El Jarty McHartman The 3rd

Neotraditional Tattooing: History & Origins

Neotraditional tattooing grew out of American traditional (also called old school) tattooing in the late 1980s and 1990s. Artists kept the bold outlines and iconic imagery of traditional work but pushed further with expanded color palettes, more detailed shading, and a wider range of subject matter. Where traditional tattooing stuck to a limited set of motifs, roses, eagles, daggers, neotraditional artists brought in wildlife portraits, botanical studies, and figurative work with a painterly edge. Justin Hartman works within this lineage from his base in San Diego. His approach to neotraditional tattooing draws on that classic structural foundation, clean line work, saturated fills, while adding depth through gradient shading and color blending that older traditional work never attempted. The style sits between the graphic punch of old school and the realism of contemporary illustration, which is exactly what makes it so versatile for collectors.

Defining Characteristics of Justin Hartman's Work

Hartman's tattoo work sits at the intersection of two distinct styles: neotraditional and black & gray. His neotraditional pieces show the hallmarks of the genre. Bold black outlines hold the design together. Color saturation is high, not washed out or pastel. Shading creates dimension without losing the graphic clarity that makes neotraditional tattoos read well from across a room. On the black & gray side, Hartman works with value contrast as his primary tool. Smooth gradients transition from deep black to soft gray washes. Texture and form emerge through careful control of light and shadow rather than through line. What ties both styles together in his portfolio is a commitment to readability. Whether the piece uses full color or works in monochrome, the subject is immediately clear. That clarity comes from strong composition and a willingness to leave breathing room in the design rather than packing every inch with detail.

Popular Motifs & Subjects

Neotraditional tattooing favors subjects with natural visual weight and texture. Animals are a staple, especially those with distinctive fur, feathers, or scales. Lions, wolves, eagles, and snakes appear frequently in Hartman's style because they hold bold outlines and saturated color well. Botanical imagery is another core motif. Roses, peonies, and other large-petal flowers give artists room to show off shading transitions and color depth. Portraiture also fits the neotraditional approach, particularly female faces framed by decorative elements like flowers or jewelry. In black & gray, the subject matter often shifts toward realism. Skulls, religious iconography, and photographic reference material all benefit from value-based rendering. Hartman's Instagram feed shows a mix of these motifs, with animal subjects and floral compositions appearing regularly. The common thread is that each subject is chosen for how well it translates into a lasting, readable tattoo rather than how it looks on a screen.

Placement & Sizing Considerations

Neotraditional tattoos need space to work. The style relies on bold outlines and saturated color, both of which spread slightly under the skin over time. A small neotraditional piece can look muddy within a few years because the lines and colors merge as the tattoo ages. Hartman's work tends to perform best at medium to large scale, where the design has room for internal detail without crowding. Common placements for his style include the outer arm, thigh, calf, and back. These areas offer flat, stable skin that holds clean lines and smooth shading. Black & gray work has slightly more flexibility with sizing because value transitions can be more subtle than color fills. Even so, going too small risks losing the detail that makes the piece worth doing in the first place. Quick tip: if you are considering a neotraditional piece from Hartman, bring placement flexibility to your consultation. The best design for your idea might not fit where you initially pictured it.

Choosing an Artist for Neotraditional Work

Picking the right artist for a neotraditional tattoo comes down to three things. First, look at healed work, not just fresh photos. A tattoo looks sharp on day one, but healed results show how the artist handles saturation and line weight over time. Scroll through Hartman's Instagram for healed examples or ask to see them during a consultation. Second, check that the artist's style matches your vision. Neotraditional covers a wide range, from graphic and poster-like to soft and painterly. Hartman's work leans toward bold saturation and clean structure, so if you want something more delicate or watercolor-inspired, his style may not be the closest fit. Third, communicate clearly. Bring reference images that show the subject and mood you want, not exact copies of other tattoos. Hartman's booking process runs through his website and Instagram. Reach out with your idea, placement, and size preferences. The real question is whether your concept fits his strengths. If it does, you will get a tattoo that ages well and reads clearly for decades.