Felix Seele

History & Origins

Sketch tattooing draws from loose, hand-drawn aesthetics, prioritizing movement and imperfection over clean precision. The style takes cues from illustration, comic art, and rough draft compositions that feel intentionally unfinished. Trashpolka, originating in Berlin itself, was pioneered by Simone Pfaff and Volker Merschky in the early 1990s. It fuses black ink with bold red elements, collage techniques, and typographic fragments, creating tattoos that look like ripped posters or mixed-media art. Felix Seele works within both traditions, combining the raw energy of sketch work with the graphic intensity of trashpolka. His black and gray approach adds tonal depth to these styles, allowing for pieces that range from stark high-contrast designs to softer, shaded compositions. Berlin has long been a hub for experimental tattooing, and Felix's practice fits squarely within that lineage of boundary-pushing work.

Defining Characteristics

Felix Seele's work sits at the intersection of three distinct approaches. His sketch style favors visible linework, crosshatching, and an unfinished quality that gives tattoos the feel of drawings pulled straight from a notebook. Black and gray work provides the tonal range, from solid blacks to soft washes of gray, creating depth without color. Trashpolka brings the graphic punch: red accents cutting through black ink, typographic elements, and compositions that break traditional tattoo framing. What ties these together is a commitment to bold visual storytelling. The sketch approach keeps things loose and expressive. The trashpolka elements add urgency and edge. The black and gray technique grounds everything with contrast and dimension. Felix also offers vegan tattooing, which means the inks and aftercare products used avoid animal-derived ingredients. This is not a separate style but a material choice that runs across all his work, making his practice accessible to clients with ethical or dietary restrictions around animal products.

Popular Motifs & Subjects

Sketch-style tattoos often feature portraiture, animal studies, botanical elements, and figurative compositions rendered with loose, expressive linework. The aesthetic favors imperfection, where visible strokes and crosshatching become part of the design rather than something to hide. In trashpolka, motifs shift toward collage-like compositions: fragmented text, torn paper effects, geometric shapes, and bold red splashes that disrupt the black ink. Common subjects include political statements, romantic phrases, skulls, and imagery that feels ripped from a poster or zine. Felix's black and gray work can range from photorealistic portraits to moody landscapes and detailed illustrative pieces. The combination of these styles means his portfolio spans a wide visual range, from delicate sketch drawings to aggressive trashpolka pieces. Clients drawn to his work tend to want tattoos that feel artistic and intentional, pieces that look like they belong in a gallery or on a printed page rather than following conventional tattoo aesthetics.

Placement & Sizing

Sketch-style tattoos work well on larger areas where the linework has room to breathe. Forearms, upper arms, thighs, and the back provide enough canvas for the loose strokes and crosshatching to read clearly. Smaller placements can work, but the details risk muddying over time if the design is too tight. Trashpolka demands even more space. The style relies on contrast between bold black areas and sharp red elements, plus any typographic or collage components. A forearm, calf, or full back piece gives the composition room to create its intended impact. Black and gray work is more flexible with sizing. Portraits and detailed illustrative pieces need adequate space for tonal transitions, while simpler designs can fit on smaller areas like inner arms or ribs. For any of these styles, discussing placement with Felix directly is the best approach. His experience with these techniques means he can advise on what will age well and where the design will hit hardest visually.

Choosing an Artist

Selecting the right tattoo artist comes down to alignment between your vision and their specific strengths. Felix Seele specializes in sketch, black and gray, and trashpolka, three styles that share a commitment to bold visual impact but differ in execution. If you want loose, illustrative linework with an unfinished quality, his sketch approach is the fit. If you prefer high-contrast shading without color, black and gray is the lane. If you want something aggressive and graphic with red and black collage elements, trashpolka is the answer. Review his Instagram portfolio at @younghearted.tattoo to see recent work and understand his current direction. Artists evolve, and the most recent pieces are the best indicator of what you will get. For pricing, availability, and booking details, contact Felix directly through his website at younghearted.tattoo or via Instagram. Berlin has a dense tattoo scene, so if his style matches what you are looking for, reaching out sooner rather than later is smart, especially with a following of over 168,000 on Instagram.