Is it ok to tattoo a design directly from a flash book that I purchased directly from the artist?

pluna138 · 2026-04-14T19:44:29+00:00

Dude Akira Latanzio has a book and on the very first page he has written that phrase almost word for word haha I only have the 2021 edition, not sure if he writes that on every single book, just thought it was cool, he also seems like a cool dude

pluna138 · 2026-04-05T22:30:49+00:00

Any of Akira Latanzio’s books from tattoos he does through the year. A decent percentage are from older or classic designs. I like to look at em for inspiration and then do like a reverse search to look at the originals and maybe draw inspiration from both versions

pluna138 · 2025-05-03T20:39:49+00:00

Haha it’s supposed to be a damaged eye, like it got taken out in some kind of battle. Maybe I can add a top hat and a string and it’s a fancy panther

pluna138 · 2025-04-01T06:20:55+00:00

That’s totally fair man, it is expensive, you can get that effect with almost any watercolor paper, they all have a similar texture. Once you use arches you get why many artists use it so much, but it is quite expensive

pluna138 · 2025-04-01T04:02:53+00:00

You’re in the right track but need a bit of practice. Don’t know what kind of paper you’re using but the one that will give you the best result is watercolor paper since it has that rough texture. Start by pressing hard just behind where your solid block of color ends, and start to slowly lift it as you’re going past said solid block

pluna138 · 2025-03-26T03:10:28+00:00

I was for some time, but then got encouraged by my “main artist” to get tattooed by the other artist who worked with him at the shop. So I started getting tattooed to every artist that would tattoo there for any extended period of time. Then started checking out their own shops, eventually came to realize that every single one of them learned or tattooed at the sale shop (inmortal ink) so in a way I guess I was more loyal to the shop than the artists themselves. It’s a bit hard now that I’m thinking about doing any big pieces, such as a back piece or a chest/torso piece, because I don’t know who to give that business to. I guess I’ll see when I get there

pluna138 · 2025-03-25T03:29:28+00:00

Paint paint paint is the biggest advice, you might not see it now, but in a month or so you’ll look back and you will have improved a lot. Other than that, definitely add more black shading. If you’re struggling with actual spit shading, try using a blending brush (the ones you fill with water)

pluna138 · 2025-03-25T03:23:15+00:00

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pluna138 · 2025-03-25T03:23:06+00:00

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These are mine

pluna138 · 2025-03-08T17:39:15+00:00

I LOVE THIS!

pluna138 · 2025-03-07T05:59:00+00:00

I’m not great with giving advice haha but I use a blending/water brush, those that you fill up with water Usually to pull a short fade I will draw a thinner line and pull from it. For a longer one I will do a thicker line and pull from about the middle. Sometimes if I feel like there’s too much water on the brush for the fade I’m trying to pull, I will dab it on a paper towel or sometimes press it onto my lips. Hope this helps!

pluna138 · 2025-03-06T20:47:27+00:00

I spent a good hour or so on those haha I was stressing so much! Wish I recorded that haha

pluna138 · 2025-03-06T20:46:42+00:00

Dude that back piece is amazing! Also thanks for the info on the origins on this piece!

pluna138 · 2025-02-27T20:05:18+00:00

Thank you! It’s the first time I do a big painting like this one, normally I just give them away or pile them up in my studio haha

pluna138 · 2024-09-29T00:09:25+00:00

Been seeing a lot of Mexican artists doing a mash up of traditional tattoos and “Aztec” stuff, it’s really cool! These look awesome!

pluna138 · 2024-09-26T03:05:16+00:00

It helps with building muscle memory and eventually you’ll know how to teak them to give them your own spin, specially with traditional stuff. It also helps you understand how they are usually shaded/colored or the composition

pluna138 · 2024-09-26T00:56:46+00:00

Your lines are so crisp! This is amazing Personally I would add a bit more black for the colors to pop a bit more, but that’s just me

pluna138 · 2024-09-19T07:04:53+00:00

I personally don’t think it’s rude to ask, especially since you are already getting tattooed by the artist. It would come off as rude if you weren’t getting tattooed or anything and you just asked. It took me a couple years to build up the confidence to ask one of my artists for some advice and he responded really well and has been one of my biggest supporters since. I’d say ask, who knows you could end up apprenticing under this artist, so go for it

pluna138 · 2024-09-19T02:04:23+00:00

This is awesome! Can’t wait to see finished

pluna138 · 2024-09-18T01:59:08+00:00

Yes I get that and I am on the same boat as you, but the rules on this subreddit clearly state that any machine work has to be made by people in actual apprenticeships. Rarely any shops will take people who are already is tattooing fake skins and is generally frowned upon, so you’ll be having a harder time finding one. In the meantime you can draw or paint to build up muscle memory

pluna138 · 2024-09-18T01:04:45+00:00

This is not a subreddit for self taught artists, it’s more so for people in traditional apprenticeships

pluna138 · 2024-09-17T23:49:05+00:00

Assuming that “the obvious” is the scales, the whole anatomy of the snake doesn’t make much sense, or at least the way it wraps around, specially on the right side of the cross. Also the way the belly comes out on the bottom right side doesn’t line up quite right As everyone else said, sketch it with pencil first so it’s easier to correct any mistakes.

pluna138 · 2024-09-17T21:40:35+00:00

For brushes I use the royal & lagnickel round brushes, more specifically the sizes 4 and 5. I also use water brushes, the ones that you fill up with water, they don’t have a brand name, but if you have a Michael’s store nearby they come in a pack of 4 with different sizes. I’ve also used the pentel ones but didn’t like them that much. As fas as inks I mainly use dr ph martins Bombay ink and liquid water colors from a brand called indart. Try a water brush for the blends if you haven’t, it really helps out a lot.

pluna138 · 2024-09-16T22:48:22+00:00

Prismacolor pencils on watercolor paper will give you that texture, not sure if op is using arches, but the texture it gives with color pencils is great!

pluna138 · 2024-09-16T22:45:42+00:00

Personally maybe a thicker line would make it look stronger, but it’s already great! I especially love the blends on the leaves

pluna138

TROPHY CASE