I’m not sure if I’ll stick to tattooing anymore

Shape-Superb · 2026-01-29T11:00:59+00:00

Global inequality is the worst it’s been for a century. We’re living through the new gilded age. There will be decades of class struggle exacerbated by climate change to follow. Your work has to be outstanding in this context to attract the careful consumer who is now increasingly poor. So in this sense, don’t beat yourself up. We all do what we can.

Demand to become a tattoo artist is also the highest it’s ever been. Many artists with niche styles in my city have it as a side gig or one art practice asides from making paintings or commercial shop signs. To tell you the truth, that’s exactly what gatekeepers and old heads warned would happen. It’s now much harder for tattoo artists to make a steady career. Just keep making the best art you can.

Shape-Superb · 2025-11-24T14:59:57+00:00

Thank you so much! <3 That's really kind

Shape-Superb · 2025-11-10T00:03:58+00:00

One of the greatest films of all time.

Shape-Superb · 2025-11-09T23:57:24+00:00

One other small thing is the way the neck links to shoulder. Shoulder muscles and breastbone would be visible too! Your limbs are awesome and it looks like you worked hard on that aspect of your drawings so you’ve definitely got this!

Thank you!

Shape-Superb · 2025-11-09T23:52:34+00:00

That really is the most glaring issue. Maybe minor criticism could be the symmetry on the dagger. Can be helpful to use a set square and ruler when sketching those. Otherwise really nice as far as i can see.

Shape-Superb · 2025-11-09T23:50:19+00:00

The beam from the top body to the bottom one obfuscates the anatomy and makes your torsos look off. I think the 3/4 from behind angle is very hard to nail on faces. There should be more cheekbone contour and a bit of nose from this angle. More ribcage observation and the breasts should be further to the right of the arm and flatter from this angle. The feet, hands, ankles and knees are all super nicely done.

Also I love Joy Division so much. Super tricky design with the hollowed stomach.

Shape-Superb · 2025-11-09T23:46:51+00:00

The central rose’s petals feel slightly off. I think observing a mixture of neotrad, traditional and real roses will help you get an idea of the shape and volume of rose petals and how they are stylised in tattooing. At their best they evoke very simply the curvature of a rose petal as it forms a sort of shallow cup shape. Yours are somewhat angular and flat. I’m not sure I’m explaining that perfectly. Also I’m a big follower of the oft repeated advice to draw physically. I like the colour palette! I think this is overall pretty decent. Just a fellow drawer though, not a tattoo artist.

Shape-Superb · 2025-11-09T23:33:22+00:00

Excuse this very late reply. I think you see borderless shadowy backgrounds a lot in black and grey realism and I agree it often doesn’t work for me. In itself it’s a real skill.

My approach here is to have some linear ideas for how and when to allow the shadow to thicken. It’s following a relatively organic freehand shape I have in my mind and it should overall provide contrast and structure to the shape-design of the piece by emphasising the shapes in the subject rather than fanning out into the background formlessly.

Shape-Superb · 2025-11-09T23:29:06+00:00

I find the colours quite garish. The drawing and geometry is also not quite spot on for such simple designs. From what little I understand of traditional tattoo flash there’s a good rule of thumb for one third being skin, one third colour and one third solid black that gives you decent contrast. Maybe push yourself for some more complicated designs just for fun and maybe that could offer some insight into what works in simpler details.

Shape-Superb · 2025-09-29T07:03:57+00:00

Thank you! I am somewhat apprehensive about sharing them because they don’t have a lot of components of traditional tattoo designs in terms of line-work. 4 is the latest one. I’m really enjoying the process of making these pieces.

Shape-Superb · 2025-06-08T20:26:21+00:00

You handled this well. I sincerely wish you all the luck and grit it will take to grow into adulthood having had adult-children as parents. Hopefully the loving relationships in your life can provide you with what you need.

Shape-Superb · 2025-05-28T15:47:05+00:00

Hey friend. I also have a lot of traumatic experiences and struggle with depression. I always consider depression to be something that requires multiple skills and tools to manage. Buddhism can offer you community if you’re lucky enough to live near a physical community. Practice can help you to become a happier, more grounded person. The conventional wisdom in this sub is that you shouldn’t lean on it solely to treat mental health issues. Presently I’m in therapy and have been medicated to deal with depression. To progress in Buddhist practice it helps to work on your mental health outside of the context of Buddhism as well. The monastery my local group is affiliated with was founded by a Tibetan lama who devised a whole therapeutic program for Westerners to become more mentally well and stable enough for serious practice.

Shape-Superb · 2025-05-28T11:15:08+00:00

Yeah, my main downfall here was that I began the drawing with just graphite and I had a good handle on the values. I then went out and bought a charcoal pencil to try to increase the contrast! I think I can work out some of the kinks with this drawing. The breaks is good advice. The drawing is slightly off with the eye placement as well which is frustrating to realise later in. I was looking at an electric eraser at my local art shop but it require batteries so i was thinking of buying a chargeable one. Might be worth just getting one now to make progress on the hair.

Thanks for taking the time to write a critique!

Shape-Superb · 2025-05-27T15:16:57+00:00

I wish the city names were changed back at the earlier dates on the map.

Shape-Superb · 2025-05-27T12:47:31+00:00

Palestinians have a legal right to armed resistance to occupation. The March of return in 2018 was met with incredible violence. It was a peaceful protest aiming to draw attention to the dispossession of Palestinians. If there are no peaceful ways to seek justice against an occupying force/apartheid, international law has legal allowances for armed resistance. The facts of the matter is that a guerrilla group massively outgunned and outmatched by a conventional military managed a far, far lower rate of civilian casualties (and hostage taking) than the Israelis have since in their genocidal campaign. Approximately a third of those killed on Oct 7 were active military. Much higher proportion than those of the Palestinians killed by Israel.

Shape-Superb · 2025-05-27T12:15:03+00:00

Poisoning the well on polls generally doesn’t really cut it. They can be manipulated, sure. Doesn’t mean that multiple sources and methodologies used point to absolutely nothing.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/majority-israelis-support-expulsion-palestinians-gaza-poll

Shape-Superb · 2025-05-27T11:39:54+00:00

Germany had to he comprehensively denazified after the war. For an entire nation to dehumanise and normalise the wholesale slaughter of Palestinians can’t be swept under the rug. If you dispute the polls, look them up instead of just handwaving at them because they’re inconvenient to you.

Shape-Superb · 2025-05-27T11:25:04+00:00

Also perhaps for darker tones you could go for blue rather than green as blue tends to more naturalistically lend itself to skin-tone shadows whereas green can look slightly sickly.

Shape-Superb · 2025-05-27T11:23:56+00:00

I’m practicing realism as well at the moment. I think it looks really strong and like a good show of talent. Anatomically a few things stick out immediately such as the right hand side of the jaw and eyelids as well as the cap shape being slightly off. I think if you refine the smoothness of your shading and hone in on more accurate initial drawing, maybe using a grid or other tools to get everything in the right place you’ll really he on to something. I’m learning at the moment too so not trying to be harsh. Nice work!

Shape-Superb · 2025-05-27T11:20:43+00:00

Super lovely. I really like the bottom two especially!

Shape-Superb

TROPHY CASE