This Halloween, Simon Mora takes on a dark ornamental tattoo, a design built on bold contrast, loose texture, and striking blackwork detail. Watch the video below for Simon's full process, or read on for a breakdown of his technique and how he brings a piece like this together from first line to final texture.
What Is A Dark Ornamental Tattoo?
A dark ornamental tattoo is a blackwork-based style that uses bold linework, solid black packing, and decorative patterning to create a striking, highly detailed design. Unlike traditional ornamental tattoos, which lean more towards delicate or symmetrical designs, a dark ornamental piece builds contrast and texture, mixing solid black areas with negative space to give the design depth and a bolder, more gothic edge. It’s the perfect Halloween-inspired tattoo!
Dark Ornamental Tattoo, Step By Step with Simon Mora
- Linework: Rather than aiming for tightly controlled lines, Simon works with loose, textured strokes, letting the machine create some of its own movement and allowing the linework to follow the natural flow of the design.
- Packing black: Simon keeps some creative freedom when packing black, so certain areas end up solid while others lean into that same loose texture, or negative space, to break things up. He uses zigzag motions to pack black efficiently, then builds out background elements using single-needle pepper shading.
- Bringing it together: To finish, Simon ties everything together with a web texture, using it to connect the separate elements of the piece and give the whole design a cohesive, unified feel.
Dark Ornamental Tattoo Essentials
- Machine: The OG Fury, 4.2mm stroke is lightweight with a balanced grip that feels natural in the hand, even through longer sessions. A powerful custom brushless motor keeps performance consistent and efficient from start to finish, and the 4.2mm stroke is ideal for bold lining, shading, and colour packing. Dual soft and hard modes also let you switch things up depending on the piece, or your own personal preference.
- Cartridges: Peak Stellar cartridges deliver exceptional sharpness and stability to carry you through your sessions as smoothly as possible. Simon uses 1RL, 7RL, and 9RL in 0.35mm, Long Taper for this ornamental design, a combination well suited to creating fine detail, bold lines, and black packing in this kind of piece.
- Ink: Dynamic Ink is a high-intensity black with long-lasting effects, perfect for any kind of blackout, blackwork, or black and grey designs.
- Hygiene & Aftercare: Hustle Butter is designed to support your client's skin throughout every stage of the tattooing process. Use it before, during, and after for nourished skin and vibrancy that lasts long after healing.
See the full list of supplies Simon uses for his dark ornamental piece!
Getting The Most Out Of A Halloween-Inspired Tattoo
Dark ornamental designs like this one are a great fit for Halloween, but they're just as striking worn year-round. If you're taking on a seasonal piece like this with a client, it's worth talking through how bold the contrast should be from the start, since heavier black packing against negative space is what gives a dark ornamental tattoo its dramatic, gothic edge.
It's also worth considering placement carefully, areas with enough space for the design to flow naturally will help the finished piece feel cohesive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do ornamental tattoos symbolise?
Ornamental tattoos don't carry one fixed meaning, they're generally chosen for their decorative, pattern-based appeal rather than symbolising a specific idea. However, some designs do draw on cultural or spiritual motifs depending on the style referenced.
Are ornamental tattoos feminine?
Ornamental tattoos aren't inherently feminine or masculine, the style spans everything from delicate, fine detail to bold, dark designs like a dark ornamental or gothic ornamental tattoo, so it really comes down to personal style.
What are the different types of ornamental tattoos?
Ornamental tattoos cover a wide range of styles, from delicate fine line and mandala-based designs to bolder, darker interpretations like dark ornamental designs, which lean more heavily on blackwork and contrast.
What are dark tattoos called?
Tattoos built primarily from solid black and bold contrast are generally referred to as blackwork but can also include black and grey as well as full blackout designs.
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