Within the vast and diverse world of tattooing, there exists a niche style that challenges traditional standards and embraces a more unconventional approach to creativity. This style is known as ‘Ignorant Style Tattoo’, ‘Ignorant Tattoo’, and also sometimes referred to as ‘Naive Style Tattoo’. It’s a fascinating movement, characterised by its inherently raw aesthetic and unconstrained expression, gaining fans for its particularly unique blend of simplicity and authenticity. For us, it’s everything we love about tattooing—rebellion, subversiveness, and a refusal to conform to the mainstream. It reflects the core spirit of tattooing: standing out and staying true to yourself.
For this blog post, we’ll explore the origins, characteristics, and significance of Ignorant Style, highlighting its appeal and impact on the contemporary art world including tattooing.
Origins and Evolution
The Ignorant Art Style first emerged in the late 20th century as a reaction to the slick, polished perfection often associated with mainstream art. Its roots are tied to underground art scenes, particularly in urban areas, where artists wanted to challenge traditional standards and embrace imperfection as a statement of rebellion.
One of the key influences on the Ignorant Art Style was the punk movement of the 1970s, which celebrated the DIY philosophy and rejected conventional norms in favour of individualism and self-expression. Artists associated with punk culture, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, paved the way for the Ignorant Art Style by embracing spontaneity, roughness, and a sense of urgency in their work. If you want to dig deeper into the whimsical side of this style, check out artists like Rose Wylie and David Shrigley!
As the movement gained momentum, it began to encompass a diverse range of artistic practices, including painting, drawing, graffiti, tattooing, and mixed media. Artists working in the Ignorant Art Style embraced a wide array of influences, from folk art and outsider art to street culture and comic books, blending these elements to create visually striking and emotionally resonant works.
Ignorant style tattooing
Ignorant and naive style drawing has been lovingly adopted by tattooists all over the world, with independent tattoo artists being quick to recognise the rebellious and light-hearted aspects of the style, which resonate deeply with the tattooing community. The style allows for true self-expression for the tattoo artist.
During the 21st Century mainstream tattooing has commonly valued realism as its most lauded style, with often the highest-paid and most respected artists working in this style. Accompanied by advancements in digital design, photo image manipulation and editing, the realism style has been a popular choice for tattoo collectors. However on the downside, for the tattooist, it can feel as though all the customer wants from you is to be a photocopier.
Most artists have chosen their profession keen to express themselves, develop their art style and try new things….and realism can feel like a long way from this artistic nirvana for some. The style has somewhat lead to the replication of the same popular photographic images reproduced over and over again with variations by different artists. (See realistic lion and pocket watch as one particularly prevalent example!).
The ignorant style gleefully rejects this mainstream led approach, bringing freedom of expression back into the artform for tattooists. And customers are much more likely to get a unique piece of art as a result.
Characteristics of the Ignorant Tattoo Style
At its core, the Ignorant Style is characterised by its unrefined aesthetic and almost simplistic approach. Visually, ignorant art can vary as each artist has their own unique thumbprint or style. (It can be much harder to imitate another artists' naive style drawings than it can to reproduce a realistic likeness of an image or photo).
But there are some similarities - usually drawings will be made using black lines only in a sketchbook style. The imperfections, and quirks of the drawings add to their charm, and the end results come straight from the artist's own imagination. Artists working in this style often employ simplified forms to convey their ideas and emotions. The emphasis is placed on spontaneity and intuition rather than technical skill, resulting in works that are both visually striking and deeply personal.
Artists may intentionally distort proportions, disregard perspective, or leave elements of their work unfinished, challenging viewers to re-evaluate their preconceptions of artistry and beauty. By rejecting the confines of perfectionism, artists are afforded liberation and the freedom to express themselves authentically without fear of judgement or criticism.
Another feature of Ignorant Style Tattooing is the playful and irreverent approach to subject matter. Artists often draw inspiration from everyday life, pop culture, and personal experiences, infusing their work with humour, satire, and a sense of whimsy. This light-heartedness is contrasted by moments of introspection and vulnerability, creating a dynamic tension that invites the viewer to engage with the work on multiple levels.
By challenging established conventions and embracing imperfection as a form of artistic freedom, the Ignorant style of tattooing offers a refreshing alternative to mainstream tattoo culture, inviting clients to embrace their individuality and the spontaneity of the moment.
Ignorant style tattoos encourage viewers to question the status quo and consider alternative perspectives with humour, irony, and irreverence.
At KTREW Tattoo Studio our artists specialise in Ignorant Style tattooing - here are some more of our favourites…
Kirstie's work:
Check out more of Kirstie's work via Instagram
Ivy's work:
Check out more of Ivy's work via Instagram
Ignorant Style and Patchwork Tattoos
Ignorant style tattoos are the perfect individual twist on the popular trend of Patchwork Tattoo Sleeves or Patchwork Tattoos. The patchwork tattoo method described is a style of tattoo application or arrangement where lots of small designs are used to make up a sleeve or to cover a large area of the body. Because tattooists often develop a recognisable style to their ignorant art, patchwork application can really elevate and amplify the artistic effect of their style, making for really amazing and cohesive tattoo collections.
Although these tattoos are made to look like they’ve been added to over time bit by bit without planning, the best patchwork sleeves of course require significant planning and skill on the part of that tattoo artist. If adequate planning is done, a patchwork arm sleeve can be completed within a day sitting. As with all tattoos, they will look more cohesive and effective if they are all done at a similar time and age together.
Why should I get an Ignorant Style Tattoo?
In a world dominated by polished, digital images, Ignorant Style offers something refreshingly authentic. It’s all about individuality and self-expression, which is why it connects so well with people looking for something real in an increasingly homogenised world.
Moreover, the Ignorant Style acts as a democratic force within the art world, challenging hierarchies of taste and privilege by celebrating the creativity of everyday people. Artists working in this style often come from diverse backgrounds and perhaps lack formal training, however their unrestrained passion and raw talent is undeniable and shines through in their work, inspiring others to embrace their own artistic impulses.
The Ignorant Art Style has the power to undermine dominant narratives and challenge societal norms through its use of humour, satire, and irony. By questioning established conventions and reinterpreting familiar tropes, artists working in this style encourage viewers to think critically about the world around them and consider alternative perspectives. Embrace your individuality!
If you take anything away from this post, let it be to embrace imperfections, seek playfulness, and challenge your own preconceptions of artistry to engage with the world in new and unexpected ways.
Ignorance is (sometimes) bliss!
And, as always, if anything in this blog post has inspired you, then please do drop us an email to info@ktrewtattoo.com or send us an enquiry using our booking form.
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