Watercolor tattoos are inspired by the painterly technique. Here are 59 beautiful watercolor tattoos to inspire your next ink.

Get swept away by this fantastical tattoo aesthetic.

A tattoo can represent so many different things. It can be a tribute to a pet or a loved one, a reminder of a pivotal time in your life, an inside joke with a friend, or just something you enjoy looking at it. Whatever you choose—a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tiny tat, a full back piece, or some cursive on your wrist, for example—getting a tattoo is adding a piece of (permanent) art to your body, and more and more people are expanding their body ink horizons with the art-inspired watercolor tattoo technique.

Meet the expert

• Jules Boho is a watercolor tattoo artist based in Austria and New York City
• Daniel Natural is a watercolor tattoo artist based in Minneapolis
• Angelina Chase is a tattoo artist based in New York City
• Aleksandra Stojanoska is a tattoo and visual artist based in Miami

As its name suggests, watercolor tattoos are inspired by the painterly technique. “It mimics the look of watercolor paintings, creating soft, blended areas of color without strong outlines,” explains watercolor tattoo artist Daniel Natural. “Unlike traditional tattoos, which often feature bold lines and more defined color blocks, watercolor tattoos have a more fluid appearance with smooth color transitions. They often lack the traditional black outlines and are layered in a way that resembles the organic flow of watercolor on paper.” Tattoo artist Angelina Chase says it’s “very similar to shading when it comes to tattooing … knowing where to shade differently to create contrast.” 

The technique allows artists to get creative and push the limits of what body art can do. “The watercolor technique is very interesting as it can be feminine, fine, and soft, but on the other hand it can be hard and wild,” says Jules Boho, a watercolor tattoo artist. Watercolor tattoos are often inspired by the natural world, with floral, aquatic, landscape, and animal motifs being some of the most popular designs. ​​”They allow for a softer and more painterly approach to body art, making them a good choice for people who appreciate a more artistic look in their tattoos,” says Natural.

Watercolor tattoos can be a time commitment, as it takes time to build up the color. “You should be aware that watercolor tattoos are lot of freehand work,” advises Boho. “Make sure you trust your artist a hundred percent.” Natural adds that they may cause more irritation “because the technique requires building layers for smooth gradients and blending.” 

“Color in general requires more time than black and gray tattoos since every ink pigment is different and every skin is different,” explains tattoo artist Aleksandra Stojanoska. “Artists who work with color always have to adjust the color palette for the client’s skin complexion. My work is really saturated so sometimes I have to go slow or add an extra layer to make sure the color will be ‘packed’ and will look good over time.” You’ll want to work with an experienced artist for a watercolor design, both for the look of the tattoo itself and its longevity.

Design-wise, Chase recommends ensuring your ink of choice has “contrast or complimentary colors” for the most impact. “Having multiple tones is super important here in order to build depth within the piece,” she says. “Typically, designs that do not work well are those that lack a small bit of internal structure, and only utilize one tone of a color.” Chase uses what she calls a “brushstroke watercolor” technique and often uses black and gray tones versus more vivid colors.

Post-appointment, preserve the vibrant color of your new ink by taking the right precautions, including keeping it covered for the first few days. Take a break from vigorous exercise for a week, skip prolonged sun exposure for a month, and always apply SPF to your tattoo whenever you’re out in the sun. “Keep it clean and moisturized,” says Stojanoska.. “Washing with antibacterial soap and applying a non-scented lotion (or ointment) twice a day will be enough for the tattoo to heal flawlessly.”

Ahead, discover the various interpretations of watercolor tattoos, from small and delicate to bold and bright.

Vibrant Sleeve

Make a sleeve really stand out with the brightest, most saturated colors. Boho opted for lots of rich purples on this floral half-sleeve, with the lifelike blooms surrounded by more abstract, diffused shapes.

Lifelike Florals

Floral tattoos really shine with the watercolor technique, as it makes them look even more vivid and vibrant but still painterly. “Designs with flowing, organic shapes like flowers, animals, and abstract scenes work especially well with watercolor techniques because they suit the soft, gradient color transitions,” Natural explains.

Fine Line & Watercolor

Pair a more delicate fine line piece with brightly colored watercolor elements. We love how this landscape feels both natural and fantastical.

Art-Inspired

A watercolor tattoo is a work of art in itself, but it’s even cooler when an artist pays homage to a famous masterpiece, as Boho did with this “Starry Night” half-sleeve.

Shoulder Details

This shoulder-hugging floral design is delicately pretty. “Watercolor tattoos are often perceived as more subtle and visually light compared to bold traditional tattoos, making them a popular choice for those looking to express themselves through a more personalized, art-inspired form of tattooing,” Natural shares. 

Bold Backpiece

A classic rose design practically explodes with the addition of watercolor techniques.

Peach Perfect

If florals and landscapes aren’t your thing, try fruit! This cheeky peach is colorful and adorable.

Delicate Dandelion

Doesn’t this piece look like it could just float away? “Be aware that watercolor tattoos are a lot of freehand work,” says Boho. “Make sure you can trust your artist one hundred percent.” 

Meaningful Moment

This mother-and-child portrait is infused with diffused primary colors, enhancing its sentimental meaning.

Cute Kitties

Add whimsy to an adorable cartoon-style animal tattoo with an equally cheerful bright color.

Baby Butterflies

You don’t have to go big and bold with your watercolor tattoo design. Small, subtle, delicate pieces also shine with the technique.

Beautiful Birds

Teeny tiny hummingbirds buzz with color and life on the inner arm. This duo is a great example of how micro-realism and watercolor can go hand-in-hand.

Stenciled Floral

Upgrade a simple black floral line tattoo with big, bold strokes of color. This could also easily be added to an existing tattoo to give it new life.

Color Explosion

If you live your life in bold colors, why not translate that to your body ink? This star-encrusted piece by Daniel Natural is an absolute explosion of rainbow hues and shows how vibrant and saturated watercolor tattoos can be.

Ribcage Design

Birds are a popular motif for watercolor tattoos because the design conveys motion in the coolest way.

Minimalist Sleeve

This full sleeve design is a cool combination of broad black brushstrokes with all the way down the arm with bursts of watercolor, like a deconstructed, minimalist bouquet of flowers.

Fanciful Illustration

Watercolor tattoos really lend themselves to fantastical, fanciful designs with lots of texture and color, like this sweet design of playful cats surrounded by sky-like color.

Subtle Colorburst

The combination of this curved, abstract poppy done in swirls of black ink, with the color incorporated via a watercolor technique, is so stunning. 

Seeing Red

While many watercolor tattoos stick to a palette of aquatic blues and pale pastels, the technique also shines with more saturated, dramatic shades, like this rose-and-poppy duo. The thick black stems have a rough edge, as though they’re actual branches with thorns.

Fox & Flowers

Embrace all the color with your watercolor tattoo, like this ultra-vibrant fox surrounded by bright, vivid flowers.

Full Moon

Tattoo artist June used the watercolor technique to give a moon tattoo tons of dimension and texture.

Soft Skeleton

Not all watercolor tattoos need to be sweet and cheery! A pink and blue floral motif inked atop a black skeleton softens the edgier design.

Colorful Cardinal

This meaningful bird gets the watercolor treatment with red, yellow, orange, and purple tones in a watercolor pattern.

Bursts of Blue

Varying shapes and shades of blue unite to create a detailed watercolor rabbit. Consider trying this style with a design of your choice, like an homage to a pet.

Waves of Color

Abstract designs also shine with watercolor, especially in complementary colors like turquoise and strawberry pink.

Nature in Motion

Upgrade a small black leaf design with flowing, soft clouds of watercolor ink in lush blue, purple, and green hues.

Pet Portrait

Speaking of pets, animal portraits look extra meaningful and precious when done with a watercolor tattoo technique.

Butterfly in Flight

The diffused color of this butterfly makes it appear as though it could lift right off the arm and fly away. 

Line Work Faces

Minimalist line work, like this pair of faces, looks so beautiful when paired with cloudlike watercolor. If you look closely, you’ll see a soft, subdued floral pattern.

Birds Eye View

There’s so much detail in this shoulder piece, and each element brings a unique touch to the final design—especially with the various pops of watercolor.

Pretty Peonies

If any flower was primed for a watercolor-style tattoo, it’s the peony! The ruffled petals are ideal for the ultra-artistic tattoo style.

Blue Blossoms

While many watercolor designs are all about bright colors or gentle pastels, more graphic black brushstrokes also look super cool—like this blue cherry blossom half-sleeve.

Diffused Dandelion

You could stare at this inner arm piece for hours and never get enough of the lush color and detailed design.

Smoky Floral

This midriff design by Angelina Chase flows so beautifully. “My favorite form of tattoos are the ones that complement and flow with the body,” she says.

Abstract Floral

Big, thick, vivid brushstrokes aren’t for wallflowers! “There are no limitations [to watercolor tattoos],” says Jules Boho, who designed this piece. “This is my art. This is my colorful heart.”

Botanical Chest Piece

Foliage in springy, zesty green makes a chest piece really pop but still feels organic and natural thanks to the sheer, layered colors.

Totally Dreamy

Watercolor stars and waves take a portrait tattoo to the next level, but still feel dreamy and delicate.

Swirls of Color

“Throughout my whole life I was always inspired by movement, flow, imperfection,” says Stojanoska. “Using this kind of technique made me feel like I can transform that inspiration into a creation of my own.”

Blue Waves

Create the illusion of water with swirly shapes in varying shades of blue down the arm. Watercolor tattoos are excellent at capturing motion and movement.

Beam Me Up

Here, a watercolor technique is used to create the feeling of a night sky surrounded by extraterrestrial magic.

Abstract Art

Starting at the shoulder and ending mid-back, this abstract freehand design conveys a feeling of calm confidence.

Bold & Bright

This design by Aleksandra Stojanoska, which takes up most of the leg, is packed with ultra-vivid color and brushstrokes of black for dimension. 

Mystical Mini

Adding watercolor to a more minimal, simple floral design is an easy way to give an existing tattoo an upgrade or freshen up a design.

Bird in Flight

A majestic crow takes off, its wings scattering little droplets and shadings of movement via a watercolor-style design. “I like to incorporate the traditional Japanese ink wash painting which is known as ‘sumi-e’ within my pieces,” says Angelina Chase. (It emphasizes fluidity and minimalism.) “My work also leans into a more natural route with a lot of my clients having deep connections to nature and its beautifully varying elements.”

The Beauty of Nature

Create a garden scene on your skin with a richly detailed sleeve of flowers, animals, and plants. “When I design, I invest great effort into arranging and composing the flowers they present, ensuring they appear both subtle and beautiful,” the artist wrote on Instagram. 

Colorful Brushstrokes

A small, simple shape composed of varying brushstrokes of saturated color is a fun way to incorporate the watercolor technique into your existing body art, or to dip your toes into the trend.

Painter’s Palette

This abstract design looks like a painter’s canvas come to life and would be ideal for any modern art lover.

Anatomical Heart

Red brushstrokes from the ventricles of this anatomical heart by Angelina Chase add the coolest texture and make blood feel romantic. “I like to do a light layering technique to make it mimic actual water color in the sense of when paint settles, the outer liner is darker and more crisp, where in other areas it's a lot more airy so it has more fluidity,” the artist explains of her process.

Van Gogh-Esque

If you have a favorite artist, why not pay them homage with a tribute tattoo like this stunning piece, which mimics the shape and texture of paint and incorporates micro-realism and watercolor techniques.

Bright Butterfly

The throat placement of this design is intriguing, as is the concentrated blue color at the center that incorporates daffodil yellow and magenta as the wings expand.

Whimsical Strokes

Brushstrokes add visual interest and texture to this nature-inspired sleeve, creating depth and dimension on the critters and really conveying a sense of place without a formal landscape.

Pretty Poppy

A lifelike poppy flower is surrounded by broad strokes of orange and turquoise, then defined by traditional black ink.

Ocean Creature

The coolest part of this intricate jellyfish design by Daniel Natural is how the ink blurs at the bottom of the tentacles, making it look as though it’s disappearing into the water.

Lush Wisteria

A floral arrangement that flows from the neck to the shoulder is so graceful and enchanting, with each flower colored in exquisite detail.

Cover-Up Tattoo

Watercolor tattoos can be a great way to cover up some ink you’d rather forget about, as evidenced by this elaborate phoenix in earthy tones.

A Tropical Scene

Go big and bold with watercolor, like this tropical scene by Jules Boho. Bright, summery shades of green, tangerine, and aqua blue mingle with detailed animal and botanical motifs, creating an entire world on the lower limbs.

Oceanic Inspiration

A large conch shell design is placed atop light blue watercolor, which creates the illusion of the ocean without explicitly drawing waves.

Shoulder Piece

Black and gray watercolor designs are cool and edgy, but still have that ethereal, artistic quality that makes them feel like a work of art.

Hidden Gem

Using diffused watercolor as a backdrop for any design adds texture and softness, whether you go floral, botanical, or fantasy-inspired.