Why Line With a Shader? | Fireside Technique |

As tattooers sometimes we forget that a tattoo machine is simply a tool which can make a variety of interesting marks. In this episode, instead of following the convention and using a regular liner to pull lines, we explore the idea of using a magnum to create lines. Trying this approach for a tattoo provides a much different look as well as adding new possibilities and tricks to your existing toolkit.

Taking A More Painterly Approach to the Tattoo

I tend to start a lot of my large scale work with a loose marker drawing, I find it more efficient and a lot faster… its just a more natural way for me to 

–  Jake Meeks

Starting with a Loose Marker Drawing

So when it comes to large, flowing, organic work I like to start with a loose marker drawing. It allows me to be quicker in my approach of laying down shapes on the skin in a much more natural way. As I’m blocking in the shapes, I focus more on sculpting the dark and light values rather than focusing on making clean, defined line-work.

Even though some of these lines look halfway solid, they’re really kinda soft at the edges… It looks like a rough charcoal drawing.

– Jake Meeks

Here we are on the first pass. The important part here when working with a magnum is to block in your darks and lights. You want to address any problems or questions the values bring up in this stage so that when you’re adding color later it easily flows in place. The goal is to get a rough value study down, leaving your edges soft and a little loose, similar to a charcoal drawing.

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Why Line With a Shader? | Fireside Technique

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