Definition of Tattooing
Tattoos are a form of body artwork designed by inserting ink pigments and dyes permanently or temporarily on the skin. Tattooing is the art of making a tattoo. In the past several regions and cultures came up with their special tattooing techniques for different reasons.
Today tattoo care procedures have improved due to the development of technical Evolution. If you want to become a tattoo artist, there are various teaching techniques that you have to know. There are great tattoo methods out there, and below, we shall look at the basics about them plus some necessary tattooing skills.
Basic Tattooing Techniques
Before we jump to the different tattoo techniques, there are some basics skills that every aspiring tattoo artist will have to learn first. Below are some of them.
1. How to color tattoos
Coloring is when you fill in the areas of design with color. You can choose from a variety of techniques to apply the effect of your coloring. Instead of achieving your tattoo design from one side to another, you can do that coloring from the darkest to the lightest points. It will eliminate the chances of the darker colors mixing with the lighter ones. You will also serve time rather than clean the tips, needles, and tubes between colors.
2. How to shade a tattoo
If you want to be among the best tattoo artist, then the tattoo shading skill will make you one. Great shading makes the tattoo a new image to look at. To get the best shading tattoo, artists usually use black ink to do this.
With a variety of techniques out there, you can use any to make darker to lighter shades. Learning how light flows and how you can mix up other inks with black will help you create the best Shadows.
3. Outlining or lining
The lining is a vital tattooing skill. Outlining will enable you to get a professional and smooth tattoo. The lining is also the primary way of creating the shape of the design on the skin.
Lines can be made thin or thick, depending on how the artist chooses to build-up. A round group of needles can do that. When outlining, you don’t necessarily have to use black ink. You can choose to color with the round liner to describe the area of design.
4. Lettering
A majority of people today love getting tattoos with words. Learning the lettering skill will help you as a tattoo artist. Lettering will require you to learn individual concepts, such as word layout, form, and functions of the letters. The best way to achieve the right lettering tattoo is by using a dictionary and having the client give a Go-Ahead before putting the needle on to the skin. It will help you get the tattoo right without misspelling the actual words the client wants.
Different Tattooing Techniques
Below you’ll get to learn the different historical tattoo methods from all over the world. All of these are still practiced by different cultures and religions in the world today.
1. Bamboo tattooing technique
The method is what started the tattooing culture in Japan. With this technique, a handle is crafted from a plank of bamboo wood. It is then made smooth and rounds down for accuracy and comfort. The bamboo handle is designed with about two dozen sharp points at the end that will act as the needles.
2. Rake and striking stick technique
This is among the oldest and also most primitive tattoo methods. It may have died out a long time ago in most countries, but it is still practiced in some regions. For example, in Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
The technique includes stretching out the skin and then hitting a sharp rake into the stretched skin. The rake is usually made of a bone. Before hitting it on the surface, it is dipped into ink and then placed carefully above the area the client wants the tattoo.
3. Metal tube tattooing technique
In this method, a metal tube with thinner, smaller metal rod is used to create the tattoo. The bottom of the rod is made extremely sharp to act as the needle. Here the sharp point is dipped into the ink, and then the metal tube is continuously pressed down so that the pointed end can Pierce the skin and distribute the ink.
4. Western technique
This method is what several societies have adopted. The tattoo gun is what most tattoo artist today uses to create designs on the skin. Best Professional Rotary Tattoo Machine has chemically sharpened needles. It operates on electricity, and once the needle is dipped in ink, the artist will press a button on the machine, and then the Needles will Pierce the skin accurately and cleanly.
Styles of Tattooing
· Tribal tattoos
Tribal tattoos are tattoos that were inspired by Native Americans as well as people from Micronesia and Polynesia. They usually feature geometric figures, and they are done with black ink.
· Black and gray
This is a style that is made by creating Shadows that make an illusion in three dimensions. This Style originated from prisons in the 70s and 80s. It later became a popular tattoo Style.
· Stonework Style
This Style comes as a rustic look and achieved by using grays, black, and other colors with fine lines. The ink colors are what create a texture of crumbling stone.
· Biomechanical Style
This tattoo style is what most science fiction, cyberpunk, industrial music, and steampunk fans get on their skin. It comes as a combination of organic and mechanical parts.
· Asian/ oriental Style
Come as tattoos that cover the whole body, and they usually tell a story in the designs.
· Realistic Style
These tattoos designed in the form of portraits or even landscapes.
· New school style
This is a tattoo style that was common in the 80s. It was a mixture of several methods, as well as bold plus bright colors.
· Celtic Style
Style is one that shows intricate knots that can be made into complex or simple shapes.
Conclusion
As you have seen, being a tattoo artist requires you to understand some necessary skills. There are different tattooing techniques and styles today, and I hope my guide has enabled you to learn a few things about them.