Patterns that wrap
A mandala drawn on paper is a circle; on an elbow it has to bend around a joint that changes shape every time you move. We draw geometric work for the limb in a natural position, place it as a stencil, check the symmetry with you in the mirror, and redraw until it sits right.
Joints make the best centres: the elbow point or the kneecap becomes the middle of the flower, as in the mandala on the elbow in our archive.
Dotwork and shading
Dotwork builds tone from thousands of single dots instead of smooth shading. It gives a softer, grainier gradient that ages gracefully, and it is how the leg sleeves and the crescent moon in our portfolio were made.
Polynesian and tribal
Polynesian work is bold black pattern shaped to the muscle: it follows the shoulder cap, the pectoral and the shoulder blade. Our Polynesian shoulder piece runs from the chest over the shoulder onto the back.
Where geometry sits
| Placement | Motif | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Elbow or knee | Mandala | The joint becomes the centre |
| Forearm | Compass, flower of life | Long axis for a line of script or arrows |
| Spine | Moon, unalome, vertical ornaments | Symmetry follows the spine |
| Shoulder and chest | Polynesian band | Follows the muscle |
| Lower legs | Dotwork sleeves | Pattern tiles around the calf |
More on healing in our day-by-day aftercare guide.
