Pretty fox and flowers piece by Vero, an artist at Vacuo Studio in Osnabrück, Germany.
The post Fox & Flowers Tattoo first appeared on Best Tattoo Ideas For Men & Women.
Pretty fox and flowers piece by Vero, an artist at Vacuo Studio in Osnabrück, Germany.
The post Fox & Flowers Tattoo first appeared on Best Tattoo Ideas For Men & Women.
Topics: Tattoo Stencil, Dark Skin Tones, Contour Lines, Tattooing Dark Skin, Tattoo Stencils on Dark Skin, Stencil tips, Tattoo Tips
In this “3 Minutes to Better Tattooing” article, we take a look at Jake’s outline and strategy to flawlessly craft stencils for individuals with a darker complexion. His approach breaks down the process into several simple steps that will make defining your design sharper and cleaner than ever before.
When creating tattoo designs for darker skin tones, it is essential to keep your design elements as simple and distinct as possible. Crafting light and shadow shapes separately becomes especially critical since there isn’t the same wide range of values available.
To begin preparing your tattoo stencil, begin by adding an extra layer over the main drawing or sketch. Then utilize bright white to fill in and simplify all light shapes for an abrupt transition between light and dark areas. The white acts as the “skin tone” for the stencil, so this will help make the stencil simpler, eliminating any uncertain or fuzzy transitions which may be difficult to recognize while you are tattooing.
Next, you’ll make the line drawing for the whole stencil. You really want to make sure to thinly line and block off your shadow areas that way you know where the light ends and the shadow shapes begin.
Following that, I like to utilize contour lines as a way of forming what is practically a topographic map for the tattoo. Incorporating these contour lines into the various shadow shapes helps you accurately perceive their direction and flow.
These blocked off transition areas and contour lines can act as guideposts and are helpful with complicated areas where light source and form can tend to get a bit lost on darker complexions.
While red and purple are the two most common stencil colors, purple paper is used more often. Unfortunately, once it dries it has a greenish-gold shimmer that can be difficult to read on darker skin tones. This sheen isn’t as much of an issue on lighter complexions but can blend in with deeper shades of skin making the design hard to decipher.
Red stencil paper is a second option to consider. While it tends to be lighter than other options, the visibility remains clear and consistent. This makes it perfect as it doesn’t muddy up those contour lines and you can really make out all the directional shapes of the shadows.
Finally, let’s talk about actually tattooing for a minute. Always keep in mind ways to ready yourself for the following session; sometimes clients can’t book multiple days consecutively or you have already reserved time for the next day so make sure that before you finish, you make sure you’re leaving things at a nice solid endpoint.
Structuring your major light and shadow shapes can set you up for success. Consider adding a mid-tone gray or darker shade to act as an “underpainting” that will guide you on where the shadows should be placed, what colors need to go in which areas, etc. Doing this not only helps ensure accuracy with your tattoo for next time, but also gives the client something more finished looking when they leave!
In addition, you might consider saving hard outlining just before you complete the tattoo. This offers a great opportunity to decide which parts of the design will be highlighted. Think of the dark black outline as a finishing touch, it gives more emphasis to those features and helps push contrast and draw attention towards the focal points.
Check out our Tattoo Techniques catalog HERE!
And you can find all of the courses we offer HERE!
Realism tattoos have become increasingly popular in recent years, and it’s no surprise why. These hyper-realistic masterpieces capture every detail with stunning accuracy, making them a sought-after choice for body art enthusiasts.
But what is it about these tattoos that draw us in? Is there a deeper meaning behind our desire for realism tattoos? In this blog, we’ll delve into the psychology behind the popularity of realism tattoos in Tucson, AZ, and uncover what drives us to choose hyper-realistic ink.
Realism tattoos often depict things or people with deep personal significance. This can include loved ones, pets, or significant life events that hold special meaning. The hyper-realistic detail helps to capture and honor these special memories.
Here are some examples of what people might choose to memorialize with realism tattoos:
Portraits of family members
Images of pets
Symbols of important life milestones
Scenes from memorable events
These tattoos serve as a constant reminder of what’s important to us. They allow individuals to carry a piece of their personal history on their skin, making the artwork visually stunning and emotionally resonant.
Realism tattoos in Tucson, AZ, allow people to showcase their unique identities and passions. Individuals can create a visual statement about who they are by choosing designs that reflect their interests. For instance, someone who loves nature might opt for a detailed depiction of a forest or a wild animal.
These tattoos also serve as a form of personal branding. They can highlight a person’s beliefs, hobbies, or inspirations. A photo-realistic tattoo of a favorite celebrity or an intricate representation of a meaningful symbol can convey a lot about an individual’s values and experiences.
With the rise of social media, celebrities and public figures frequently showcase their realistic tattoos. This visibility has made the style more mainstream and widely accepted. People see their favorite stars with these hyper-realistic tattoos and want to emulate their looks. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok make sharing tattoo designs and experiences easy, spreading trends quickly.
Realism tattoos have also become a way to connect with contemporary culture. As more individuals opt for these designs, they align themselves with current artistic movements and aesthetics. This form of body art allows people to express their modern identities and stay in tune with popular cultural trends.
For some, getting a realism tattoo can be a therapeutic experience. Planning and getting the tattoo can be a form of healing or closure, especially when the tattoo represents someone they have lost or a traumatic experience they have overcome. Turning pain into art provides a sense of empowerment and control over one’s narrative, which can be vital for emotional recovery.
Realism tattoos offer more than just a beautiful piece of body art. They connect us to our emotions, identity, and culture while providing therapeutic benefits. If you’re considering getting a realism tattoo in Tucson, AZ, contact Grape Ape Tattoo today!
Crystal Rose, new to the industry, has been tattooing for a little over a year. Crystal started and completed her apprenticeship here at No Egrets. She enjoys many styles her favorites are: American traditional, watercolor, black and grey, cartoon themed pieces, Greek mythology, florals, and all types of lettering/ script pieces.
To book an appointment with her go to her Instagram: @Crystal_Rose_Art_
Or email her at: @crystalroseotero@gmail.com
Crystal Rose, new to the industry, has been tattooing for a little over a year. Crystal started and completed her apprenticeship here at No Egrets. She enjoys many styles her favorites are: American traditional, watercolor, black and grey, cartoon themed pieces, Greek mythology, florals, and all types of lettering/ script pieces.
To book an appointment with her go to her Instagram: @Crystal_Rose_Art_
Or email her at: @crystalroseotero@gmail.com
freehand on Walter @nantestattooconvention inspired by ancient Egyptian art…. thanx for the trust…
Maybe “all the gods have abandoned us” but Florian Karg, the owner of ‘Vicious Circle’ in Blaichach (Bavaria/Germany) has never stopped believing strongly in his deeply emotional Dark Horror tattoos…
Florian, one thing I liked about you is that you always had clear ideas about your future, including becoming a tattoo artist. Do you confirm?
Yeah! I became enthusiastic about art and street art at a very young age. In fact, when I was young, I first trained as a farmer. But during that time I quickly realized that I wanted to do art and tattoos and then became self-employed at the age of 18.
How much do you think your art and style have evolved since you opened ‘Vicious Circle’ back in 2004? I mean: does that Florian Karg of twenty years ago still exist in some way?
I’ve always been of the opinion that standing still is death, in every respect. That’s why I always try to develop myself further, but I think I have never lost my dark bloody soul and will never lose it.
‘Vicious Circle Tattoo’ has moved once before, right? You were originally in Weiler im Allgäu, and now you’re in the small town of Blaichach. But your philosophy hasn’t changed: always surrounded by nature and peace…
Blaichach is my birthplace and I always knew that I ‘d come back to my parents’ farm. It took a few years to plan and implement the renovation but now we have the tattoo studio, art gallery, home and farm all in one place (IG: @vicious_circle_tattoo)… and I love it!
Do you think that your tattoos are not only beautiful examples of Black-n-Gray Realism with various references to a dark/horror world, but also deeply emotional?
Well, over the years I have also had a lot of fun with animal tattoos and nature. But dark horror and deep emotional projects are still my favorite and suit me best.
A while back, you said there wasn’t much “craziness” left in the tattoo world. In 2024, do you think everything has been fully normalized, or is there still room for wild creativity?
I think I should take back what I said… Maybe artists back then weren’t as exposed to social media as they are today.
Now, I discover new artists that fascinate me almost every day.
Do you listen to music while you’re working on projects (tattoos, paintings etc)?
I love music and it actually depends on the season. In summer I like to listen to metalcore and in winter it’s more like melodic black metal and deathcore but also a lot of other genres. Bands like As I Lay Dying, Breakdown Of Sanity, Insomnium and Heaven Shall Burn have been with me for a long time.
When it comes to tattoo conventions, do you have a particular one you wish to attend?
Since I don’t go to conventions anymore I don’t have a specific wish, but if I had one wish I would want the ‘London Tattoo Convention’ back.
And what about your tattoo art in general? Do you have any unexpressed projects you’re working on?
I work on great projects every year and try to take a lot of time for each one. I also use the winter time to paint a lot because there is less to do on the farm in winter.
Last question – In the photo that appears on the ‘Vicious Circle’ website (www.vicious-circle.vc) you wearing an Architects black t-shirt that says ‘All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us’ which is also the title of their 2016 album…
Yeah, I can confirm it!
So do you just like the phrase or are you a fan of their music?
I definitely like the band a lot, but I really like the older albums. But the saying on the t-shirt fits wonderfully into today’s times and makes you think…
PUBLISHED IN GERMAN, ITALIAN, FRENCH, ENGLISH AND SPANISH EDITIONS. EVERY YEAR EACH VOLUME SHOWS HUNDREDS OF TATTOO IMAGES AND PRESENTS THE TATTOO SHOPS IN EACH COUNTRY WITH ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.
The post Tattoo Artists Yearbooks: Florian Karg from ‘Vicious Circle’ appeared first on Tattoo Life.
What inspired you to get into tattooing?
When I was younger I did freestyle motor cross and after many broken bones and surgeries it was time to find a new hobby. Ultimately it turned into a career and a passion.
Tell us about how you got started in the industry
I did not have a traditional apprenticeship and unfortunately started a bit later in life at 25. When I first started I was self taught and did not have a mentor in the beginning but over the years and as I became more dedicated I was lucky enough to meet and become friends with some of the top artists in the industry who I still speak to and learn from everyday.
As an artist, its your work limited to the human form or do you also paint, draw, etc as another form of expression?
Unfortunately I’ve limited myself to solely tattooing. I’d love to paint, I have been told my work can be very ‘painterly’ – I’ve tried but my energy is so focused on tattooing and I don’t want to take away from that
What type of tattoo work do you like doing the most?
I stick to doing large colour pieces, more towards the realism style but honestly, I love anything with colour.
Tell us a little about your current style?
I’m still trying to find my style… I’m currently trying to find the balance between that painterly style and full colour hyper realism, focusing on detailed areas along with large areas of smooth blended colours.
Do you find your work attracts a specific type of clientele?
I wouldn’t say I get a specific type of clientele but I’m focusing on my style of the large scale colour pieces and the freedom to design the tattoo.
Any advice for the next generation of artists?
Over the last 15 years I’ve definitely learned many lessons but I think the most important is there is no shortcut to tattooing and anybody can do it, it all comes down to how much time, practice and drive you put into it. I’m not a person with natural art talent but with hard work and dedication you can achieve the same or better results.
What is the weirdest experience you’ve had either in your studio with a client, at a convention etc?
The weirdest… I don’t know, I have a ton of stories but I don’t really consider any of it weird… it’s just life.
What do you like to do when you’re not tattooing?
If I’m not tattooing I take every opportunity to get out on my Harley. During the winter or rainy days I’m mostly at the shop trying to improve my work – or just having beers with friends.
What’s your favorite tattoo, that you’ve done, and why?
I don’t have a specific favourite tattoo but there are many pieces I have favourite areas of.
If you could get tattooed by anyone, who would it be and why?
Other than my first few tattoos that were planned I’ve been tattooed very organically in the moment, personally who tattoos me isn’t as important as where, when and why I get tattooed
Finish this sentence: If I could rule the world for a day I would…
.. Fuck that, I can barely run my own life why would I want to rule the world!
Tell us where to find you online and anything else you want us to know!
You can find me on
IG @traviscadeau
FB Travis Cadeau
email: tcadeautattoos