Tattoo artist Esther Garcia adds a beautiful touch to her clients' hands and feet. In her 20-year career, she has evolved her style to combine elements of black-out trendiness with colorful flowers, winged creatures, and elegant designs that seem to float on the skin. The idea for this approach was initially a solution to tattooing the cover, where she paints on a pre-plan that someone wants to hide. Solid black ink mutes the visual clutter of the old tattoo and leads to a new illustration. It's so popular that it's not just for masks - it's also what customers ask for on their untouched skin.
The Dutch floral painting tradition has inspired Garcia since the 17th century. She has a realistic feel similar to her blossoms that only generate fertility and light against a dark background. The red and pink against the black paint shines like a beacon of light, marking the beginning of acceptance, especially for those who have lived with unwanted body art.
One endeavor of the works is Flower Thieves, a textile and commercial design collaboration with freelance artist and illustrator Kyle Letendre. Please scroll down to see some of Garcia's tattoos, then be sure to follow her on Instagram for more.
Tattoo artist Esther Garcia combines rich black-and-white tattoos with colorful flowers and winged creatures.
The approach was originally intended as a solution for cover tattoos.
