What is New School Tattooing?

New School tattooing emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a rebellious evolution of traditional tattoo styles. It's characterized by its bold outlines, vibrant, often exaggerated color palettes, and a distinct cartoony or illustrative aesthetic. Artists frequently employ techniques like extreme depth and dimension, playful perspectives, and pioneering use of light and shadow to create highly stylized and often whimsical designs. Unlike its Old School predecessors, New School isn't bound by strict rules or subject matter, allowing for boundless creativity and a focus on unique, custom pieces. You'll often see characters, animals, objects, and abstract concepts rendered with a lively, almost three-dimensional quality, pushing the boundaries of what's possible on skin.