Oni Irezumi: a tattoo-inspired face in three dimensions

For this mask, I took my reference from the Oni head as it appears in irezumi tattooing. The tense brow, horns and open mouth need to keep their force in three dimensions. These photographs look at the finished Oni Irezumi model, from a view held against the face to close details of the paintwork.

Fire red Oni Irezumi mask held in front of a face, with gold horns and hands on either side — The fire red Oni Irezumi held in front of a face. The photograph gives a sense of the scale of its horns and jaw.

From the front: eyes and mouth

The gold eyes surround two black openings. Above them, the red folds of the forehead meet at the brow. Below, gold teeth frame the red tongue. Together, these shapes establish the mask’s expression before you look at the smaller details.

Front view of the fire red Oni Irezumi, with gold eyes and teeth and a red tongue — Front view of the fire red model. Reflections in the varnish show on the forehead and nose.

From an angle: paint follows the shape

A three-quarter view makes the depth of the nose, the curve of the horns and the strands along the cheeks easier to see. Black shading marks the recesses. Red remains on the raised surfaces, while gold picks out the horns, eyes and teeth.

Three-quarter view of the fire red Oni Irezumi, showing the depth of the nose, cheeks and black shading — This angle reveals the depth of the cheeks and the strands beside them.

The model in burgundy

Burgundy gives the same face a different presence. In this close-up, the red is darker and the black areas draw more attention. The gold eyes and teeth remain distinct. Both colour versions have a glossy finish.

Close-up of the burgundy Oni Irezumi, with a dark red face, black shading and gold details — A closer look at the burgundy finish.

A tattoo reference, developed through paint

The irezumi reference lies in the Oni head that was the starting point for the model. On the mask, I work on the colour, shading and finish. Each piece is 3D printed in PETG, then prepared, sanded, painted and varnished by hand in my workshop in Brittany, France.

The Oni Irezumi product page has the colour options and model details. For the making stages, visit the workshop process. The Oni mask guide explores the figure’s history and meanings.