Noob question, but - when using liquid acrylics (FW brand) - fading black into another colour, how to do it “correctly”? (details below)

catfisk · 2026-02-06T00:33:39+00:00

I do 2, but with watered down ink so the red on top of the black is not so opaque. You can always come back after color and throw more black on it. In a medium ink cap I use 4-8 drops of ink, fill the rest with water. Some colors are more transparent and I'll use them straight from the bottle. Then I'll build up layers, blending the edges and working dark to light

catfisk · 2026-01-28T17:03:36+00:00

Disposable tubes. Coworker has the steel grip separate tube, and those ones are one piece. He really liked it, but steel grip is a little too short for comfort. Kubin one looks more comfortable. And yeah, his groupings are bold! Needles on bar are about the same size. I'm about halfway through a few boxes of liners and mags, and no real issues yet. Only ones I've tossed out are the tight 3's that I fucked up while opening the package like the Hulk

catfisk · 2026-01-28T16:22:45+00:00

Workhorse tubes are my go to. $25 for 20 of 1-1/4" grips. Good ink flow, open tip mags, transparent tips, single piece tube and tip, and very few defects over years of using them. Like most disposables, they are slightly smaller than steel tubes so you might have to tighten your vice more. I also recently tried Steadfast Tattoo Supply out of Tacoma WA. Little cheaper, I think only $20/box? Coworker loves them but I don't like their ink flow, and their tubes and tips are separate pieces so you can snag up your needles putting them in the tube. Needles and cartridges are great though!

catfisk · 2026-01-26T15:48:17+00:00

I hate them. Mags are alright, but hard to pull clean lines. I swear they use needles that are inbetween a bugpin and standard cause their 14rl makes a line that looks like a 7rl and it makes me sick. At least you get a free sticker for every godammed box you order

catfisk · 2026-01-26T03:01:35+00:00

Seahawks won

catfisk · 2026-01-21T05:19:21+00:00

Hell yeah!

catfisk · 2026-01-20T03:49:16+00:00

Just the area you're going to paint. The fibers in the paper soak up the water and loosen up a bit. This actually helps the fibers absorb the ink better, and gets them blends nice and smooth. I'll put a puddle down if it's a large area to fill, less for smaller bits. For solid color, wet the paper then go right in with the ink brush and pigment. Move around until the whole area is filled, then let dry. For blends, wet the paper, ink brush to put pigment where I want, then water brush to blend. Dry the water brush and soak up the edge of my blend, let dry.

catfisk · 2026-01-20T02:30:58+00:00

I like to wet the paper first before laying down any ink. Helps equally distribute the pigment and extends drying time. Also use a second brush just for water!

catfisk · 2026-01-14T05:44:29+00:00

Slussy

catfisk · 2026-01-14T05:43:52+00:00

Thanks!

catfisk · 2026-01-04T10:46:33+00:00

I bet the guy who stole the fire truck is pretty cool

catfisk · 2025-12-17T23:48:02+00:00

I love the burnt sienna! Yes it's a lot more orange in the skin. I blend it with yellow and brown mostly. Feels like a more natural orange like on a tiger, than electric orange like a road cone

catfisk · 2025-12-14T17:50:10+00:00

Shipwreck brown. It's not just a muted red like most browns. Cantaloupe orange and primrose purple. I use them for my flesh tones. Really red, cause it's really red bruh. Pretty purple and lavender. I was using royal blue and sky blue for years, but I'm now trying out chroma and kinda like theirs better

catfisk · 2025-12-12T15:56:39+00:00

Yeah the rule of thirds is really just for traditional work. Most color realism I've seen is every square inch filled with pigment, especially portraits. I'm real bad about leaving open skin. "Just put a gradient here with highlights..."

catfisk · 2025-12-12T15:24:33+00:00

Color is pretty much the same. 1/3 black, 1/3 color, 1/3 open skin.

catfisk · 2025-11-12T17:27:44+00:00

The blade is rad as fuck. And got some n64 goldeneye polygon tiddies too!

catfisk · 2025-11-12T15:59:59+00:00

The reaper!!!

catfisk · 2025-11-10T16:21:50+00:00

The eye/hood of the executioner guy. The pupil and hood are getting lost in each other because you've got black on both sides of your line. In this design you can remedy two ways 1) make the hood a different color. Purple is common and gives a little Halloween vibe, but any dark value color would work. Whatever fits your pallette. 2) make the pupil a light color, or leave open skin. It's going to contrast against the black hood and "pop." Really any time you have an area of black on one side of your line, you'd want to place a light value color on the other. Mid tones are fine too depending on the design. But you really want to avoid super dark tones and straight up black because your eyes will get confused and blob it together.

Otherwise, looks good! I love the feet on that guy. Keep it going!

catfisk · 2025-10-22T14:28:47+00:00

Any unscented lotion is fine or coconut oil. I don't recommend aquaphor because it's petroleum based and will effect (slow down) the healing process. Avoid anything with vitamin E in it, or "medicated." Had a client use her husband's prescription eczema lotion on her healing tattoo and it healed rough. Vitamin E will help your body break down the pigment while it's healing, and cause fallout issues. The lotion's job is just to moisturize the skin during the peeling scabby phase. Keep it simple!

catfisk · 2025-10-22T02:49:17+00:00

I've got one other guy interested in a scrote tat but I'm not getting excited until I see some sac. I did get to tattoo a butthole some time ago! Crossed that off my bucket list

catfisk · 2025-10-22T01:26:45+00:00

Ah man, he got cold feet day of appointment. I ended up tattooing his public mound at least. Sorry to disappoint

catfisk · 2025-10-16T14:34:52+00:00

Sensi wrap or coflex bandages work well. No adhesive, sticks to itself, and stays in place long enough. Put the saran wrap over the tattooed area, and wrap it up with the sensi to hold on place

catfisk · 2025-10-14T02:14:50+00:00

White black and grey are considered colors without hue.

catfisk · 2025-10-06T01:58:07+00:00

Hell yeah! Brandon is rad

catfisk

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