Cheers from a crossed the pond mate. In my experience tattooing in the beginning I had far more questions than answers and more often than not when I asked people I'd get a snap 'get an apprenticeship' response instead of any kind of artistic knowledge in return. Its nice to see someone taking the time to share some basic artistry. Keep it up sir.
The amount of people whining about light sources actually make me want to laugh. This is a tattoo design, not realism. Look at the harshness of the roses lines and how he mentioned not to shade the edges so the rose keeps its overall shape. Don't try schooling someone based off a single image. Tattooing is often about stylization not just realism. That's why he put "Techniques For Tattoo Designs" It's not how to draw a rose, it's how to draw this /style/ of rose.
Besides tradional, every single tattoo is gonna incorporate light sources you idiot lol. New school, realism, black and grey etc. all incorporate light sourcing, or else your tattoo will not make any sense when it's looked at.
Finally a video that someone knows how to explain simple details with shading. More ppl show how to do while tattooing it then just simply explain it then show how to do it like this guy. Simple and easy! Ppl always have to be technical. Good video bro
Thank you for making these videos tutorial! I am not a tattoorist but i got obsessed about tattoo. I am a fashion student and i draw only fashion sketch and your tutorials help me designing the textiles so much! Thanks again! 3
Great tips man! I just started tattooing but I've been painting and using color pencil my whole life. This video really helped me to understand traditional tattoo style shading. Thanks, -Jo Van
"light source" lol. I am a professional concept artist and I say fuck light source for tattoos. Design work doesn't always need accurate lighting, but lighting that complements the design. Save "light sources" for realism or portraiture because accurate light sources in design looks like shit 90% of the time. Light behaves a certain way with no regard for design. Why do you think so many logos and graphic designs don't have any shading?
Great videos mate!!! I just got back into art after a loooong hiatus and as a tattoo lover I've tried to head down the flash route to get myself started again. The tips on shading and which materials to use have been great as I only ever used pencils when I was a kid. I've only just discovered your channel and I'm now subscribed. Keep up the good work!!! Cheers!!
You are so amazing and inspiring! I've been a drawing artist all my life, and I knew I needed to have a job where I could use my creativity and my hands, so I chose hairdressing. Unfortunately I ged BAD allergic reactions from the chemicals and hairproducts, so I'm just getting into tattoing instead. Your videos are so helpful, and you explain everything really good. The world needs more artists like you :)
Hey, I've been watching your UA-cam videos for ages now and have wanted to be a tattoo artist for all my life. Drawing was my escape and tattoos are my passion so I think it works :) I'm 14, and just wanted you to know how inspiring you are and how much you have influenced me! -Alex J
I tried scanning through your videos to make sure you hadn't posted one like this already so sorry if I missed it but I would love to see a video of you listing each type of tattoo style with examples of the types of elements they incorporate. Or if you knew of any existing videos or articles or other tools that help you like this, I would love to know about what you find most helpful. thanks so much for reading!
light source is important if your going to sell or do professional art, but if your just drawing then it really doesn't matter, but for a finished drawing light source helps you get the lights, darks and grays when drawing. it takes allot of practice, to some it just comes easy. if you are wanting to get spot on with shading having a light source helps.
+Jordan Melnychuk , I know that shading tattoos is different than fine art. I was just responding to the comments. I wasn't saying anything bad about your video or your shading. I think your video was very helpful and great. sorry for the confusion
Mate carpet inspires me to draw I'm not even joking haha...I was in a pub on Wednesday and you know those weird patterned carpets they have to hide all the beer stains? Made me feel nostalgic and want to draw some traditional patterns! If you want to get inspired just google some stuff and something will catch your eye and get the creative juices flowing...always works for me!
Keep up the great work, dude!! Respect to those who pass knowledge on. If that were not the case, progression would slow tremendously. What you're doing here is important, especially to those of us who find that sharing techniques are a building block of progression of the art and craft of tattooing overall. To the haters, just stop drawing then, or flip your BS elsewhere. People who share what they love, and are nice enough to do it, don't need your troll spew.
great job. first don't let the negitive comments get to you. so many commenting are forgetting that these flowers are FLASH it's completely up to the ARTIST what looks good where. it's literally from the imagination of the artist. an should someone like it....yayyy. if not they may find something else that they like. you are talanted an thank you for the vid.
I really like the flower tutorials you did I found them super useful, I would really love to see one with more animals (maybe deer) or ships. Those are just things I see a lot and would love to learn how to draw/color them.
Hi there, I love your videos! I was wondering what medium you would suggest for a tattoo apprentice portfolio? I heard in the video you say that you would then paint this. Is that the norm? I would like to create mine with lots of color and shading but not sure what medium I should use :) thanks so much for the amazing videos!
I like your video. it did help me out a lot. tattoo art is a art of its own. I drawn all my life like realism but this is some what different. I like it looks great. drawing on skin is so different from a canvas.
All your videos kill man. I enjoy all of them. I was wondering if you could do a little tutorial on spit shading with watercolors. One thing I really struggle with is shading with watercolors
I know this doesn't really relate to this video but what age would you recommend going into a tattoo apprenticeship? I'm 16 I finish from school in a couple of months an thinking of getting an apprenticeship but is there any point starting early considering you have to be 18 to tattoo?
great video, but can you possibly make a longer video on your how to's. I know you could have done better on the shading it was helpful but not on the aspect of portrait shading. I may be mistaken but I thought this video was thee. do you have any portrait shading how to's, meaning do you have any sophisticated shading tutorials........?
I've just started to draw and so far your videos has been very helpful. I tried a bit on my own, but when the result is bad, the motivation kinda drops. So thanks a lot, you're doing great work in motivating me again. :)
Hey man! Great video, it helped me a lot! But I've got a problem with shading when I use copic markers. Every time I switch to a lighter colour ( I use only black and gray ) you can clearly see the border between em. You know what I mean? How do I get rid of it? Help!
If all the negative people already know everything, then why are they looking up tutorial videos? If I knew everything I wouldn't be on here, lol. Thanks for the video! The accent helps me learn! ;)
Light source? Dafuq people trolling over a light source. He's shading fuckin traditional. Look at Sailor Jerry and Owen Jensen's roses and tell me there's a fuckin light source. Cut this guy some slack. He knows what he's doing.
lol wtf are u talking about? Light sources are very much used for tattoos just like they are for drawings. Maybe not traditional tattoos, but everything else yes.
In animation and illustration, the use of a non-photo blue pencil is standard. The reason is that the pencil will not be picked up when scanned/photocopied. Also, it is far easier to do a rough sketch with a lighter color(red), do refining in a darker or contrasting color(blue), and then the final linework in black. This makes it far easier to keep track, as when all your rough sketch lines are the same color it tends to make it more chaotic to refine and keep track of which lines you want to keep and which need to be removed.
I only use these mate so I can't really recommend anything. The thicker pens do tend to bleed into the paper especially when you stain it so...maybe try google searching it I'm sure there will be something out there
Hey graham, videos are the shit. You teach some really good techniques. I was wondering if you could recommend a good thick lining market/pen. I tried the zig mellinium but they aren't quite the thickness I want, an sharpies tend to blew to much. I see some people use fountain. Any suggestions?
me gustan tus videos pero no soy un profesional del ingles seria genial que tubieran sub al español mucha gente de america latina te lo agradeceria saludos desde chile
varialheelz tattoo art breaks some of the rules to achieve art that has to withstand the wearers lifelong abuse to the tattoo. plus, we are to know our history of the profession and are asked to recreate some of the timeless designs by some of the worlds best artists. so, even though it doesn't look like everything else, it looks bad ass on the wearer.
Nick Trammell I dont dispute that. But listen to dude explain why he applies the shading to areas.. He doesnt say anything about that either. Ive been tattooing for 12 years, and althouf=gh thats not THAT long, its long enough to have grafted and done years of traditional.. I just wonder why none of what i mentioned before applies..
congratulations on your long tattoo career. I think it's important to study all art and even see art in everything around. I like this guy's work so his explanation is really just insight to how he's looking at the blank paper. I appreciate it.
You DO need a light source for creating traditional tattoo designs. Most traditional roses the light comes from basically the front/ top. Even though traditional is kinda funky and cartoony it IS based on real images and should be drawn/ shaded as such. Best advice I received for drawing subjects in a traditional style is to look at a real picture of it. Traditional just hard lines all the shapes and uses bold contrast and shading. Simplifies the image to be graphic and readable when translated to tattooing.
i agree with zombie but i think GD is just doing a different style. i personally would like realistic but it may look weird on the skin. not using a light source may look better as a tattoo but obviously no at regular art
I'm an apprentice been studying traditional for a couple years. the way the rose is shaded is still based on realism. the black towards the inside of the petal where the light doesnt reach. and leaving in open on the edges to create the illusion of a highlight.
7 years later and this video was a great help! Thank you my guy!
Cheers from a crossed the pond mate. In my experience tattooing in the beginning I had far more questions than answers and more often than not when I asked people I'd get a snap 'get an apprenticeship' response instead of any kind of artistic knowledge in return. Its nice to see someone taking the time to share some basic artistry. Keep it up sir.
No worries glad to help whoever might find the videos useful!
The amount of people whining about light sources actually make me want to laugh. This is a tattoo design, not realism. Look at the harshness of the roses lines and how he mentioned not to shade the edges so the rose keeps its overall shape. Don't try schooling someone based off a single image. Tattooing is often about stylization not just realism. That's why he put "Techniques For Tattoo Designs" It's not how to draw a rose, it's how to draw this /style/ of rose.
Besides tradional, every single tattoo is gonna incorporate light sources you idiot lol. New school, realism, black and grey etc. all incorporate light sourcing, or else your tattoo will not make any sense when it's looked at.
Agreed. Couldnt of said it better
Who tf were you even arguing with 7 years ago? I don’t see anyone “whining” or disagreeing.
Great job dude. Ive been tattooing about a year now, but its always good to keep the basics fresh in the mind.
Cheers!
Finally a video that someone knows how to explain simple details with shading. More ppl show how to do while tattooing it then just simply explain it then show how to do it like this guy. Simple and easy! Ppl always have to be technical. Good video bro
Thank you so much for this lovely tutorial. I adore roses and struggled to draw them. Your tutorial helped more than you will ever know.
Getting me trough quarantine with some art therapy ♥️ thanks!
I love how I’m just finding this video and you’re at 59k now 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
Thank you for making these videos tutorial! I am not a tattoorist but i got obsessed about tattoo. I am a fashion student and i draw only fashion sketch and your tutorials help me designing the textiles so much! Thanks again! 3
Great tips man! I just started tattooing but I've been painting and using color pencil my whole life. This video really helped me to understand traditional tattoo style shading. Thanks, -Jo Van
No worries glad to help!
i'm having trouble getting everything symmetrical when drawing the petals and the weird heart shaped petals in the middle. just practice i guess.
"light source" lol. I am a professional concept artist and I say fuck light source for tattoos. Design work doesn't always need accurate lighting, but lighting that complements the design. Save "light sources" for realism or portraiture because accurate light sources in design looks like shit 90% of the time. Light behaves a certain way with no regard for design. Why do you think so many logos and graphic designs don't have any shading?
Great videos mate!!! I just got back into art after a loooong hiatus and as a tattoo lover I've tried to head down the flash route to get myself started again. The tips on shading and which materials to use have been great as I only ever used pencils when I was a kid. I've only just discovered your channel and I'm now subscribed. Keep up the good work!!! Cheers!!
Good stuff thanks for subscribing!
You are so amazing and inspiring! I've been a drawing artist all my life, and I knew I needed to have a job where I could use my creativity and my hands, so I chose hairdressing. Unfortunately I ged BAD allergic reactions from the chemicals and hairproducts, so I'm just getting into tattoing instead. Your videos are so helpful, and you explain everything really good. The world needs more artists like you :)
Ah thanks :) There is a lot of chemicals involved in tattooing too just so you know
Yeah, but I can wear gloves :) It's hard to do hair with glowes on ^^
Good point...well made!
:D
Find high quality tattoo designs here: *CoolTattoo . info*
Hey, I've been watching your UA-cam videos for ages now and have wanted to be a tattoo artist for all my life. Drawing was my escape and tattoos are my passion so I think it works :) I'm 14, and just wanted you to know how inspiring you are and how much you have influenced me!
-Alex J
hey its been 7 years, did you become a tattoo artist?
I tried scanning through your videos to make sure you hadn't posted one like this already so sorry if I missed it but I would love to see a video of you listing each type of tattoo style with examples of the types of elements they incorporate.
Or if you knew of any existing videos or articles or other tools that help you like this, I would love to know about what you find most helpful.
thanks so much for reading!
Old School/Traditional is truly my favourite style of tattooing. It's why I've chosen to have my entire left arm as a Traditional sleeve.
light source is important if your going to sell or do professional art, but if your just drawing then it really doesn't matter, but for a finished drawing light source helps you get the lights, darks and grays when drawing. it takes allot of practice, to some it just comes easy. if you are wanting to get spot on with shading having a light source helps.
its traditional flash tattoos and not fine art.
+Jordan Melnychuk , I know that shading tattoos is different than fine art. I was just responding to the comments. I wasn't saying anything bad about your video or your shading. I think your video was very helpful and great. sorry for the confusion
I think the best traditional flash artist out there good work man love it and some more flash drawings would be great thanks
Ah thanks!
Mate carpet inspires me to draw I'm not even joking haha...I was in a pub on Wednesday and you know those weird patterned carpets they have to hide all the beer stains? Made me feel nostalgic and want to draw some traditional patterns! If you want to get inspired just google some stuff and something will catch your eye and get the creative juices flowing...always works for me!
Obrigado, eu estou feliz em ajudar!
Keep up the great work, dude!! Respect to those who pass knowledge on. If that were not the case, progression would slow tremendously. What you're doing here is important, especially to those of us who find that sharing techniques are a building block of progression of the art and craft of tattooing overall. To the haters, just stop drawing then, or flip your BS elsewhere. People who share what they love, and are nice enough to do it, don't need your troll spew.
I finally found a useful video ! thank you so much
great job. first don't let the negitive comments get to you. so many commenting are forgetting that these flowers are FLASH it's completely up to the ARTIST what looks good where. it's literally from the imagination of the artist. an should someone like it....yayyy. if not they may find something else that they like. you are talanted an thank you for the vid.
I really like the flower tutorials you did I found them super useful, I would really love to see one with more animals (maybe deer) or ships. Those are just things I see a lot and would love to learn how to draw/color them.
Hi there, I love your videos! I was wondering what medium you would suggest for a tattoo apprentice portfolio? I heard in the video you say that you would then paint this. Is that the norm? I would like to create mine with lots of color and shading but not sure what medium I should use :) thanks so much for the amazing videos!
you're so awesome, i don't know how you aren't famous yet
I like your video. it did help me out a lot. tattoo art is a art of its own. I drawn all my life like realism but this is some what different. I like it looks great. drawing on skin is so different from a canvas.
All your videos kill man. I enjoy all of them. I was wondering if you could do a little tutorial on spit shading with watercolors. One thing I really struggle with is shading with watercolors
I know this doesn't really relate to this video but what age would you recommend going into a tattoo apprenticeship? I'm 16 I finish from school in a couple of months an thinking of getting an apprenticeship but is there any point starting early considering you have to be 18 to tattoo?
At last! Good man, thanks Grahame. Real helpful.
Amazing drawing
Liked. What type of pencil did you use for shading?
wow thank my stars for finally finding a channel like this one!
great video, but can you possibly make a longer video on your how to's. I know you could have done better on the shading it was helpful but not on the aspect of portrait shading. I may be mistaken but I thought this video was thee. do you have any portrait shading how to's, meaning do you have any sophisticated shading tutorials........?
thanks for the vid mate! The art snobs always made me draw a sun and trace with a ruler the shadow castings. So godamn methodical!
Thanks . I was stuck on shading wen tattooing. U helped alott
I've just started to draw and so far your videos has been very helpful.
I tried a bit on my own, but when the result is bad, the motivation kinda drops.
So thanks a lot, you're doing great work in motivating me again. :)
Awesome glad to help
I honestly never thought of it like that, I have always went by working out my light sauce first. But I think that looks good
Yeah I was thinking about doing some tall ships at some point actually, no worries mate I'm glad to help!
Hey man! Great video, it helped me a lot! But I've got a problem with shading when I use copic markers. Every time I switch to a lighter colour ( I use only black and gray ) you can clearly see the border between em. You know what I mean? How do I get rid of it? Help!
Get the color blending marker. it's the magic one.
It costs just as much as the colors, but it says "clear/colorblending"
You use it on the parts you want to blend
If all the negative people already know everything, then why are they looking up tutorial videos? If I knew everything I wouldn't be on here, lol. Thanks for the video! The accent helps me learn! ;)
Light source? Dafuq people trolling over a light source. He's shading fuckin traditional. Look at Sailor Jerry and Owen Jensen's roses and tell me there's a fuckin light source. Cut this guy some slack. He knows what he's doing.
Wow!! Liked. Yeah light source is not for tattoos. What pencil did you use for shading?
lol wtf are u talking about? Light sources are very much used for tattoos just like they are for drawings. Maybe not traditional tattoos, but everything else yes.
+Nick889999 yes, for traditional tattoos
+Dennis Bolotaolo l
Great videos very informative and well put together i enjoy watching them.
keep up the good work
cheers from California
Thanks for teaching me how to draw roses! Subscribed and liked. I would love more drawing videos.
Sup man, love your work. Any chance you can upload a tutorial on drawing old school style dragons? Cheers man
I will do at some point yeah! Just getting the time to do it
Liked and subscribed to you. This was extremely helpful, thank you
could you help us out with drawing traditional boats? i also just want to say thank you for putting out these videos. i really do appreciate it :)
I've seen line work that incorporates the use of blue and red pencils.. is there a reason for that or am I just looking way to into it?
In animation and illustration, the use of a non-photo blue pencil is standard. The reason is that the pencil will not be picked up when scanned/photocopied. Also, it is far easier to do a rough sketch with a lighter color(red), do refining in a darker or contrasting color(blue), and then the final linework in black. This makes it far easier to keep track, as when all your rough sketch lines are the same color it tends to make it more chaotic to refine and keep track of which lines you want to keep and which need to be removed.
Do you have any advice on where i should begin as a person who wants to learn how to become a tattoo artist? Im not very good at drawing either but
Thanks for this dude. You da best man!
No worries mate cheers!
I only use these mate so I can't really recommend anything. The thicker pens do tend to bleed into the paper especially when you stain it so...maybe try google searching it I'm sure there will be something out there
Hey graham, videos are the shit. You teach some really good techniques. I was wondering if you could recommend a good thick lining market/pen. I tried the zig mellinium but they aren't quite the thickness I want, an sharpies tend to blew to much. I see some people use fountain. Any suggestions?
No worries!
No worries mate!
Good man that's what I like to hear!
Кайф, спасибо чувак! I love it
I'm going to be doing videos using acrylic based inks soon so that will be pretty similar, I don't use watercolours though as they aren't permanent
hello your videos really help me a lot and I was wondering if I was able to email you some questions ? :)
What got you started with the industry??
such an old video but very helpful 🌹
Glad I found this channel
Thanks A 1000! Was stuck on contrast concept this helped so much.
Thank you, Great Tutorial!
Cheers mate!
Thanks for this video!!!
what kind of paper do you use?
thank you 💚
god bless you :) this is beautiful!!
Yeah sod that...old school is just fun you can do what you want without having to worry about the boring crap!
I feel the same way about shading.
are you painting razors
hi what colour pen a re you u sin g ？
Aw thanks :)
you are amazing!
ما شاء اللہ
Well then it sounds like new-school would be your thing then. Seen some real impressive stuff in that style
im real good with cartoon/graffiti drawings but not good with realistic detail but i be thinking of getting in tattooing
How do you shade the fourth flower?
Thanks! :)
Thanks man
Thank you.
Amaizing
me gustan tus videos pero no soy un profesional del ingles seria genial que tubieran sub al español mucha gente de america latina te lo agradeceria saludos desde chile
Sweet !
Cheers!
Do you have any advice on where i shiuld
muito bom! obrigado, pelas dicas :)
Thank you.
Duh.. Source of light? Overlapping and shadows?
varialheelz tattoo art breaks some of the rules to achieve art that has to withstand the wearers lifelong abuse to the tattoo. plus, we are to know our history of the profession and are asked to recreate some of the timeless designs by some of the worlds best artists. so, even though it doesn't look like everything else, it looks bad ass on the wearer.
...Youre not telling me anything I dont already know man.. I just noticed there was no technique applied at all.
Nick Trammell I dont dispute that. But listen to dude explain why he applies the shading to areas.. He doesnt say anything about that either. Ive been tattooing for 12 years, and althouf=gh thats not THAT long, its long enough to have grafted and done years of traditional.. I just wonder why none of what i mentioned before applies..
congratulations on your long tattoo career. I think it's important to study all art and even see art in everything around. I like this guy's work so his explanation is really just insight to how he's looking at the blank paper. I appreciate it.
always helps...
nice tip
Thanks
Nice
People, where are your manners?
Rude and nasty comments...
First things first...practice your drawing skills mate get good then think about getting into tattooing
@Lou9110
@louspeck
What’s up you thief?? Going to pay me my 12 dollars or sending me my Mike trout card??
What about your light source?....and the subtle curves on the petals?All of this will govern the shading...
i know that sucks about being an amature artist
dumbass
oh go fuck yourselfs
But where is your light source supposed to be?
You don't need a light source for this style
You DO need a light source for creating traditional tattoo designs. Most traditional roses the light comes from basically the front/ top. Even though traditional is kinda funky and cartoony it IS based on real images and should be drawn/ shaded as such. Best advice I received for drawing subjects in a traditional style is to look at a real picture of it. Traditional just hard lines all the shapes and uses bold contrast and shading. Simplifies the image to be graphic and readable when translated to tattooing.
i agree with zombie but i think GD is just doing a different style. i personally would like realistic but it may look weird on the skin. not using a light source may look better as a tattoo but obviously no at regular art
OR we can just say the light source is underneath the flowers and the transparency of the flower will make the shading. Hmmmm.....
I'm an apprentice been studying traditional for a couple years. the way the rose is shaded is still based on realism. the black towards the inside of the petal where the light doesnt reach. and leaving in open on the edges to create the illusion of a highlight.