Realism, without exaggeration, is the most difficult tattoo style to perform. All objects of the body image are worked out to the smallest detail. As a result of this careful elaboration of the image, it becomes similar to a photo.
To perform qualitatively a realism style tattoo a great experience, extreme accuracy, and well-tested skills are needed. That’s why in addition to 50+ tattoo designs, we collected for you the 5 best tattoo artists in the style of realism. We also did a long and careful research to tell you about the cost and duration of getting a realistic tattoo.
Let’s get to our review right now!
Realism Tattoo: What Is It & Its Meaning
A realism tattoo is a style that allows you to accurately represent a particular object/composition on the body as in real life. Using this tattooing technique it is possible to achieve a spectacular photorealistic image on the body in both dark and colored shades.
Because realism, which appeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is considered a young style, you can find a variety of its motifs. You can find everything from animals to Marvel characters.
The meanings of realistic tattoos also vary depending on the design you choose. Below we describe the meaning of each realistic style tattoo idea in more detail.
Do Realism Tattoos Take Longer?
Due to its detailing, the realistic tattoo ranks first in terms of duration among other tattoo styles. That’s why few people choose this technique for their first tattoo: it’s hard to sit through so many hours of a painful process without experience.
Also, as we are all well aware, the size of the tattoo is one of the most influential factors in the duration of the process. Based on the trends we have tracked during our research, tattoo designs in the style of realism are predominantly large.
How Much Do Realistic Tattoos Cost?
Challenging work requires a decent reward, doesn’t it? The same principle applies to paying for tattoos. Its cost is influenced by:
💲 The size of the tattoo design;
💲 The experience of the tattoo master;
💲 Style of the tattoo;
💲 The country in which the tattoo will be done.
According to our calculations, for example, a realistic tattoo of medium size (about 5 – 10 cm/2” – 4”) in the USA by a master with 5 years of experience will cost $3,245.00.
Realism Tattoos’ Styles
Realism tattoos have gained a lot of popularity in such a short period. This allowed this style to also develop its own 2 sub-styles with contrasting characteristics in comparison to each other. Below we will reveal the main characteristics and differences of each of them.
Dark Realism
Dark realistic tattoos are also called “black and gray realism”. It is because only gray and black ink is used when working on such a tattoo. The final drawing on the body resembles a black and white photograph.
Dark realism is more common since it is easier to implement for tattoo artists. They are not distracted by adding new colors to the tattoo sketch but only work on shades and design details.
Color Realism
Color realism is more difficult to perform, but can more accurately convey a sense of form, volume, and space. Such tattoos are increasingly gaining popularity in recent times because of their deep and unusual aesthetic appeal.
Creating a colored tattoo takes much longer compared to the dark realism sub-style. Such designs require more concentration and attention not to miss adding ink in other colors and shades when required.
More often than not, multiple layers of work may be required to achieve a quality and richly colored image on the body. Not all tattoo artists are willing to take on color realism tattoo designs, so if you want to get a beautiful tattoo, it is best to choose the top artists with more experience. Also, such tattoos are more expensive than dark realistic tattoos because of the complexity of their realization.
50+ Tattoos’ Designs
The realistic tattoo is very popular and therefore at the moment, you can find a lot of ideas in this style. The most popular tattoo motifs done in this technique are:
If you want to fill your realistic tattoo with meaning, it is better to choose a portrait (of your other half, your favorite actor, etc.), and animal motifs to reflect your values and character. In this case, the meaning of the tattoo is always included in the desired message of its owner. If your goal is simply to decorate your body with an aesthetic image, it is better to choose stunning antique motifs or flowers.
Antique Motifs
Realistic antique motifs depicting sculptures and other cultural objects from ancient Greece or Rome look very impressive on the body. These designs are vivid representatives of dark realism because only black and gray tones without color ink are used for their realization.
Realistic tattoo with antique motifs means:
- 🎨 Love of art;
- 🎨 Creative nature;
- 🎨 Interest in antique cultures;
- 🎨 Purity;
- 🎨 Love of beauty;
- 🎨 Occupation in a creative profession/activity.
Portraits
Portraits are perhaps without a doubt the most popular realistic designs. At the same time, they are the most difficult to implement in reality due to a large number of details and peculiarities of human emotions and facial expressions.
Such an idea for a tattoo is great if you want to capture on your body a photo of a loved person, actor, singer, parents, children, etc. as precisely as possible. Most often the message of such a tattoo is love or memory of the person depicted on the body.
Anubis
Once again, the idea of a realistic tattoo goes back to the culture of ancient countries. Anubis is the ancient Egyptian god of the dead, embalming and funerary rituals.
An Anubis realistic tattoo means:
- 👿 Justice;
- 👿 Wisdom;
- 👿 Love of mysticism;
- 👿 Tough and stern character;
- 👿 A guardian against hardship;
- 👿 Mysteries.
Marvel
Marvel is undoubtedly the most famous movie universe in the world. It is not uncommon to see tattoo designs based on comic books as well, but still, more often they originate in the characters of the movies.
A tattoo with Thor means:
- ⚡ Straightforwardness;
- ⚡ Strength;
- ⚡ Courage;
- ⚡ Wisdom;
- ⚡ Order;
- ⚡ Goodness.
A realistic tattoo of Captain America has these interpretations:
- ♡ Patriotism;
- ♡ Nobility;
- ♡ Integrity;
- ♡ Purposefulness;
- ♡ Courage;
- ♡ Strength of mind;
- ♡ Intelligence.
A tattoo with an adorable little Groot in the style of realism means:
- 🌳 Selflessness;
- 🌳 Friendship;
- 🌳 Courage;
- 🌳 Rebirth;
- 🌳 Desire to learn about the world;
- 🌳 Sincerity;
- 🌳 Kindness.
A tattoo with Thanos means:
- 💎 Megalomania;
- 💎 Power;
- 💎 Devotion to an Idea;
- 💎 Purposefulness;
- 💎 Confidence.
A realistic tattoo with Magneto has such interpretations:
- 📎 Desire to dominate others;
- 📎 Protection of others;
- 📎 Following the idea;
- 📎 Distrust of outsiders;
- 📎 Confidence in one’s abilities;
- 📎 Predictability;
- 📎 Purposefulness.
Nature
Landscape realistic tattoos are mostly large: the entire length of the arm or leg. They look very powerful with realistic images of mountains and forests.
These elements of nature have always attracted with their mystery and grandeur. So what do they mean?
A realistic tattoo with mountains is interpreted as follows:
- 🌄 Power;
- 🌄 Indestructibility;
- 🌄 Greatness;
- 🌄 Fortitude;
- 🌄 Strength of mind;
- 🌄 Wisdom.
A tattoo with a forest in a realistic style means:
- 🌲 Self-Reliance;
- 🌲 Maturity;
- 🌲 Eternity;
- 🌲 Dreaminess;
- 🌲 Power;
- 🌲 Permanence;
- 🌲 Will.
Animals
Animalistic motifs in tattoos are popular in any style, but none compare to realism in its accuracy and detail. Be inspired by our selection of designs from the top 5 categories.
Wolf
All nations have treated the wolf differently, which also affects the interpretation of this animal in their culture, including in the art of tattooing. Realistic tattoos with this predator are very popular among men, as the owners of such tattoos want to adopt its powerful qualities.
A tattoo with a wolf in a realistic style is interpreted as:
- 🐺 Devotion;
- 🐺 Excellence;
- 🐺 Power;
- 🐺 Authority;
- 🐺 Nobility;
- 🐺 Leadership.
Owl
The realistic tattoo with an owl is a unique example of the combination of two directions of this style: dark and color.
A tattoo with an owl in the style of realism means:
- 🦉 Wisdom;
- 🦉 Craving for a nocturnal lifestyle;
- 🦉 Mystery;
- 🦉 Secret knowledge;
- 🦉 Attraction to the otherworldly world;
- 🦉 Power;
- 🦉 Fear.
Bear
The bear has always aroused both fear and admiration among the people. Men still more often choose this tattoo idea than women.
A realistic brown bear tattoo is interpreted as follows:
- 🐻 Justice;
- 🐻 Courage;
- 🐻 Confidence;
- 🐻 Power;
- 🐻 The beginning of a new life;
- 🐻 Determination.
Lion
It is impossible to miss the most popular animalistic tattoo motif – the lion. In every mythology and culture, this predator is considered the king of all animals. Such a tattoo can be considered a direct application of its owner for authority and power.
A realistic tattoo with a lion means:
- 🦁 Royalty;
- 🦁 Power;
- 🦁 Authority;
- 🦁 Leadership;
- 🦁 Masculinity;
- 🦁 Nobility.
Cheetah
The cheetah has always been a sign of wealth and luxury since the time of the Indian nobles, who breed these animals as pets.
A realistic cheetah tattoo is interpreted as:
- 🐾 Charm;
- 🐾 Speed;
- 🐾 Beauty;
- 🐾 Perseverance;
- 🐾 Hunting excitement;
- 🐾 Luxury;
- 🐾 Achievement of goals.
Flowers
Flowers are an integral part of human life, they surround us everywhere: on the street and in the house. They can remind people of both pleasant and sad events. They also found their response in realistic tattoos with flowers.
Tattoo designs with flowers in a realistic style mean:
- 🌸 Freshness;
- 🌸 Love for nature;
- 🌸 Craving for beauty;
- 🌸 Youth;
- 🌸 Joy;
- 🌸 Love;
- 🌸 Vitality.
Hourglass
One of the philosophical designs of the realistic tattoo is the hourglass. Its performance on the human body is difficult due to the difficulty of accurately rendering glass and sand at the same time.
An hourglass tattoo in a realistic style means:
- ⌛ The transience of time;
- ⌛ Temporality;
- ⌛ Changeability;
- ⌛ The cyclicality of everything in the world;
- ⌛ Impermanence;
- ⌛ Loss;
- ⌛ Balance.
Clock
Another tattoo idea filled with meaning, mystery, and philosophy is the clock. In the realistic style, they look very majestic and sophisticated thanks to the careful implementation of the 3D effect.
The realism style clock tattoo has such meanings:
- 🕑 The transience of life;
- 🕑 Destiny;
- 🕑 Eternity;
- 🕑 Memory;
- 🕑 Love;
- 🕑 Time limits;
- 🕑 Life.
Top-5 Recommended Tattoo Artists
Tattoo master will help to realize any idea of a realistic tattoo of your choice. To make your body picture look high quality and beautiful, you need to choose a good master with great experience and excellent skills to work on a realistic tattoo. We have selected for you the 5 best tattoo artists for realistic tattoos in the USA.
| Name | Best tattoos |
New London  Black and Gray, Illustrative, Realism |
   See more works |
Wallingford  Lettering, Black and Gray, Realism |
   See more works |
Wallingford  Black and Gray, Realism |
   See more works |
Ferndale  Color, Black and Gray, Realism |
   See more works |
Chicago  Realism, Black and Gray, Color |
   See more works |
You can check out the tattoo masters’ portfolios on the website and in their social networks listed on their portfolio web pages.
Summary
A realism tattoo is a style that allows you to apply a photorealistic drawing to any place on your body. Every millimeter is worked out to the smallest detail. You can choose any motif to serve as an idea for your tattoo, be it an animal design or even an antique sculpture.
However, choosing a specific design among the million available is difficult, so we’ve compiled 50+ realism tattoo ideas, described the meanings of the style, specified how much it costs, and listed the best tattoo artists near you.
🤩 Surprise everyone with the most detailed tattoo!
FAQ
😰 Is a Realism Tattoo Painful?
The realism tattoo takes longer because it is more detailed, however, it does not affect the pain sensation.
🔍 What’s the Difference Between Realism and Traditional Tattoos?
Realism tattoos concentrate on detail and the realization of any ideas in any color using volume. Traditional tattoos are less detailed, use a limited color palette, have a thick black outline, and lack volume.
🎨 Do Realism Tattoos Fade?
Realism tattoo uses minimal work with lines and outlines, and lots of shading. Because of this, there is less ink concentration and the tattoo begins to fade over time.
