Shoulder blade tattoo

The shoulder blade is relatively flat, so a composition barely distorts — portraits, smooth gradients and fine details come out well here. At the same time the shoulder blade moves with the arm, so the main element sits at its centre and the edges are placed so the piece stays cohesive when you raise your arm or pull your shoulders back.

• Portraits and realism — people, animals, scenes from films.
• Japanese motifs — oni and hannya masks, geishas, koi carp.
• Animals — leopards, wolves and birds in a realistic style.
• Flowers — peonies and roses with leaves.
• Wings — a single wing on one shoulder blade or a pair across both.

The shoulder blade is the happy medium: there is room for a full piece, while the tattoo stays hidden and never clashes with a dress code. It is also a convenient place to start work on the back — the other shoulder blade, the upper arm or a full back project can be added later.

1. 1Consultation — we discuss the idea, the size and whether the piece will start a back project.
2. 2Design — the artist places the main element at the centre of the shoulder blade and plans how the piece will look as the arm moves.
3. 3Transfer to the skin — the stencil is placed and moved until it sits straight, then checked standing and with the arm raised.

A medium-sized shoulder blade piece is usually done in one session. A detailed portrait or a design that continues onto the upper arm or the other shoulder blade may take several sessions with breaks.