The tattoo world is constantly evolving, with new styles and techniques emerging all the time. Among the freshest and most striking trends is the Blast Over Tattoo. This isn’t your typical cover-up; it’s a bold statement, a visual dialogue between the past and present inked directly onto your skin. Forget subtly hiding old ink – blast overs are about confronting it head-on, creating a dynamic and layered piece of art.
Riccardo Raffin, a resident artist at o.t.t.i.l.i.e in Hackney, London, demonstrated this powerfully when he tattooed an abstract star shape over a Kangayam cow tattoo on artist Suki Lune. The thick, assertive lines of Raffin’s design disregarded the underlying cow, creating a piece that’s both visually arresting and conceptually charged. While Raffin’s design stands strong alone, its placement over an existing tattoo adds a layer of defiance and transformation.
What Exactly is a Blast Over Tattoo?
Unlike traditional tattoo cover ups which aim to completely conceal an older design, a blast over tattoo works in a radically different way. It involves tattooing a new, often bolder and darker design directly over an existing tattoo, intentionally leaving parts of the original artwork visible. Think of it as adding a new chapter to your skin’s story, rather than erasing the previous one.
As Raffin explains, “It’s a form of dialogue with existent designs. A symbolic act that underscores the intention to move beyond the past and embrace change.” This approach resonates with many seeking to refresh their tattoo styles without losing the history embedded in their skin.
Abstract star blast over tattoo on arm, boldly covering an older cow tattoo.
The Growing Popularity of Blast Over Tattoos
The rise of blast over tattoos reflects a shift in tattoo culture. Artists like Caleb Blansett in New York are pioneers of this technique, known for their large-scale, body-encompassing pieces that embrace the pre-existing “geography” of the skin, tattoos included. Blansett’s organic approach prioritizes the body’s canvas, sometimes leading directly over older tattoos. “If someone asks me not to touch a tattoo, I’ll factor that into my design,” he says, “But otherwise I draw the design looking at the body, not so much the tattoos that are already there.”
This resonates with clients whose tastes have evolved. Suki Lune, for instance, opted for a blast over because her older tattoos no longer aligned with her current aesthetic. “A lot of the tattoos I have on my arm are stylistically quite different to the stuff I would get now if I were to start from scratch, so it felt like a way to make it all feel a little more aligned with the stuff that appeals to me now,” she explains. Blast overs become a way to curate and update their tattoo collections.
Close-up of a blast over tattoo on an arm, showcasing bold black lines over older, faded ink.
Blast Over Tattoo Styles and Approaches
The beauty of blast over tattoos lies in their diversity. Sammy Ray, a New York-based artist, describes the range as spanning from subtle overlaps to “full-on cacophonies of ink intertwining.” Some artists push the boundaries even further, almost entirely covering the old tattoo but leaving glimpses as a visual memory.
Blansett highlights the emotional depth behind choosing a blast over. “Sometimes, people don’t like a tattoo because of its association with their past, but they still see that past as being important and relevant, because of how they’ve grown from it,” he explains. Instead of erasing history, they layer upon it, acknowledging personal evolution and growth through body modification.
Detailed blast over tattoo, showing intricate blackwork design layered over an older, colorful tattoo.
Ray echoes this sentiment, noting, “Our memories aren’t really that good, so getting blast-overs is a way of harbouring our memories and past selves on our own terms and accepting every person we have been in the one vessel we have.” This makes blast over tattoos a powerful form of self-expression and personal narrative.
Arm featuring a sleeve of blast over tattoos in various styles, demonstrating the cohesive yet layered look.
Blast Over Tattoos: Rebirth and Reclaiming Tattoo Space
Pang, a Chinese-American artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, sees blast over tattoos as an “explicit, intentional rebirth.” They challenge the traditional notion of permanence in tattooing, transforming something meant to be unchanging. In a world of evolving tattoo trends, blast overs offer a dynamic approach to personal style.
In an increasingly individualistic tattoo landscape, influenced by platforms like Instagram that spotlight individual artist styles, Ray believes blast overs bring back cohesion. “For people who want to collect pieces while also curating or collaging those works into something larger and special for their body, blast-overs are a great way to work towards something wonderful and cohesive without committing to an aesthetic or one artist’s vision,” they state. Blansett views his own body art similarly, aiming for a unified, flowing “one tattoo” aesthetic, blurring the lines between individual pieces.
Black and grey blast over tattoo on a leg, showcasing bold designs effectively covering and integrating older tattoos.
Navigating Tattoo Ownership and Artistic Freedom
The concept of blast over tattoos raises questions about tattoo ownership and artistic boundaries. What about the original artists whose work is being covered? Do they have a claim to their art even after it’s on someone’s skin? Blansett’s stance is firm: “No – once the tattoo is on your skin, it’s your tattoo and you can do whatever the fuck you want with it.”
This perspective, while empowering for the tattooed individual, can ruffle feathers in the traditional tattoo community. Pang acknowledges this tension, noting that while some artists may feel affronted, the reality is that bodies and tastes change. “Whether you like it or not, you are tattooing a person, who’s going to age, and going to get other tattoos around, or – heaven forbid – over your work. It’s an uphill battle to start taking offense to that.”
Example of blast over tattoo art, demonstrating a complex design layered over previous ink.
Pang sees blast overs as a pushback against a potentially capitalist and overly individualistic tattoo culture. In a climate where artists are increasingly protective of their styles, blast overs shift the focus back to the collector’s body and their evolving narrative. “Blast-overs are a maximalist way to visually bring together the disparate tattoos in a collection, taking the aesthetic attention and putting it back onto the collector.”
Blast Over Tattoos: Embracing Change
Ultimately, blast over tattoos are about embracing change and personal agency. While all tattoos alter the body, blast overs make change itself the central theme. They champion the wearer’s autonomy, declaring, “This is my tattoo space. I am the captain now. I am doing something different, and I am doing something new, and I want you to notice.” This bold trend is more than just ink; it’s a statement of self-ownership and continuous evolution in the dynamic world of tattoo art.
