A lion in Realistic, a swallow in Fineline, a koi in Japanese: for every animal there is a style that carries it. We will find it with you in a free consultation.
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Animals · Black & Grey
Adler · Black & GreyThat depends on what the animal means to you. Big cats, wolves and bears work in Realistic or Black & Grey, because fur and gaze have the strongest effect there. Birds and insects suit Fineline, Geometric or Sketch, because their form works with just a few lines. Koi, dragon, crane and tiger traditionally belong to the Japanese style, which sets them in motion with water and wind. Snakes and stags come into their own in Neotraditional, with bold lines and rich colours. An animal you wear as a memory can stand in any of these styles; then the reference decides the direction.
Movement comes from the placement. A leaping stag follows the length of the forearm, a bird in flight stretches across the shoulder blade, a snake winds around the upper arm. Your Artist aligns the pose with the line of the muscles so the animal moves with you when you move. That is why, in the consultation, we ask about the placement first and only then about the details of the motif. For animals at rest, a sitting fox or a sleeping dog, flat areas such as the thigh or back work well, where nothing distorts.
Many animals carry a meaning that is read in similar ways across cultures: the lion for strength, the wolf for following your own path, the swallow for homecoming, the koi for perseverance, the butterfly for change, the owl for wisdom. You do not have to stick to this; your own story counts for more than any symbolism. If the meaning matters to you, tell us in the consultation. Your Artist will then make sure posture and details support it, for example a wolf standing upright rather than howling, or a koi swimming upstream.
That depends on the level of detail. As a guide, a realistic animal head needs at least the size of a palm so that fur and eyes have room. A Fineline swallow works from just a few centimetres, because it consists of outline. Animals with a body, surroundings or a background need to be planned larger; the thigh, back and upper arm offer the space for this. As a rule of thumb: the more detail the animal has, the larger it should be, so that it is still legible in ten years. Your Artist shows you the size on your body with the stencil.
For animal tattoos, style, size and level of detail determine the effort. A Fineline bird is a short session, while a realistic lion's head with mane or a Japanese koi with water needs several appointments. Colour takes more time than black, a background more than a freestanding animal. Your Artist sets the price after the free consultation.
More in the price guide: How much does a tattoo cost?Ready-made animal motifs by our Artists, each tattooed only once: from a Fineline bird to a wolf in Black & Grey.
Animals · Abstract / Brushstroke
Animals · Abstract / Brushstroke
Animals · Abstract / Brushstroke
Animals · Black & Grey
15 minutes from Cologne. Tattoo and piercing under one roof.
This is where it all began. The first Atelier, right in the centre of Euskirchen.
Mario's Atelier, just behind the market square in Lechenich.
“I searched for a long time for a tattoo studio where you don't just feel like a customer, and that's exactly what I found at Atelier Hannibal. […] From the first conversation to the finished tattoo, I felt incredibly well looked after and advised. (Translated from German)”
“It's a large project and a cover-up on the leg. […] The work is extremely clean, the old tattoo is being professionally covered and reworked step by step. Mega details, relaxed atmosphere and absolutely professional. (Translated from German)”
Long animals such as a snake, stag or crane on the forearm, calf or back. Heads and compact animals on the upper arm, thigh or shoulder. You will find guide values on pain for each placement on the body placement pages.
Yes, for a dog, cat, horse or bird from a photo we have Artists who do exactly that. Send us the photos in advance via the form or WhatsApp.
Small motifs in Fineline or Sketch are finished in one session. Realistic animals from hand size upwards or motifs with a background need two or more appointments. Your Artist plans this with you.
Yes. You show us references and the placement on camera, we discuss style and size and introduce you to Artists who suit your idea.
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A photo and a sentence are enough to start.
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