Brian Flores

Neotraditional Tattooing: The Style Brian Flores Builds On

Neotraditional tattooing grew out of American traditional work, sometimes called old school or sailor tattooing. The old guard ran on thick black outlines, a limited color set, and repeated motifs like eagles, roses, and daggers. Neotraditional keeps those bold outlines but opens up the palette. Artists layer more colors, add dimension through shading, and push compositions further without losing the graphic punch that makes traditional work read clearly on skin. Brian Flores works squarely in this tradition. His pieces carry the structural bones of classic tattooing, heavy line weight and saturated fills, but the detail work and color range pull the results into something more contemporary. The style sits between old school restraint and new school exaggeration, which is part of why it has caught on so widely in Europe over the past decade.

What Sets Brian Flores's Work Apart

With over 78,000 followers on Instagram, Flores has clearly found an audience that responds to what he puts out. Neotraditional work lives or dies on a few technical calls: line weight consistency, color saturation, and how well the design holds at a distance. Flores leans into the bold end of the spectrum. His pieces read clean from across a room, which matters more than most people think. A tattoo that only looks good in a close-up photo is a tattoo that fails in real life. The strength of his following also suggests he has put in the hours to develop a recognizable visual voice. In a style as crowded as neotraditional, that matters. Clients seek out artists whose work they can spot before reading the name attached. Building that kind of consistency takes repetition, editing, and a willingness to strip away what does not work.

Common Motifs in Neotraditional Work

Neotraditional artists pull from a deep well of imagery. Classic subjects like roses, skulls, snakes, and raptors remain staples because they hold up over time and read clearly on skin. Flores works within this visual language. Animals, flowers, and figurative elements show up often in neotraditional portfolios because the style rewards subjects that allow for both bold outlines and interior detail. A snake's scales, a hawk's feather patterns, a rose's layered petals, these give the artist room to show technical range while keeping the overall design legible. Portraits and mythological figures also appear frequently, rendered with more depth and shading than traditional work typically allows. The key constraint is readability. Even the most detailed neotraditional piece needs to resolve into clear shapes from a few feet away. That tension between detail and clarity is where the style gets its energy.

Placement and Sizing Considerations

Neotraditional tattoos work best on areas with enough surface area to let the design breathe. The upper arm, thigh, calf, back, and chest are common choices because they give the artist room for the bold outlines and layered color that define the style. Smaller placements like the wrist or ankle can work, but the design needs to be simplified to hold up at that scale. Flores's portfolio likely reflects this reality. Neotraditional pieces shrink poorly because the detail and color saturation that make them striking at size turn muddy when compressed. If you are considering a smaller piece, talk with the artist about adapting the design. A skilled neotraditional artist will push you toward what will actually heal well and age cleanly rather than what looks best on screen for a week. Placement also affects how much color holds over time. High-friction areas like hands and feet lose saturation faster.

Booking and Working With Brian Flores

Flores does not list a separate website or studio booking platform, so Instagram is the primary channel. His handle is @brianflorestattoo. When reaching out to book, have reference images ready and be clear about size, placement, and subject matter. Artists at his level of demand often run booked out for months, so flexibility on dates helps. Pricing, minimums, and deposit requirements are not publicly listed, so ask directly when you make contact. If you are traveling to Berne for the appointment, factor in healing time and potential touch-up needs. A good reference point for neotraditional work is to browse broader style galleries to understand what you want before you reach out. The clearer your vision, the smoother the conversation. You can also explore other neotraditional artists through the Inksy directory if you want to compare approaches before committing.