Ink Mastery: From Design to Tattoo Specialization

In this lesson you will learn the information you should obtain from your client and consider before starting your creative process to work on their design.

Know your customer

Documentation

During this lesson you will learn about my process of finding the reference images that I will use to create the design.

Collage

Now I will show you how to make the collage with the images we downloaded in the previous lesson.

Sketching and final stroke

I will show you how to first sketch the collage and then polish it to get to the final stroke.

It's time for you to see the finished work. In this lesson I will show you how the drawing looks on the skin and I will give you a couple of tips to take a photo that will make your work look even better.

Our design on the skin

Make a spreadsheet

In this lesson you will finish polishing the sketch that was pending from the previous unit and we will design two others with similar characteristics to create a spreadsheet ready to sell on your social networks.

Keep drawing and create your portfolio

Finally, I will talk to you about the importance of constantly drawing, creating a portfolio and always generating content on your social networks.

Module 3

Dive into the art of creating stunning blackwork designs ready to be transferred to skin. Procreate, with its intuitive interface and versatile art tools, has revolutionized tattoo design, becoming an essential tool for digital illustration. Brazilian tattoo artist Tania Maia, a three-time NY Empire State Tattoo Expo participant, shares her streamlined process using Procreate on her iPad. Learn how to create precise, flexible designs perfect for tattoos or framed art pieces, and take your creative practice to the next level.

11 lessons (2h 13m)

Briefing

In this lesson I will show you how I prepare a briefing for my clients with all the information I need to create the design that will then be tattooed.

Reference image research

I'll talk to you about searching for reference images. I'll also show you the pages I use to do my searches and you'll learn how to organize them in such a way that, if you want to use them again in the future, you can find them more easily. I'll also share some basic tips to make your search more objective.

Mounting design on canvas

You will learn my way of making collage for an illustration, using the reference images collected in the previous lesson. Applying them directly and following the natural shape of the body area to be tattooed, to then create a design with greater precision.

18m

Outline design 1

In this lesson I will teach you how to transform a realistic image into a tattoo illustration.

For this second part of the lesson, I will continue sharing with you some tricks to carry out the eyeliner.

Outline design 2

As the title says, here I am going to show you how to vary the same design, just by changing the location of the elements or replacing them with others but always keeping elements of the main image.

Design variations 1

16m

Design variations 2

During this second part of the lesson, I will show you another variation of the original design. This will help you to show more alternatives to your clients.

Shadows, textures and volume

Once we have the line design and its variations, it is in this lesson that I will teach you how to make the textures and shading in my style, in a more basic way but with the intention of saving time and without losing quality in your work.

It's time to work on the illustration, refining the shadows and textures made in the previous lesson.

Final art for tattoo 1

In this second part of the lesson, I will teach you in detail how to create shadows and textures that enhance your tattoo design.

Final art for tattoo 2

Final art for print

To conclude this module, you will see how to transform the illustration by adding elements so that you can market it as a print or any other use you want to give to the design, such as framing it in a painting.

Module 4

In this module, Florencia Landaeta, known in the tattoo scene as Polilla Tattoo, will guide you through the essential tools, materials and techniques to get into the art of tattooing like a pro. From setting up the machine and workspace to hygiene, outlining, shading and painting, you will practice on a surface like an orange to gain confidence. You will explore human anatomy as a canvas, perfect your designs and delve into contemporary tattoo styles.

14 lessons (2h 36m)

What will we do in the course?

This module will result in a tattooed design on an orange as an alternative support to the skin. (You can apply it to the skin if you have someone to practice with) You will apply line, filling and pointillism techniques, achieving a tattoo that meets all the basics to start tattooing.

History of tattoos, types, styles and their evolution

In this lesson we will talk about how tattooing began in the world, its evolution and how it has adapted to the contemporary world. We will see the main styles of tattoos, their characteristics and how various avant-gardes have broken structures to provide new proposals and experiments on the body.

How to put together your first basic or professional kit

I will give you some tips in this lesson on choosing your first tools to start with, their differences and approximate values. We will talk about brands, my personal preferences and I will also recommend a tattoo kit that will allow you to professionalize your equipment.

I will teach you everything you need to start tattooing. What machines exist, the types of tools, needles and all the information about the equipment you will need to get started.

Materials 1

Materials 2

We continue to review everything you need to start tattooing. Machines, types of tools, needles and all the information about the equipment needed to get started.

12m

Skin types and anatomical considerations before tattooing

We will learn how to evaluate the skin before tattooing, how to adapt the design to the body area and see the ideal size. We will see how to prepare the skin to transfer the design appropriately and the materials necessary to achieve this.

Creating Design 1

We will see how to create the design and all the tools to facilitate this process. We will prepare the tracing to then transfer the design to the surface and see how its application works.

10m

Creating Design 2

During this second part of the lesson, I will continue to show you the best tricks to finish the design.

16m

Table preparation and hygiene

In this unit we will see how to set up your table before tattooing and all the necessary information to avoid cross contamination, spread of diseases and infections.

In this lesson we will learn how to transfer our design to the skin or the support to be tattooed.

Outline 1

Now we will learn how to make lines, the necessary materials, their correct application and linear valorization.

Outline 2

Step-by-step filling technique

Now, we will learn how to make fillings, the necessary materials, their correct application, types of needles needed and different ways to apply color and solid blocks.

Pointillism and dotwork shading techniques

I will explain how to do pointillism in different ways, the materials needed, the voltage differences and the wrist movements we need to get different results. Also, what the different applications and shades of grey are for. We will learn sweeping techniques, quick pointillism, dot by dot and whipshading.

How to disassemble the table and care recommendations

Finally, I will show you how to take apart your work table with the necessary hygiene precautions. We will take the opportunity to talk about the recommendations I make to my clients for post-tattoo care.

Module 5

Illustrator and tattoo artist Juan Camilo Mazutier, known as Mazvtier, sees tattooing as the art of transforming clients' ideas into works they will wear for life. In this module, you'll delve into the world of blackwork tattooing, learning to express depth, contrast, and emotion through detailed linework and dot-based shading. Get ready to create powerful designs with a lasting impact.

15 lessons (2h 30m)

Materials

I will show you the materials you will need to complete the project in this course, including needles, inks, and machines. In addition, you will learn the correct way to use all the materials and their characteristics.

Skin tones, types and composition

I will explain the characteristics you need to take into account when working on different skin types and tones. You will also see how to create the composition of a design based on the anatomy of the area of the body you are going to tattoo.

Ideas and references for design

During this lesson, I will show you my creative process prior to creating the design.

10m

Digital sketch

I will explain to you step by step the process to create your own digital sketch, and I will also teach you some tips that will be very useful for your design.

Now I will explain to you step by step the process to create your own sketch on paper and in special cases such as freehand.

Hand sketch

Techniques: shading and hatching 1

You will learn different shading and hatching techniques to achieve different textures and effects in your tattoo. I will teach you how to perform an exercise on synthetic skin.

18m

Techniques: shading and hatching 2

I will continue to teach you how to work on some shading. The important thing is that you observe in detail so that you can do the exercises before tattooing the skin.

17m

Prepare the material and the workspace

In this lesson I will teach you how to prepare your workstation correctly, maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and biosafety.

Prepare the area and template location

Now I will show you how to prepare the area of the body you are going to tattoo and how to place the stencil correctly.

Lines: thick and thin

You will see the process to carry out your tattoo. I will explain different ways of outlining using fine strokes and different needle thicknesses.

During this lesson, I will teach you how to apply the techniques learned in the previous lessons, so you can generate shading, textures and contrasts that will give greater enhancement to your tattoo.

Shadows and details 1

12m

Shadows and details 2

You will see how to work and perfect the shadows and details of the tattoo. For this part of the lesson you will have to be patient, remember that all work has its reward.

I will show you how to apply white ink as a subtle element of illumination.

Lighting and highlights

Tattoo care

One of the most important things is the care that must be taken with the tattoo. Here I will explain the correct care that must be used so that a tattoo can heal properly.

Discard contaminated materials

Finally, I will teach you how to properly disassemble your workbench and how to properly dispose of contaminated materials.

Module 6

Tell vibrant stories on your clients' skin through colorful tattoos. Juan Pablo Molina, known as Molina Tattoo, combines illustrations with watercolor-inspired stains, adapting the designs to the natural lines of the body. In this module, you will discover the secrets of turning tattoo sessions into meaningful rituals and creating works of art that last a lifetime. You will learn the technical process of tattooing, perform drawing and observation exercises to perfect your movements, explore composition techniques according to the area of the body and master the order of tones according to their brightness and the area of the skin.

15 lessons (3h 25m)

Observation through drawing

You will learn some drawing exercises that will help you develop your observation skills, and will make you aware of the control you must have over your body when tattooing.

19m

Composition

Composing visually is not an easy job. In this lesson, you will learn how to organize elements in relation to each other and the elements in relation to their space, and you will also understand composition concepts that will help you when designing considering the area of the body you are going to tattoo.

I will teach you how to use color in your designs so that they are viable when applied to the skin.

Colors

Materials

You will see the materials you will use to complete your final project for the course.

What are we going to tattoo?

In this lesson, I'll show you my process of talking with a client, going through the definition of the area to be tattooed, and thematic and aesthetic considerations. You'll see how all of this is then materialized in a mood board!

Tattoo design

You will see how to go from ideas collected on the mood board to the design of a tattoo. You will learn how to create it through a digital collage process.

19m

Color palette and colorization

I will show you my process for choosing the colors to work on for your tattoo.

19m

Colorization details

Now, I will explain to you which details you need to take care of to get your final illustration. In addition, you will learn how to highlight the colors more, since you are going to bring this illustration to your client's skin, so it is important that I also show you how to make contrasts in your design.

Once you have your design ready and approved, it's time to prepare the lines for your stencil, either digitally or printed. I'll show you how below.

Stencil preparation

Skin asepsis and keeping your work table tidy can influence the outcome of your tattoo.

Preparing the workspace

In my style of tattooing, I like to tattoo the black lines before applying the shading and colors. In this lesson, I will show you which needles I like to use for each line.

Lines 1

I will continue working on some lines of the design. I will explain the relationship between speed vs. accuracy and how you can make some thick lines.

Lines 2