
“There are so many digital tools out there that make drawing and tattoo design easier and more efficient,” Smith notes. When it’s time to sketch, finalize, and digitize a tattoo design, you can get your concept down on paper with a pencil sketch or jump right into a digital drawing program. Additionally, keep in mind that color tattoos will need more touch-ups in the future, so they are sometimes better suited to smaller designs.
#Drawing tattoo tutorial skin#
Skin tone and undertone should also factor into your color palette, as different colors show up better on different complexions.
#Drawing tattoo tutorial full#
If they’ve got a full sleeve tattoo planned, make sure the wrist piece you’re designing will fit into that aesthetic.

If you’re designing someone’s first tattoo, ask about their future tattoo ideas. When designing a tattoo, work with the colors of other tattoos already on the body. When choosing a size, make sure your client is prepared for how size can affect tattooing time, as well as the discomfort that comes with it. “Small tattoos can actually be harder to do, because you have to run your tattoo machines slower, therefore you tattoo slower,” Salazar notes. You’ll need to keep in mind that a tattoo’s size and design affect the needles used and the speed of the tattoo machine. While the size is affected by the budget, it’s also an aesthetic choice. If your client doesn’t handle pain well, you may need to counsel them to avoid specific areas like the ribs or feet.Īfter choosing a location for the tattoo, it’s time to choose a size. Because the contours of the body are different, the level of pain or discomfort that comes with getting tattooed changes depending on its location. The curve of the body is different, and you need to design with that in mind,” says tattoo artist Carrie Smith. “You’re going to design differently if it’s a forearm tattoo versus the lower back. You’ll end up rushing the work, and the final product will decline in quality. So don’t design a time-consuming, detailed piece if your client is working with a small budget. As an artist, your time is worth something. While it’s important to be inspired, it’s also important to consider the tattoo budget.

The kirituhi is the official name for a Maori-style tattoo created for a non-Maori person. While the ta moko tattoo is reserved for the Maori people, that doesn’t mean you can’t be inspired by the style. In cultures like that of the Maori, tattoos are used as a rite of passage or to indicate social status and family ties.


#Drawing tattoo tutorial how to#
How to Draw a Tribal Heart Tattoo Design in Easy Steps Tutorialĭraw 2 spiral bubble #9-like shapes as seen above. I will show you how to draw a tribal heart tattoo with the following step by step drawing tutorial. These tribal designs are popular for tattoos…but they can be drawn on paper too. I thought I would show you how to draw one. Tribal heart designs are very popular to draw right now.
