Apex Tattooz / Custom tattoo studio, Delhi
A moment of stillness. A symbol of strength. A story that feels like yours.
Shiva and Nandi / Tattoo by Tanmay
Before the first line
Perhaps it is Shiva's calm expression you return to. Perhaps it is a trishul, a mantra or the idea of beginning again. Start with that connection. We can shape the design around it.
For many people, a Lord Shiva tattoo is a reminder of devotion, inner calm or transformation. The meditative yogi, compassionate Neelkanth and dancing Nataraja express different aspects of the same subject. Your connection can decide what the drawing should emphasise.
You do not need a finished design, or a personal story you are ready to share. Bring the expression, symbol or reference you connect with. At Apex Tattooz in Delhi, that gives us a starting point for your custom permanent tattoo.
Start with one sentence: "I want the tattoo to feel calm," "the trishul matters most," or "I want Shiva and Nandi together." Then choose the amount of detail and space that will support it.
From the Apex gallery
Compare a portrait-led design, a paired composition, colour and black-and-grey work. Look at the whole tattoo, not only the face: the supporting elements and the spaces between them help the design read.
Closed eyes hold the centre of this upper-arm composition. A smaller figure and bold Om continue the story below the portrait.
Apex Tattooz studio work
Blue, gold and warm red tones give the face a different presence. The mountain scene continues beneath the portrait.
Apex Tattooz studio work
The turned face, prominent crescent and smaller figure create a long vertical composition. Compare the expression with the closed-eye portraits.
Apex Tattooz studio work
A large portrait follows the shoulder and upper arm. The mountain below adds a setting while keeping the face as the main subject.
Apex Tattooz studio work
A direct gaze, strong dark shading and a skull necklace change the mood. Bring the specific form or reference you connect with when discussing a Mahakal-inspired idea.
Apex Tattooz studio work
The softly shaded face sits above a lotus, with long sweeping marks around it. The expression and the surrounding shapes work together.
Apex Tattooz studio work
A large face follows the upper arm, with patterned detail and layered black-and-grey shading.
Tattoo by Tanmay
Two connected portraits share the forearm, with the trishul supporting the composition below.
From the Apex studio gallery
Use these tattoos to explain what you like: an expression, a composition or a style of shading. Your own design can be developed for your placement rather than copied line for line.
Choose the composition before the details
The trishul leads this forearm composition, with an eye motif, flowing shading and open spaces around the main lines.
Apex Tattooz studio work
When the symbol leads
You may connect more with Shiva's trishul than with a face. Here, the eye motif and curved shading build around its three-pronged outline. The open skin between those marks helps the shape remain distinct.
This is a detailed symbolic design, not a tiny minimalist tattoo. For a simpler version, discuss which surrounding elements to leave out before choosing the size.
Start with the part that matters most: the trishul itself, the eye, or the movement around it. That gives the artist a clear starting point for your own drawing.
Discuss a trishul tattooThese are starting points drawn from familiar Hindu traditions, not a single interpretation for every person. If a particular form, sacred detail or story matters to you, bring the reference you trust.
Giving each subject its space
The seated Shiva and Nandi design and Tanmay's Shiva with Hanuman show two ways to connect subjects vertically. Compare the size of each figure and the space between them before deciding how much of a story to include.
The seated figure sits above Nandi, with a curved stroke framing the top. Both subjects have their own space in the vertical design.
Apex Tattooz studio work
The portrait and seated Hanuman form a vertical arrangement, with a distinct space for each subject.
Tattoo by Tanmay
People use these names while searching for different visual moods. Tell us whether you mean a peaceful portrait, a fierce expression, a particular deity form or lettering. A reference is more useful than assuming the name alone defines the design.
Still considering other subjects? Explore our Hindu mythology tattoo gallery or discuss a custom tattoo concept.
For a closer look at the symbolism behind your idea, read our guide to Lord Shiva tattoo meaning and spiritual identity.
Let the design fit your body
Your preferred placement, visibility and beliefs all matter. There is no universal respectful-placement rule for every family or tradition. Decide your own boundaries, then we can work on scale, orientation and flow.
The face, crescent and surrounding halo hold the focus without a second large scene below. Its actual dimensions still need to be discussed with the artist.
Apex Tattooz studio work
These are two views of the same tattoo, not two separate projects. The face, flowing hair and surrounding elements extend along the arm.
Apex Tattooz studio work
A face-led portrait and a longer composition ask for different amounts of space. The second photograph shows the same work from two views: use it to think about how a design reads around an arm, not just from one camera angle. Neither photograph establishes an exact size or price.
| Placement | What to compare | Bring to the consultation |
|---|---|---|
| Forearm | A vertical portrait, trishul, silhouette or connected Shiva/Nandi scene. | A view showing both wrist and elbow boundaries. Check the design with the arm in a natural position. |
| Upper arm / shoulder | A portrait that follows the shoulder and upper arm, with room for background detail. | Explain whether you may extend the tattoo later. Plan the edge of this design with that in mind. |
| Chest / back | A larger scene, a paired subject or a dancing form that needs more space. | Mark the area you are comfortable using and discuss symmetry, movement and any existing tattoos. |
| Calf / thigh | A portrait or story-led composition fitted to a longer or wider area. | Consider visibility in your usual clothing and your own preferences for sacred imagery. |
| Spine / narrow placement | A vertical symbolic concept or carefully planned lettering. | Agree on readable text and orientation. Do not force a full portrait into a space chosen for a symbol. |
| Half or full sleeve | Connected scenes with a clear main subject and transitions around the arm. | Bring all existing tattoos into the plan. Ask for a project quote and a session plan after the design is assessed. |
A useful measurement: "2 inches" describes only one dimension. A 2-by-2-inch area is 4 square inches. Note both height and width so your size reference and price estimate mean the same thing.
Plan the budget with the design
There is no single price for a Lord Shiva tattoo. A small symbol, a shaded portrait and a multi-figure sleeve involve different areas and levels of detail. At Apex, the estimate depends on your design's measured area and complexity.
₹299 per additional square inch, starting rate
The first square inch is ₹699. Additional square inches are charged at ₹299, ₹399 or ₹499, depending on complexity. Ask which rate applies to your reference before confirming the design.
For a design assessed at ₹399 per additional square inch, these examples show the arithmetic. They are not prices paid for the gallery tattoos, a Delhi market average or a promise that every portrait will fit the example area.
| Example area | Calculation | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x 2 in 4 sq in | ₹699 + (3 x ₹399) | ₹1,896 |
| 5 x 2 in 10 sq in | ₹699 + (9 x ₹399) | ₹4,290 |
| 5 x 4 in 20 sq in | ₹699 + (19 x ₹399) | ₹8,280 |
Use your own dimensions and the appropriate complexity tier in our calculator. For a large Shiva portrait or sleeve, discuss the complete composition and get an individual quote rather than treating an online estimate as the final price.
Free lifetime touch-ups are included. Speak with the studio about the tattoo and any touch-up you need.
From an idea to an agreed design
Before you decide
A simplified symbol or silhouette may be an option. A detailed face, several figures or a long mantra needs a different amount of space. Bring the reference and your preferred size; discuss what must remain readable instead of reducing every detail.
The first square inch is ₹699 at Apex; further square inches are ₹299, ₹399 or ₹499 depending on complexity. A measurement such as "two inches" needs a width too. For example, 2 x 2 inches is 4 square inches. The tattoo price calculator helps estimate an area, but your artist must assess whether the design suits it.
Yes, these are directions to discuss. The gallery shows different paired compositions. Decide which subject should lead and give the other enough space; adding every symbol can make the story harder to read.
Bring the exact wording and verify it with a trusted language or religious source. Keep one approved text reference, then check every character and the orientation in the proposed lettering and stencil. A long mantra may require more space or a different arrangement.
Tanmay created the three credited projects in this gallery. Explore his portfolio and ask the studio about availability and the right artist for your preferred style. Additional studio-gallery examples are not a promise of a specific artist's current availability.
The design, coverage, existing tattoos and detail affect the plan. We cannot give a reliable session count from the subject name alone. Bring photographs of the complete arm and discuss a project plan after the artist reviews it.
It needs an individual assessment. Share a clear photograph of the existing tattoo and your preferred placement. Read our cover-up consultation guide; a new design cannot be promised to cover every old tattoo.
Yes. Apex Tattooz offers free lifetime touch-ups. Contact the studio to discuss the tattoo and arrange the touch-up; a new design or major redesign is a separate conversation.
Apex Tattooz / Delhi
Send a few references, your preferred placement, approximate height and width, and the budget you are comfortable discussing. You can ask about the design before deciding to book.
Visit our Delhi studio at Shop 52, Basement, Mall Road, Kingsway Camp, GTB Nagar, near Metro Gate No. 3. Check directions and contact details before travelling.
Arrange a tattoo consultation or email apextattooz@gmail.com.
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