Drawing Tattooing
Learning how to draw tattoos you need to understand what the tattoo artist wants. As a beginner it can be a steep learning curve, but it is a great way to create a unique custom tattoo. The tattooist doesn’t always need a complete finished picture. What they do need is a clear and accurate line drawing that can be sized easily to fit.
Whether you are drawing a custom tattoo design for yourself, or trying to sell flash art to a tattoo studio the same lessons apply.
Even if you provide the tattoo artist with finished artwork, they may have to change the colours. The same drawing of a rose can be coloured in red, yellow or even black. This will create very different looking tattoos.
Most tattooists adapt and customise a tattoo without even thinking about it. This makes it more individual for the person being tattooed. So, as long as they have a good line drawing to work from, the tattooist will be able to use the artwork.
What most tattoo artists want is something new and unusual. You should try to develop your own style. Original artwork that is different will attract the eye of a tattoo artist more than a retake on an existing design. However good it is, another picture of a dragon is unlikely to stir their creative juices. They probably have a drawer full already.
Table of Contents
How Do You Start Drawing A Tattoo?
You should Start drawing a tattoo by sketching a simple line drawing of the picture you have in mind. Copy the design about 5 or 6 times. Then draw in the main lines of the design with more solid, smooth single lines.
Try changing parts of the drawing to see how it affects the appearance of the final picture. Create 5 or 6 slightly different drawings and analyse which is the best.
Once you have done this you can create the final line drawing. This is the drawing that will become the stencil for the tattoo. When you have the line drawing finished, print about 5 copies and try colouring them in or finishing them in different ways.
First do a shaded pencil drawing to show what the tattoo could look like done in Black and Grey. Then you can try colouring and shading the other copies in different ways. Do one as block colours, one with shaded and blended colors, and one as a watercolor for example.
Look carefully at the drawings and work out which you think works best. Analyse what you might be able to do to improve the design. Once you have a more focussed idea of the design then you can print off 5 more copies and try to do 5 slightly different versions again. Repeating this process will help you to improve the design until you are completely happy.
Show Different Ways A Tattoo design Can Be Used
If you show the tattooist how the design can be used in different ways, he doesn’t have to think about it. Time is their most valuable commodity so if you can save them time they will appreciate it.
If one piece of flash art can create several different tattoos easily, that will give the tattoo artist more options.
The final picture needs to grab peoples attention, even when it is in a book with hundreds of other tattoo designs.
Drawing Everything In The Reverse Order Can Work
You can draw a tattoo in reverse order too. If you have a finished drawing you can take some tracing paper and try to draw a line drawing that will guide the tattoo artist so he can reproduce the image.
This is something tattoo artists have to do all the time, but it increases their work load. If you can do it for them you are more likely to get a good reaction.
Doing it this way can work, but it can be difficult to simplify some pictures. You need the drawing for the tattoo stencil to be simple enough, while still keeping the details needed.
What To Practice Drawing For Tattoos?
Smooth, steady lines are what you need to practice the most. Keeping the thickness and spacing of your lines consistent is vital.
One of the exercises I do is to draw a single, curved, twisty line from one side of the page to the other. Next, draw a second line parallel to the first, following it precisely. Try to keep the line smooth and the gap between the 2 lines the same from one end to the other. You will need to repeat this over and over again until the whole page is covered by lines. Try to keep all the lines and the gaps equal distances apart.
When you look at the drawing afterwards you will see where you have done it better and the places where you have not done it so well. Keep practicing and you will see your results improve.
You will need to practice every aspect of your drawing skills. We have some fantastic FREE Drawing Tutorials here. Don’t get frustrated. It can get boring doing the same thing over and over again, but the practice will be worth it in the end.
Can You Be A Tattoo Artist If You Cant Draw?
No, not really. To be a tattoo artist you really do need to be able to draw. However, even if you cant draw now, everyone will get better the more they practice. I would never have considered myself good at drawing, but years of practice have honed my skills to a point where it would no longer be true for me to say “I can’t draw”.
Practice may never make yours or my drawing perfect, but it will always make it better. The more hours you spend practicing, the better you will get.
Should I Learn To Draw Before Tattooing?
Yes, before you tattoo anyone you need to learn how to draw. As a tattoo artist you will be leaving an indelible mark on someone’s skin. They should be confident that the results will be what they want. If you can’t draw the image in the first place why would someone trust you to tattoo the image on their skin forever?
Conclusion
Learning how to draw tattoos can be a long and arduous task. It will take a lot of practice, but if you get really good there is a chance that you can make a success of either selling tattoo flash designs or even doing some tattooing yourself if you can get some training.
Practice diligently and stay focussed on your goal. Go and talk to some tattoo artists about what they want from a design. If you can supply them with a service they need, which reduces their work load they will be smiling.
