A mandala is a circular design built from repeating patterns that radiate from a centre point. In tattooing, mandalas are prized for their balance and calm, and they suit almost any part of the body when they are drawn to fit it.
At Primitive Tattoo on Barrack Street, we design mandala and geometric work from single pieces to full sleeves and back pieces.
Drawn to fit, not pasted on
The body is not flat. A mandala on a knee, elbow or shoulder has to wrap around a joint, so the design is drawn and adjusted on you before we start. That is what keeps the circles looking round when you move.
Popular placements
- Knees and elbows, where the circle sits on the joint
- Shoulders and the top of the hand
- Sternum and upper back
- Sleeves and leg sleeves that combine mandalas with geometric patterns
Linework, dotwork and shading
Most mandalas mix clean linework with dotwork or soft shading. Bolder lines last longer, finer dotwork gives a softer look. Your artist will balance the two for the size and placement you choose.
Sessions and healing
A single mandala can often be finished in one session. Larger geometric sleeves are built over several sessions with healing time in between.
Coming from a mine site, the country or overseas?
If you work FIFO on a mine site, live in regional WA or are visiting Perth from overseas, tell us your roster or travel dates. We plan longer sessions around your days in Perth, so a mandala sleeve keeps moving between swings, and smaller pieces can be finished in a single visit.
Start with a free consult
Bring your ideas to a free consult at 146 Barrack Street, Perth, and see more on our Mandala Tattoo page and in the Tattoo Art Gallery. There’s no obligation to book. Payment is EFTPOS preferred, or cash.
