12 Times Tattoo Artists Went Above And Beyond With Their Designs

Tattoos aren’t for everyone, that’s for sure. But there’s no denying the effort and skill that goes into creating them. Tattoo artists spend years refining their craft, constantly pushing the limits of what can be achieved with ink and skin.

This dedication shines through in the incredible designs that can be found on the subreddit r/TattooDesigns, where professionals and tattoo fans gather to share their work. We’ve scoured through their posts and rounded up some of their most impressive ones for you below. Scroll down to check them out, and don’t miss our chat with Andrew Borysiuk, an expert tattoo artist from Ukraine.

12 PHOTOS

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With over 1.7 million followers, r/TattooDesigns is one of Reddit’s most popular communities. It’s a lively space where people not only share their stunning tattoos but also swap creative ideas, discuss various techniques and styles, and offer professional advice. To learn more about what goes into this craft, Bored Panda got in touch with Andrew Borisyuk, a talented tattoo artist from Ukraine and an active member of the subreddit.

“My journey into tattooing was kind of a fluke,” he tells us. “Although I’ve been drawing since childhood, I was more interested in piercings during my teenage years. Getting a tattoo myself, let alone becoming an artist, never even crossed my mind.”

“Then, one day, I found myself hanging out at a tattoo shop as a guest and decided to talk to the local artists. The whole process fascinated me, and I peppered them with basic questions, like how much the equipment cost and what all the tools were for. Curiosity eventually got the better of me, and I started practicing on myself and my friends.”

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“I started tattooing quite early for our region, in late 2007,” Andrew recalls. “Globally, the industry was already well-developed, but here in Ukraine, there weren’t many artists around, finding information was tough, and equipment was hard to come by.” Back then, with no Instagram and none of the resources he has access to today, Andrew relied on online forums and a lot of trial and error. “In the beginning, I was terrified of messing up, so I shied away from complex designs for a long time,” he admits. “I mostly did simple tattoos, like quotes or phrases. Gradually, though, I started analyzing the work of other artists online and experimenting with different techniques.”

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As Andrew gained more experience, word-of-mouth helped grow his client base. After two years, he and a friend rented their own space, and he has been tattooing full-time ever since. His versatility as an artist is on full display on his Instagram, where you can find everything from detailed, colorful arm sleeves to classic black-and-white designs, and even quirky tattoos of popular memes. Among his many serious works, Andrew’s favorite recent piece is a cartoonish bird with a whimsy side-eye. He can’t quite explain why he loves it so much, but its simplicity and humor never fail to make him smile.

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#8 My First Tattoo On Real Skin As 18 Yo Apprentice - Clementine_AJ

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“I wouldn’t say I have a signature style,” Andrew muses. “Looking back, I gravitated towards old-school at one point, then later, neotraditional. But for various reasons, I ended up embracing a mix of styles and techniques.”

This creative freedom is a big draw for him, but ultimately, his clients’ wishes guide his work. “People often come to me with something specific in mind, which isn’t always what I’m most interested in doing, but that’s fine; it’s just part of the job.”

“During consultations, I often hear things like, ‘I love your work, but can we do this picture I found on Pinterest?’ So, I don’t have any illusions about the tattoo industry. It’s a visual art, but I see it more as a skilled craft.”

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My First Tatt. Panel “Hell” From “The Haywain Triptych” By Hieronymus Bosch. Forearm