Definition
What is dotwork?
Dotwork is a tattoo technique that builds images, shading and texture out of thousands of individual dots. By varying the size, density and placement of each dot, the artist creates gradients, three-dimensional volumes and intricate geometric patterns.
Dotwork is labour-intensive: medium-sized pieces often take 8–20 hours. Done well, it ages gracefully thanks to how dots hold ink over time. It is often paired with ornamental, geometric and sacred-geometry motifs, and can be used as shading inside larger blackwork or fine-line compositions.
Examples
- Mandala sleeves and ornamental geometric tattoos
- Sacred-geometry chest or back pieces
- Subtle shading inside a blackwork or fine-line design