American traditional

Bold outlines, a limited saturated color palette, and classic imagery such as anchors, swallows, and roses.

Virginia Beach (4)Norfolk (2)Columbia (1)Hampton (1)Isle of Wight County (1)Portsmouth (1)

Artists working in American traditional

Specializes in

Jacob Woods

Virginia Beach

Tattoo artist specializing in anime, American traditional, Japanese traditional, and neo-traditional styles. His individual profile remains live on Sandbridge Tattoo's site, but as of the Phase 5A audit (2026-08-10) he is absent from the studio's current artist roster listing — his current affiliation could not be confirmed either way.

Frequently works in

Sam Rutledge

Virginia Beach

Tattoo artist at Studio evoLve. Enjoys illustrative, American traditional, and Japanese traditional styles, while working across many others.

Specializes in

Tony Riccio

Virginia Beach

Co-founder and owner of Salt Water Tattoo, specializing in American traditional tattoos with steady lines and bold, vivid color.

Specializes in

Graig Camp

Virginia Beach

Resident artist at Envision Tattoo Gallery, tattooing since 2000, specializing in black-and-grey work and bold traditional designs.

Specializes in

Keith Maynard

Hampton

Co-owner of Foundation Tattoo in Hampton, tattooing since 2010, specializing in bold, bright, traditional tattoos.

Frequently works in

Matty

Portsmouth

Tattoo artist at DNA Tattoo, Portsmouth. Army veteran; tattooing since 2025, working in traditional, neo-traditional, illustrative, floral, and blackwork styles.

Specializes in

Matt Williams

Isle of Wight County

Owner of James River Tattoo, with over two decades in the tattoo industry and more than 13,000 lifetime tattoos completed. Apprenticed under Kent "The Dixie Devil" Keaton in San Diego starting in 2003, then worked 4.5 years with J.D. Crowe at Ancient Art Tattoo and 14 years at Folk City Tattoo before opening James River Tattoo in 2025.

Specializes in

Jim Twiddy

Columbia

Tattoo artist at Banshee Tattoo Co. with 15+ years of experience, favoring fancy lettering and American traditional designs with bold, bright colors, alongside black-and-gray and mandala work.

Specializes in

Edward Alvarado

Norfolk

Co-founder (June 2022) of Slow Ride Tattoo & Gallery in Norfolk. A Navy veteran (2013–2017) who began his tattoo apprenticeship in 2016, working in American Traditional and black and grey realism.

Specializes in

Aaron Hermoso

Norfolk

Tattoo artist at Slow Ride Tattoo & Gallery in Norfolk, working in American Traditional, floral, and lettering.

Often tagged alongside American traditional

Other styles the same artists are also tagged with — not a claim that the styles themselves are related, only that they share artists.

American traditional