Illustrative Tattooing
In much of the work Gifford does, including his Biomechanical and Botanical tattoos, there is a heavy influence of illustration elements. Much of the work Gifford does outside of those styles would loosely be called "illustrative" in that it has foundation in linework and representational drawing, not just abstract shapes. Below are some examples of both large and small illustrative tattoos done by Gifford. While they usually have noticeable lifework, the rendering is often done in a realistic fashion, drawing from Gifford's experience in life drawing and painting.
What makes a tattoo Illustrative?
Generally it involved using lines to construct the idea. We've included this section to the style guide because it encompasses a wide range of subject matter, and can be done in a diverse way. It is a loose way to describe how Gifford approaches work that isn't specifically being done as photo realistic, or abstract blackwork and ink wash. If you like the way any of this work looks and are curious if your idea fits into a style that Gifford does, it's best just to ask by filling out a booking form or texting the contact number directly!