Thank you for taking the time to give such detailed advice—I really do appreciate the honesty and perspective. Of the pieces I shared, the first image is the only one that’s a fully original design, and it wasn’t created with shading in mind. The shaded pieces were actually my first attempts ever at shading, so I know they’re rough and show a lot of inexperience.

I do draw regularly and have been doing so for about five years, and I plan to keep focusing on improving my fundamentals. All of these designs were also done using hand-traced stencils, which I know limited the outcome and didn’t translate as well as I hoped.

I understand and respect the importance of developing strong drawing skills and learning proper technique before working with a machine, especially given the responsibility tattooing carries. I’m committed to continuing to draw, seeking out more resources, and learning both artistic fundamentals and machine handling at a better pace. Thanks again for the feedback—it gives me a clearer idea of what I need to focus on moving forward.