LCH

Design Process, Sketchbooks &
Watercolour Tattooing Technique

I typically work within a sketchbook initially when doodling and coming up with flash designs.

My mixed media designs are referenced from collaged photographs then layered with pen or and pencil, or drawn with pen then colourized digitally. I frequently work digitally which allows me to limit the quantity of paper being used for printing and allows for great flexibility in the creation of watercolour and ink textures.

At the bottom of this page are examples of pages from my sketchbooks throughout the years, along with the video below. A lot of these illustrations are not particularly ‘tattooable’- I prefer to use sketchbooks as a somewhat visual diary, documenting initial design ideas with heavily annotated pages. Basically it’s just lots of sketches of skulls and me talking shit.

Custom Design process for watercolour

Typically I will select multiple reference images from the internet or from my own sources and collage them together to achieve the overall ideal initial composition. I will keep your reference photos in mind for this. I then proceed to draw the design using the textures of my own watercolour brushes over the top with a very faded overlay. Using the photos as a guideline for the overall shape; drawing the sketch freely then removing the reference. I build upon this initial sketch, creating contrasting line weights and embellishing where I desire to create a more detailed unique design.

Colours are selected and mixed to create depth of contrast in the design, and selected with references to the clients skin tone. For people of colour who are scheduled to get tattooed by me, complimentary colour tests prior to your session are available and totally optional. All skin tones are able to be tattooed with colour to various degrees of contrast, and I will never decline your tattoo based on your skin tone.

When using colour I do not dilute my ink (which can result in fading) - instead I use a mix of regular ink, custom blended colours, and some concentrated pigments which have been specifically formulated for watercolour designs. These techniques create a seamless, saturated fade, ensuring the tattoo is aesthetically pleasing both immediately and long term. All inks used are vegan.

I typically freehand all of my watercolour, which gives a degree of flexibility and ensures that the details of the colour flow with the space provided and the overall composition. This means that the final tattoo will probably not look exactly the same as the final design. I find the most successful tattoos are created where both the artist and client are flexible with the final outcome, and I recommend to keep that in mind when selecting an artist.

The final design in this image features high contrast colour which minimizes the appearance of fading with time. There are several factors that impact the longevity of your tattoo, I will go into detail regarding this at your appointment. Typically I don’t need to do touch ups on any of my tattoos, however I do offer it as a free service for up to 90 days after your tattoo.

For tattoos with a bolder outline, I almost always draw the design by hand. Occasionally I will also freehand the design directly onto the skin.

Sketchbooks

To check out examples of my tattoo portfolio, click here.
To see some inspiration images for the styles and subject matter I prefer to tattoo, click here.
To learn about booking in for an appointment with me, click here.