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Traditional tattoos, with their bright colors and solid black outlines, have been the norm among tattoo artists in the US for years. But like any other art form, tattooing has evolved too. Tired of those imposing standards, contemporary designers decided to break the mold and started experimenting with new styles and techniques. This is how watercolor tattoos were born!

But what are we talking about exactly? A watercolor tattoo is like a watercolor painting. Even in the presence of sharp edges, they don’t block the colors from spreading out of the lines and blend in with your skin tone while giving a vibrant appearance to your subject.

These colorful tattoos are now more popular than ever. Their fluidity and softness make them an eye-catching alternative to traditional black inks. Although they seem simple enough at first glance, watercolor tattoos actually require a great deal of skill from the artist who creates them. The most common subjects are flowers, animals, and geometric drawings, but there are no limits to what you can do with this technique — you can create any design that comes to mind!

What if you’re looking for some tattoo inspo? Well, you’re in luck! We’ve gathered our favorite watercolor tattoo designs that will spark some fresh new ideas for your next inking.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Watercolor Fox Tattoo

fox tattoo on the arm

segtattoostudio Report

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#2

Watercolor Tattoo Inspired By The Little Prince

little prince with a fox sitting on the planet colorful tattoo on the arm

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#3

Watercolor Tattoo

Watercolor Tattoo

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#4

My Umbrella Watercolor Done By Wayan Rata At No Tomorrow Tattoo In Charles Town, WV

woman staying with an umbrella in her hands tattoo on the arm

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#5

Abstract Watercolor Fox Tattoo

abstract red fox tattoo on the arm

inkblinktattoo Report

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#6

Boo From Monsters, Inc. Watercolor Tattoo

little girl with toys monsters in her hands tattoo on the leg

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#7

Watercolor Fox Tattoo

red fox tattoo on the arm

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Ian Lee
Ian Lee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how the background makes the fox look like its moving

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#8

Watercolor DNA, Serotonin And Dopamine By Koray Karagözler At La Graine Tattoo, Berlin, Germany

colorful dna tattoo on the arm

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#9

Watercolor Butterflies

three colorful butterflies tattoos on the arm

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#10

Watercolor Tattoo

blue snake in pink flowers tattoo on the hand

ntattoopop Report

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#11

Watercolor Flowers Tattoo

red and yellow flowers with green leaves tattoo on the arm

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#12

Watercolor Tattoo

blue wave, red sun and green tree tattoo with abstraction tattoo on the arm

alice_b_jb Report

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#13

Matching Koi Fish Watercolor Tattoos

colorful matching koi fish tattoos on hands

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#14

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful cat with blue eyes tattoo on the arm

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#15

Watercolor Tattoo

red and black branch of sakura with hieroglyphs tattoo on the arm

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#16

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful dog tattoo on the forearm

lafamiliatattoomedellin Report

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#17

Watercolor Lion, By Lance Coulam In Salt Lake City, UT

colorful lion tattoo on the back

cutecat1323 Report

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#18

Watercolor Fox Tattoo

a half of a red fox face tattoo on the leg

kay.m13 Report

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#19

Watercolor Flower Tattoo

blue and purple flower tattoo on the forearm

nancy_dongtattoo Report

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Telli Bedell
Telli Bedell
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who is the artist that has done all of these magnificent & all watercolorly FLOWERS?💐 It sure seems like it is the same artist ? Hence all the similes foxes 🦊😉😁 are from the same !! & btw ❤️them … But who’s the watercolor flower artist here?? I want an appointment. Idc if they’re 2 years backlogged on apts I’ll wait

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#20

Watercolor Fox Tattoo

red fox in flowers tattoo on the forearm

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#21

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful abstract deer with flowers and snowflakes tattoo on the forearm

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#22

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful half of wolf face tattoos on the arms

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GingerPanda
GingerPanda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Inside me are two wolves: one that has gone comment crazy because there are no other comments and the other who's afraid of getting downvoted. Guess which one I fed.

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#23

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful arm tattoo with planets and face with hands

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#24

Watercolor Cardinal By Tyler Odom At Dinosaur Tattoo Company

red and black bird tattoo on the forearm

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#25

Cute Watercolor Tattoo

colorful elephant with water balloon tattoo on the arm

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#26

Watercolor Flowers Tattoo

colorful flower tattoo on the forearm

chiara.lenz.taetowierungen Report

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#27

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful space tattoo on the arm

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#28

Watercolor Golden Snitch Tattoo

colorful golden snitch tattoo on the side

dermagraphictattoo Report

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#29

Watercolor Astronaut By Ray Petty At Cosmic Primate Tattoo In Hatboro

colorful astronaut tattoo on the arm

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#30

Little Prince Tattoo

green and yellow little prince and red fox tattoo on the arm

ching_artist Report

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#31

Watercolor Tattoo

red little ball with sakura tattoo on the arm

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#32

Watercolor Hummingbird Tattoo

colorful hummingbird tattoo on the forearm

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#33

Watercolor Nemo Tattoo

colorful nemo tattoo on the arm

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#34

Watercolor Stitch Tattoo

colorful stitch tattoo on the arm

balkaninktattoo Report

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#35

Cat Watercolor Tattoo

watercolor cat tattoo on the arm

tomtattooer Report

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#36

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful books and flowers tattoo on the arm

rshiratoritattoo Report

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#37

Watercolor Birds Tattoo

colorful hummingbirds tattoo with a date on the leg

ru.art_color Report

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#38

Watercolor Bird Tattoo

colorful bird tattoo on the arm

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#39

Watercolor Elephant Tattoo

watercolor elephant tattoo on the leg

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#40

Watercolor Butterfly Tattoo

blue and black butterfly tattoo on the chest

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#41

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful hedgehog and butterfly tattoo on the arm

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#42

Watercolor Flamingo With Flowers Done By Me, Jennifer Jackal, At International Ink In Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Watercolor flamingo with flowers tattoo on the leg

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#43

Watercolor Flowers Tattoo

watercolor flowers tattoo on the leg

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#44

Minimalistic Watercolor Butterfly Tattoo

Minimalistic watercolor butterfly tattoo on the arm

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#45

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful planets tattoo on the forearm

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Lydia
Lydia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have liked it more when they had made the colours less solid and way more tranquil

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#46

Watercolor Haku By June Jung, At June Jung Art In Los Angeles, California

colorful snake and flowers tattoo on the arm

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#47

Sweet Peas And Butterflies

colorful flowers and butterflies tattoo on the chest

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#48

Watercolor And Geometric Tree By Georgia Grey At Bang Bang In New York, New York

watercolor and geometric tree tattoo on the arm

hungrierdave Report

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#49

A Healthcare Symbol, With Some Teal Water Color That Represents Physical Therapy

colorful healthcare symbol tattoo on the arm

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#50

Watercolor Otter! Done By Andrew London At Canalside Tattoo Company. Medina, NY

watercolor otter tattoo on the chest

otters2014 Report

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#51

Rose Leaves Watercolor Tattoo

Rose leaves watercolor tattoo on the arm

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#52

Watercolor Elephants Tattoo

colorful elephant family tattoo on the arm

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#53

Watercolor Flowers Tattoo

colorful flowers tattoo on the forearm

alpeninkpongau_tattoo Report

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#54

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful figs tattoo on the arm

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#55

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful dragons tattoo on the arm

mamatattooprague Report

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#56

Watercolor Tattoo

watercolor flowers tattoo on the chest

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#57

Cute Watercolor Flowers Tattoo

watercolor flowers tattoo on the arm

tembotattoo Report

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#58

Watercolor Tattoo

cactus in a pot with a bee nearby colorful tattoo on the leg

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#59

Watercolor Dragonfly Tattoo

watercolor dragonfly tattoo on the arm

blueridertattoo110 Report

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#60

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful fish tattoo on the arm

tattooist__cheeu Report

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#61

Watercolor Tattoo

half face lion and half face wolf tattoo on the leg

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#62

Watercolor Flowers Tattoo

colorful flowers tattoo on the forearms

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#63

Watercolor Tattoo

owl flying to the sun colorful tattoo on the back

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#64

Watercolor Tattoo

blue waves tattoo on the arm

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#65

Watercolor Tattoo

tea bag with little stones in it tattoo on the arm

valyumtattoo Report

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#66

Butterfly Watercolor Tattoo

butterfly and flowers tattoo on the arm

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#67

Watercolor Tattoo

silhouette of woman body with flowers and bird colorful tattoo on the leg

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#68

Watercolor Princess Mononoke And Wolf By Gina At Ever After Gallery In Spring Hill, FL

watercolor princess Mononoke and wolf tattoo on the leg

Wizbot77 Report

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#69

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful arrow tattoo on the arm

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#70

Watercolor Jewelled Bracer By Danielle Merricks At Ophelia In Lytham, UK

Watercolor jewelled bracer tattoo on the arm

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Confused Duck
Confused Duck
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a heart container from Zelda. Or do I need to get outside more?

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#71

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful hummingbird tattoo on the forearm

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#72

Watercolor Tattoos

paw and moon watercolor tattoo on the forearms

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#73

Watercolor Zodiac Sign Tattoo

watercolor zodiac sign tattoo on the arm

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#74

Pokémon Watercolor Tattoo

Pokémon watercolor tattoo on the arm

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Confused Duck
Confused Duck
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That just looks like my childhood colouring book... Could never stay in the lines

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#75

Watercolor Tattoo

skull with flowers watercolor tattoo on the arm

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#76

Watercolor Butterfly Tattoo

watercolor butterfly tattoo on the arm

abii_tattoo Report

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#77

Watercolor Tattoo

watercolor anchor tattoo on the arm

meligama0106 Report

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#78

Watercolor Foxes By Adam Sky At Resolution Tattoo, San Francisco, California

blue and red foxes tattoo on the arm

Tattoodles Report

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#79

Flame By Amy Zager At Tattoo Factory In Chicago

colorful flame tattoo on the arm

cyclopswithamonocle Report

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#80

Watercolor Tattoo

watercolor flowers tattoo on the arm

narrtats Report

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#81

Magic Is All Around

purple fairy tattoo on the forearm

yukarouarts Report

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#82

Watercolor Flowers Tattoo

Watercolor flowers tattoo on the forearm

becca_black_tattoo Report

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#83

Watercolor Tattoo

dye with brushes and flowers tattoo on the arm

faith.inch_tattoos Report

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#84

Watercolor Tattoo

woman silhouette watercolor tattoo on the arm

elias.ap Report

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#85

Watercolor Cheshire Cat Tattoo

Watercolor cheshire cat tattoo on the leg

marta_addari_tattoo Report

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#86

Watercolor Tattoo

Watercolor whale tattoo on the arm

imfine_tat_ Report

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#87

Watercolor Cat Tattoo

colorful cat tattoo in a hat with a bottle on the leg

chisoyu Report

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#88

Watercolor Tattoo

vinyl record with flowers tattoo on the arm

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#89

Watercolor Leaf Tattoo

black and blue leaves tattoo on the shoulder

felipebittar Report

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#90

Sketchy Watercolor Norse Wolves By Me, Logan Bramlett At American Crow Columbus Ohio

watercolor norse wolves tattoo on the leg

loganbram Report

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#91

Watercolor Tattoo

night sky with clouds and moon tattoo behind the ear

greegotattoo Report

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#92

Watercolor Pokémon Tattoo

colorful pokemon tattoo on the leg

tattoopluma Report

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#93

Watercolor Tattoo

flowers with a sign tattoos on the arms

kyyt.art Report

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#94

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful fish and skull tattoo on the arm

johnnytat2s Report

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#95

Tryptophan Watercolor Tattoo

Tryptophan watercolor tattoo on the arm

ren.tattooing Report

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#96

Sweet Watercolor Paw Print Tattoo

colorful paw print tattoo on the back

dropdeadtattoo Report

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#97

Watercolor Tattoo

tattoo of colorful koala with a balloon on the arm

hrabina.batory.tattoo Report

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#98

Watercolor Turtle Tattoo

Watercolor turtle tattoo on the forearm

max_i_milliano Report

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#99

Watercolor Tattoo

tattoo of a key with a ribbon on the background of flowers on the leg

colorme.katieleigh Report

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#100

Watercolor Tattoo

colorful pearl in a shell tattoo on the leg

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