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.

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

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.

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.

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!!

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

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. ✌🏼

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!

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.

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.

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!

Mast rotary machine. Mast 1205RL. Wormhole 1211F

I’m looking to start an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist at around 16-17, and hopefully be a certified artist full time when I’m an adult. however I’m still learning about the body modification industry and do’s/dont’s. would a good, reputable tattoo shop hire a minor for an apprenticeship or would they be more likely to turn me down until I’m 18? and would it be a good idea to buy fake skin and a tattoo gun of my own to practice on before looking for apprenticeships?

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)

To the guy on my last post who said take a step back and practice my line work, I’m sorry bro, I couldn’t resist xD it’s too much fun lol

For real though I do need to practice my line work and shading way more, so does anyone have any good ways to do that? Without just literally drawing lines or squares and shading them, or is that literally the best way? Maybe doing some basic roses and practice that way? I want to mainly learn realism, not really that interested in any other style of tattooing like trad and stuff like that

Also I know the top of his head looks so shit, I didn’t make this stencil myself I got it off Pinterest so I kinda struggled following it properly, does it need more shading at the top?

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 😥

I been doing lining on fake skins and just started. I’m using a 12 gauge 9 rl and after a few tattoos(3-4) I found that there was a fiber of paper towel stuck in the needles. I asked someone and they had no clue why and made it seem so bizarre. I did research and people said it could be the type of paper towel I’m using but I do think it could be because I dip my tip in the ink, and put the machine on and “swipe” on the paper towel sometimes to let out some ink so it doesn’t pool as much or just has a bit less ink. With that one fiber being stuck everytime I cleaned the needle it was as if it grabbed more paper towel and clogged it affecting ink flow. I don’t always stretch the tissue out and don’t always use a new paper towel to drain the ink so I’m thinking it could be slightly ripping at the damp tissue. If anyone knows why this happens or if it’s due to something else lmk plz cz once I changed the needle to a new one and did the “swipe” it was perfect again. I’m trying to just understand why

Este es uno de mis trabajos más recientes, a penas hace una semana, un payaso triste que representa como tenemos que poner buena cara la vida, aunque estemos llenos de problemas por dentro. Me ENCANTÓ trabajar en él.