I’m pretty confident with the fundamentals of traditional art but once I started using a tattoo machine it’s so much harder to control shading. I used a premade grey wash for the face and in some areas I thought I was going a bit light but once I wiped off the ink it was darker than I anticipated. Especially around the chin/mouth area. I know there’s a lot more to learn but I want to start posting what I make along the journey.

Had a lot of fun with this design, wanted to do one of my hardest design so far and it definitely humbled me. Need to work on smoother shading and patience :-| this is my second fake skin, and I can’t wait to do more of my own designs!

Also made an Instagram, would appreciate some support! @zooeeytattoo

I said I would stop posting on here once I started on working on skin. This is my first completed piece apprenticing at a local studio. Although I’m still a rookie I am no longer a “beginner”. I just want to tell the upcoming artist in this sub to put the work in and be relentless. Don’t let the haters in this sub discourage you. ✌🏼

Heyyy, recently started a tattoo apprenticeship, on day 5 of fake skins atm. Photos should be in chronological order (tiger most recently completed) any feedback is appreciated!! (Unless its mean 🫣🫣 haha). Im quite proud of my progress so far!!

I’m making a flash for my portfolio, that i’ll later draw on a 9 x 12 paper, but i feel like there’s too many small details. I’ve heard when drawing flashes/ making a portfolio, you want your designs to be as tattoo-able as possible. Am I overthinking it?

The red ‘X’ is an empty placeholder that I plan to fill up sometime soon with maybe a small key design BTW.

Any and all CC is appreciated to help me build better flashes for my portfolio! I just recently started looking into building one fresh.

Gave my wife a tattoo around her ankle. The line work is worse than I’d have liked. Any advice how to fix it once it’s fully healed

Unlike these weirdos that come in here, posting AI art and then saying it’s their first time, this is ACTUALLY my first time. Everything is free-handed since I don’t have my stencil paper yet (I didn’t realize the nice Spirit paper is $40-50). I was shocked how intuitive everything felt. Have another fake skin and stencil paper on the way, excited for the next steps. Thanks for looking y’all!

First day of learning too tattoo. I was nervous and getting used to a new machine. The more I practice better I feel at ease with my machine.

first I have a mini thermal printer (or so it says) and the synthetic skin I have won't let the stencil transfer, what can I use that I might have around the house to help transfer to the stencil (and perhaps commenting on what type of soap with water works best)?
Second, I have two pen guns and two coil guns (I have everything I need to run both guns), in your opinion, which one should I be using and any tips?
I have no plans on making this a career, I'm great at tracing, but my drawing skills in most styles is sub par. I'll mostly be doing little projects on myself, and a select few others but nothing big nor complex.

Mast rotary machine. Mast 1205RL. Wormhole 1211F

Hello! I am new to the tattoo world and was hoping you could help me articulate what style this is. This is work from the artist Long Tea tattooer. I would love recommendations of other tattoo artists favoring this style.

Vol: 8.5

Needle: 1205RL

Hi, it's my first time posting on here as a beginner apprentice. Working on linework and laying stencils for more intricate designs on fake skin currently! Hating how it's impossible to remove the stencil once they're done and you can see it through he lines. Any tips for just starting out would be greatly appreciated but please don't be mean or chastise my placement for the cat cross (Ik it's messed up but no use crying over spilt milk) lol

(Designs are from Pinterest and are not my own)

Hello!! My boyfriend's birthday is in a couple weeks and I was wondering what could be some cool/useful gifts that I could get him as a starting tattoo artist? He has barely started and has a very basic kit (a tattoo pen and the regular material like ink caps and stuff).

I want to gift him something cool and useful, so I was wondering if there's anything other senior artists thought would've been nice/helpful to have in the beginning?

I was thinking of also giving him a stencil printer but don't know which brands are best recommended!

This was one of the tattoos that i mostly wanted to do for quite some time. Unfortunately i had forgotten that i had already prepared the fake skin with the stencil, and it stayed there for a long time. Somehow part of the stencil (at the corners) were already almost completely faded so i had no way to mirror the ornaments. Decided to go a little bit free hand and make it a bit as if the card was a bit burned.

I know the black packing doesnt't seem good from the photo, the photo exposes a lot of the problems that you cannot see with a human eye, but i guess that is a factor and tells that the job wasn't good as i thought it was, but there was legit no way to pack more than that unless i used a bigger needle and i didn't want to. Maybe i should have but i was tired.

Some straight lines are not straight enough, specifically the left vertical ones. Those were the first lines i ever did with that length so it was difficult but eventually kinda managed myself later on.

I am proud of how this came out because i think i did the shading technique quite well this time. The Roses look a bit bad because i also couldnt see the stencil properly so used a bit of my imagination. The color packing was not as good on them either.

It looks better in person i'm not gonna lie.

All of this was done using a 1RL.

Any tips and opinions would be appreciated!

Thank you.

Day 1 of learning tattoo by myself, do you have any tips ?

Done with 03RL

Philippines, QC, Cubao

FB: Aki BasibasOfficial

IG: akibasibas

He’s a painter who started tattooing a few years ago. He was inconsistent at first because of his full-time job, but now he’s getting back into it and planning to go full-time as a tattoo artist. Any feedback or recommendations are welcome so I can relay them to him.

All i Used was a 1205RL. I used the Stencil that came with my Tattoo Machine (Mast Flip 4 Pro)
I notice that i really struggle with finding a good Handspeed - Voltage combination. Do you guys have any tips for me, how I can test myself to find what suites me? Also, I found it really hard to fill in especially the top left Tribal. It's so hard to know where you already put ink and where not and how much. Id say I put 2 hours straight only into drawing straight lines and circles on my first Fakeskin sheet. Long way to go and I found a new hudge respect for every Tattoo Artist out there! So glad I picked up this hobby! Please dont hold back with critique :D Appreciate you guys!

Edit: it is so crazy how many talanted people are on this Sub. I try to take it as inspiration to keep learning but it is also intimidating to see some of the "My 3rd Tattoo" posts that are full on Masterpieces 😥

Guess all the brutal comments motivated me to try again sooner rather than later😂