This is the style that people often associate with old school sailors, marked by simple 2D designs and bold black outlines.

An American Traditional tattoo has solid coloring with no blending and very little shading. The colors used are typically limited to red, yellow, green, and black.

Some common motifs done in this style are pin-ups, eagles, swallows, roses, and anything nautical (ships, compasses, anchors, etc.).