Black &
Grey.
Realism
with Soul.
Felipe Rapucci is a Brazilian-born tattoo artist based at Good Honest Tattoos in Hamilton East, Waikato. His favourite work is black and grey realism, detailed portraits, memorial pieces, animals, sleeves, and tattoos that need strong contrast and emotion.
With more than 25 years in tattooing, Felipe works fast because of experience, not shortcuts. His focus is clean design, strong placement, and tattoos that still make sense years later.
A realism artist with a designer’s eye.
Felipe’s work is built around black and grey realism, detailed portraits, large-scale custom pieces, and tattoos that need depth, flow, and emotion. His design background shapes how he plans faces, light, contrast, body placement, and long-term readability.
From São Paulo to Waikato.
Felipe was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and moved to New Zealand in 2007. He studied design before tattooing became his full life, and that training still shows in how he composes each piece.
His strongest lane is black and grey realism: portraits, faces, animals, memorial tattoos, skulls, religious pieces, and sleeves with depth and impact.
Good Honest Tattoos.
The name is the rule: good work, honest advice, clean process, and no pressure. Felipe tells people what will work, what will age well, and what should be changed before it becomes permanent.
Some clients arrive with a full concept. Others only know the feeling they want. Felipe shapes the idea into a tattoo that fits the person, the body, and the style.
Realism needs planning before the needle touches skin.
Find the focus
Every realism tattoo needs a focal point: the face, the eyes, the animal, the hands, or the main story.
Build the contrast
Felipe plans dark areas, soft tones, skin breaks, and long-term readability before the stencil is placed.
Work with speed
Felipe works fast because of experience, not shortcuts. Large pieces often take fewer sessions than clients expect.
Finish with clarity
You leave with clear aftercare and a tattoo built for detail, balance, and visual strength.
Favourite tattoo style: black and grey realism, portraits, and detail-heavy work.
Black & Grey Realism
Felipe’s favourite style. Portraits, animals, memorial pieces, surreal work, religious themes, and tattoos built with depth, softness, and strong contrast.
Portraits & Faces
Faces need structure, patience, and control. Felipe focuses on expression, lighting, emotion, and the small details that make a portrait feel alive.
Large Projects
Sleeves, legs, ribs, backs, cover ups, and tattoos that need flow across the body. Felipe plans these pieces so they work from a distance and up close.
The style Felipe keeps coming back to.
Black and grey realism gives Felipe the room to use everything he cares about as an artist: drawing, light, shadow, human expression, contrast, and technical control.
Portraits and detail-heavy tattoos are not just about copying a photo. The tattoo has to be redesigned for skin, placement, movement, ageing, and the client’s story. That is where Felipe’s design background and 25+ years of tattooing matter.
The
Studio.
Good Honest Tattoos is located in Hamilton East, inside Love Grove Lane at 394 Grey Street. It is a clean, focused studio for people who want professional tattooing without the ego.
Direct bookings are available online. For custom consultation questions, email [email protected].
Location
Love Grove Lane Shop 7, 394 Grey Street, Hamilton East 3216
Hours
Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Monday consults by request.
Pricing
NZ$180 per hour. Full day sessions are normally NZ$1,200. Custom projects are quoted around size, placement and detail.
Deposit
NZ$100 deposit required to secure a booking. It is applied to the session cost.
Ready to start your tattoo?
Book directly if you know what you want. Email Felipe if you need to explain a custom idea, sleeve, cover up, memorial piece, or large project first.
