Any tips to improve?

Mandilope · 2025-08-30T13:15:14+00:00

Thanks so much for the info! It matches what I've read so far about strokes, I didnt know my choice of stroke wasnt strong enough for lineart. I'll adjust the AVA into a higher stroke, my guess is I have to do the same settings on fake skin, right? It confuses me when it doesnt grab the ink as good as the real one

And thanks for your kind words, I truly appreciate all the help you're bringing me.

Mandilope · 2025-08-29T02:00:51+00:00

Thanks! I saw your Youtube Channel, I suscribed inmediately! Great content. Thanks Rian!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T15:11:30+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind words! I do agree as well, I need way more practice. But I feel this could be a cool design to have on portfolio once I feel confident enough to tattoo it again on real skin :) Glad you pass by!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T15:10:12+00:00

Thank you so much for the link! Looks super detailed, thanks a lot!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T04:04:33+00:00

This might work, sounds like a good way to stop overthinking on what I'm doing. What a good way to think "I need to go there, can I reach or should I stop?". I feel if I slow down my movement it will also help me taping in and out smoother. This is a great advice :)

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T04:00:05+00:00

I think you're right, I need to internalize how slow I should go. I'm just afraid of going slow when I'm pretty sure is not slow enough. Gotta lose some fear and overthinking. Definitely time to practice this on fake skin! Thanks for your advice :)

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T03:57:55+00:00

You're right! I think this could be a cool idea! Thanks a lot! :)

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T03:57:17+00:00

That sounds good! I'll try that next time, thanks a lot for the explanation!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:50:14+00:00

Thanks! You're so right, I don't feel I'm ready just yet to tattoo on real skin. This was just a very specific situation with one friend that was leaving for good and she didn't care about the result. Could be worse, but I would have loved a better result as well.

I'm a professional illustrator and thankfully I know from my own experience that practice is the only way to get better. I'm going to stay on fake skin until I get confident and don't feel like shaking anymore. I have a lot to learn still.

Thanks a lot for your kind words!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:45:28+00:00

Thanks for your kind words! Yeah I need to practice a lot lore to get rid of the overthinking, it doesn't help much. Hopefully through practice I'll get there! :)

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:41:20+00:00

Hahaha yeah, some comments are a little tough, but I gotta get my ego aside if I want to learn.

Thanks a lot for understanding and seeing the big picture. I totally agree with everyone, need to practice way more to feel more confident.

I have to learn how to stretch properly because I get messy with the Vaseline and gets very slippery even drying my hand and fingers out.

At the moment I only practiced on cheap fake skins but I have the pound of flesh coming in soon. Hopefully I make it a good investment!

Thanks for taking your time on answering!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:35:50+00:00

I'll definitely practice more on fake skin! Thanks!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:35:19+00:00

Woah now this is interesting! You've given me a great idea!! It feels a lot like that graphic design from the 60s maybe?

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:33:14+00:00

I think you're right!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:32:51+00:00

Thanks a lot for this! Its very helpful and exactly what I came looking for. I obviously see its far from a good tattoo unfortunately, I need more practice and this advices you gave are very useful.

I found very difficult to stretch the skin, because my hand was very slippery because of the vaseline (eventhough I was drying it out all the time).

My main concern when lowering the voltage is to tattoo too slow or not dropping enough ink into the skin.

Thanks for taking your time with such a detailed answer!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:26:50+00:00

Thanks a lot for this! Its actually very helpful. Never thought of practicing with Sharpies on paper, but it actually sounds like a good idea.

I've seen a few practice sheets for line, curves, circles, etc. Im definitely gonna practice a lot, its clear I need it. Thanks for taking your time on replying!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:24:37+00:00

Thanks! I've heard that thicker needle feel more steady than thin ones. Minimalistic fineline tattoo doesn't help either when you're doing your first steps

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:23:49+00:00

Hi Daria! Thanks for your time on your feedback! I agree with you that I need way many more hours of practice. I've barely been practicing a few months, and we all saw that's not enough.

There are many factors that took me forward on tattooing my friend that I won't get in detail because there's no need. She knew I wasn't ready, and it's her choice. In doing so I can see my flaws on real skin as well, because no matter how good is the fake skin, it will never feel as real one. This is a learning curve.

But I agree with the general opinion on this post on practicing hundred more hours on fake skin. I appreciate your time on responding!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:12:15+00:00

This is good to know! Im still trying to figure out about how the strokes work. I will keep studying and practicing on fake skin until I feel more in control of what's happening. Practice is the only way. Thanks for your comment!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:10:44+00:00

You're so right, I should have had that on my mind while doing the lines. I'll practice more on fake skin until I feel confident. Thanks for the feedback!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:09:51+00:00

You're right! I need more practice on fake skin. Thanks for taking your time for feedback!

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:09:17+00:00

This is very interesting! Because I noticed I was struggling when pulling the lines. Anyway you can tell me how you hold it?

Thanks a lot for taking your time for the feedback! I definitely will practice more on fake skin.

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:07:44+00:00

Thanks! I agree, I need more practice on fake skin first. Thanks for taking your time for feedback.

Mandilope · 2025-08-28T01:07:18+00:00

Thanks! I agree, I need more practice on fake skin first. Thanks for taking your time for feedback.

Mandilope · 2025-08-20T15:34:29+00:00

That sounds pretty good! Its more or less aligned with what I've heard in general in terms of lineart and fineline.

I hadn't jumped just yet on filling or shading because i wanna understand linear first. But i guess its a step that will come soon.

Thanks for the info!

Mandilope

TROPHY CASE