Design Old-School Tattoos in Procreate
A course by Fernando AponteTattoo Artist
A course by Fernando Aponte, Tattoo Artist
Learn to design tattoos with an old-school feel, exploring how to adapt your digital illustrations to the client's needs and chosen area of the body
Tattoos are a permanent symbol of sociocultural expression. Dragons, swallows, flowers, and female faces are some of the most characteristic elements of old-school tattoos. In this online course, tattoo artist Fernando Aponte teaches you to use digital tools to create illustrations that can be turned into stunning tattoos.
Before picking up your needle and ink, you need to know how to adapt a creative idea to the client's vision, as well as the area of the body to be tattooed. Learn the foundations of this classic tattoo style, discover the process behind each design, and use Procreate to create stylized illustrations ready for tattooing.
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 18 downloads
History of the traditional American tattoo
5 minutes, 23 seconds
Style and elements
4 minutes, 35 seconds
Stylization and structure of the image
5 minutes, 7 seconds
Paper exercises
9 minutes, 21 seconds
Composition and elements
6 minutes, 0 seconds
Sketch and drawing on paper
10 minutes, 24 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet your teacher, Fernando Aponte, who talks about his career in the worlds of illustration and tattooing. He also shares some of the creative inspirations that have helped shape his personal style.
Now hear a brief history of old-school US tattooing, as well as the artistic influences that have contributed to its evolution. Discover the defining features of this style and the main elements used to express it, before doing a few exercises, first on paper and then in Procreate.
It's time to get started on your project. Do an initial sketch, using photographs and other reference images, and transfer it to Procreate. Explore how to improve the composition of your design, along with the use of lines and colors. Next, your teacher shows you some different ways to achieve that characteristic, eye-catching finish.
To wrap things up, Fernando teaches you to adapt your illustration to a range of physical and digital applications. Hear some parting tips on how to create a JPG file to turn your piece into a smartphone or tablet background, as well as share your work on social media.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Compose a digital illustration in Procreate with a traditional US-style tattoo look.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in the world of illustration and tattooing, as well as those wanting to learn about old-school tattoos and how to illustrate them.
Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge of drawing and Procreate would make the course easier to follow, but is not essential.
In terms of materials, you need: an iPad with Procreate, an Apple Pencil, a pencil and racing paper.
Reviews
- 8 days ago
Muy buen curso, muy buena inspo y práctico.
- 6 months ago
Muy buen curso, es una gran introducción a este estilo de ilustración.
- 8 months ago
Bueno
- 11 months ago
Me encanta ! he aprendido mucho en este curso, el material extra tambien me ha ayudado a enriquecer mis conocimientos
- 1 year ago
Un curso interesante y practico para aprender a dibujar Old school. Me a ayudado mucho a mejorar mi dibujo tradicional
Although based in Mexico City, he is constantly traveling across Europe and Latin America. He is specialized in both traditional US and Japanese styles, but also enjoys experimenting and adding new elements from the rich Mexican culture to his work.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- influences
- U2
Traditional american tattoo
- History of the traditional American tattoo
- Style and elements
- Stylization and structure of the image
- Paper exercises
- Exercises in Procreate
- U3
Start to work
- Composition and elements
- References
- Sketch and drawing on paper
- Digital trace in Procreate
- Shade and color
- Background and finishes
- U4
Share the work
- Physical applications
- Digital applications
- FP
Final project
- Design Old-School Tattoos in Procreate
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn how to create old school style tattoo illustrations and designs using simplification, outlining, and solid color techniques both on paper and in Procreate, as well as how to prepare files for printing and social media.
The course is aimed at students with basic drawing skills but doesn’t require advanced experience in tattooing or digital illustration—perfect for those wanting to dive deeper into old school style and Procreate.
You’ll need paper, pencils, markers, and an iPad with Procreate installed. A pressure-sensitive tablet is also recommended to fully take advantage of the digital techniques shown in the course.
No prior experience with Procreate is necessary; the course covers everything from basic concepts to advanced techniques, allowing students to get comfortable with the tool as they learn.
You’ll master firm outlining, simple strokes, traditional black shading, and how to use digital brushes to achieve the clean lines and bold colors that define old school tattoos.
The course teaches you how to identify main shapes, strip away unnecessary details, and apply stylization techniques to create simple, clear, and visually striking old school compositions.
Yes, the course includes sketching exercises, floral compositions, character design, animals, nautical elements, plus creating roses and pin-ups in the traditional American style.