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
Reference photos
Typically I will select multiple high quality reference images from the internet and from my own photographs (for florals) and collage them together to achieve the overall ideal composition. I then proceed to sketch the design alongside these references using an overlay photo of your body part photo for accuracy. I use a mix of custom watercolour procreate brushes to create the design with texture that is unique to each individual tattoo. Ideally the final design should reflect an accurate depiction of how your tattoo could eventually look once completed, but with the added benefit that tweaks can easily be made based on the clients vision when feedback is provided.
Final design completed digitally
Colours are selected from my library of over 100+ inks, and custom 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.
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.
Completed Tattoo
I typically freehand with pen all of my watercolour (no stencil), which gives a degree of flexibility and ensures that the details of the colour flow with the space provided and the overall composition. 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.
Sketches of skulls with pen, more detailed.
Stylized skull drawing, based on the same style as the sketches on the left. Drawn on Procreate with ipad/apple penci
Complete tattoo. Some details from the original design are ommitted to ensure the tattoo will stay clearer over time due to ink spreading in the skin.
Reference Image of Two Jack Lake, Alberta.
Design created using Procreate, photograph collage and brush pens.
Complete 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.
