoo Collective in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Foo Dog’s make a brilliant and powerful tattoo for those seeking protection and good fortune.
Tiger’s make a fantastic design and can be done in many different styles including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, American traditional, neo traditional, black and grey, photo realism, dotwork, geometric style, and watercolor.
Neo traditional scalp tiger done by Adam Guy Hays at Red Rock Tattoo.
Tiger tattoos can also carry many different meanings. When done in an Asian style a tiger represents strength, courage, long life, and are also meant to ward off evil spirits, bad luck, and even disease. When done in a more Western style such as American traditional, black and grey, realism, etc.. the tiger is tattooed for its beauty, power, and intensity.
Watercolor space tiger done by Adrian Bascur in Chile.Huge neo traditional three-eyed tiger head by Alex Gotza done at Dirty Roses Tattoo Studio.Beautiful neo traditional tiger head by Brian Flores in Spain.Photo realistic tiger head with flowers done by Sandra Daukshta at Home of Tattoos in Latvia.American traditional tiger fighting a snake done by Mikey Holmes at coast to Coast Tattoo in Charlotte NC.Another American traditional tiger fighting a snake done by Stefan Johnsson at California Electric Tattoo Parlor in California.
Tigers are one of the biggest predators in the world, and are a solitary creature, so are often seen as symbols of strength and resilience. Tiger tattoos are often done just as a head, but can also be done as a full body. Generally tiger heads are done in a more Western design, with a full body tiger being done in an Asian style, though both can be done in any style.
Korean style blackwork tiger done by Apro Lee in Seoul South Korea.Japanese tiger done by Eli Ferguson at Ichi Tattoo in Tokyo.Unfinished Japanese backpiece done by Sean Cushnie at Kapala Tattoo in Winnipeg.Realistic black and grey tiger head by Jakob Holst Rasmussen done in Aarhus, Denmark.Geometric dotwork tiger head done by Mark Ostein at Wozen Studio in Lisbon.Realistic full back piece with skulls done by Matt Jordan at Ship Shape Tattoo in New Zealand.
Apro Lee is a tattoo artist from South Korea. He tattoos in Seoul in a private studio called Black Mark It. He has been tattooing since 2005, and doing only blackwork since 2007.
Tattooing in South Korea is still illegal, making it difficult as you can imagine for someone to make a living as a tattoo artist. Only a person with a doctor’s license can be a tattoo artist. Police don’t bother artists unless someone actually reports them. People who usually do the reporting are often other tattoo artists looking to get rid of competition, or neighborhood gangs. If an artist is reported and apprehended, they usually have to pay a fine as well as have all their equipment taken from them, but they can also face months of prison time. Despite tattooing being a crime, it is estimated that there are at least 20,000 tattoo artists working in illegal studios throughout South Korea.
Apro Lee decided to become a tattoo artist while serving his mandatory military time. He saw a portrait of Kurt Cobain on the internet, and it amazed him that tattoos could be something other than tribal or dragons and other iconic Japanese pieces, for gangsters. Apro has loved drawing and art since he was a child, and found that tattoos were the right fit for him.
Since tattooing for all intents and purposes is still illegal in Korea, Apro learned how to tattoo online in 2005 from someone who was willing to teach Apro and a few others through the internet. After that Apro went to work in Westside Tattoo in Brisbane, Australia, learning from owner Matt Cunnington.
Korean tiger and arrows
Apro started by doing realistic black and grey pieces, but now almost solely does bold blackwork. One of Apro’s signature designs is the Korean tiger, which features hard bold black lines, and intricate dotwork to create a stunning tiger in the Korean style. The contorted tiger represents government, and is usually featured with a magpie which represents a person laughing in its face.
Black and grey realistic skullHuge tiger and magpieNeck tiger and magpie
Apro wanted to show people that Korea has their own art style, as Chinese and Japanese art largely dominates Western ideas of what Asian art is. Apro has been a guest tattooer in Europe, Australia, America, and all over Asia, spreading the Korean style of tattooing. Apro always tells people the meaning of the tattoos he is giving people, and wants to spread Korean culture as much as possible.
Korean style sleeveKorean style blackwork clouds
Apro also tattoos many nooses on his clients, and has one on himself as well. The noose on himself signifies the fact that in his country he is technically a criminal, but the part where the noose is cut means that he has survived, or that he will survive it. On clients this can stand for many things throughout a life that has been tough.
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