DrawWithMike.net

So dear friends this is my SECOND TATTOO
Obviously I’ve tried my best, but there’s couple weaker points throughout where I was struggling with perfection, to execute line work correctly…

Hopefully Jane didn’t mind it at all, because she was aware I’m learning …
She just let me carry on, and she kept repeating that everything is perfect to her eyes

Her 18 yo daughter was all the time with us, observing the process…

I’ve advised her, that she can judge my efforts now, and decide whether she wants me do her very first tattoo, or we can book any other experienced tattooist from the studio…

She said she’s alright to stick to me
So her mum, who is really loving what I’ve done on her arm, even though it’s far from being perfect

You must know that she’s chosen very simplistic, made with fewer straight lines arrow design at first…

It was so cheap drawn, that I’ve spent some time to search for any other similar option…

Then I’ve found this design, which is matching perfectly her likeness
She was considering an arrow, or the Rose flower…

I’ve found this design where she has BOTH at once
Obviously this design is much more complicated, greater challenge for me…
But I thought ~ it’s for her whole life, and how somebody could be happy with few lines made arrow ?

Maybe this is why Jane is loving it so much, regardless the quality of my work…
It means a lot to her, that I’ve put extra effort to search for nicer design, and she appreciates that it’s done by my hands … even with those imperfections around …
It’s also my very first attempt of writing on the skin
So there’s a lot faults around the tattoo, because many things I was doing actually first time here.
Like stripple shading…
To do so, I was playing with my machine Voltage and finding out my hand speed to do those small side marks, which you can see like multiple dots
And we know each other for many many years, we seeing each other on canteen every time, you know …
What an experience

I love the story as much as the design! What a lovely tattoo and your friends seems like a very lovely lady. No wonder her daughter trusts you with her first tattoo.

I’m very proud of you, my friend! Keep going!!!

Laurene wrote: Mon Jan 27, 2025 5:33 pm I love the story as much as the design! What a lovely tattoo and your friends seems like a very lovely lady. No wonder her daughter trusts you with her first tattoo.

I’m very proud of you, my friend! Keep going!!!

Thank you so much Laurene

PogArt-Ttoo wrote: Mon Jan 27, 2025 4:35 pm Obviously I’ve tried my best, but there’s couple weaker points throughout where I was struggling with perfection, to execute line work correctly…

I've no doubt there are "weak points" but only you know where they are. And to me, this looks perfectly good. It's sharp, clear, and reflects the chosen design.

On the other hand, being unsatisfied is perfect for you, too. The day to start worrying is the day you think everything you do is perfect. That's the time to pack it all in.

Hopefully Jane didn’t mind it at all, because she was aware I’m learning… She just let me carry on, and she kept repeating that everything is perfect to her eyes ??

What more could you possibly hope for? Given that she's wearing your artwork for life, I think we can be confident that she's telling the whole truth.

I’ve found this design where she has BOTH at once?? Obviously this design is much more complicated, greater challenge for me… But I thought ~ it’s for her whole life, and how somebody could be happy with few lines made arrow? It means a lot to her, that I’ve put extra effort to search for nicer design...

That sort of service is priceless. I recognised years ago that the sole-proprietor or small business has one major advantage over larger concerns - it can offer a personal service. Just keep going a little further than you need to - because you want to - and you can't go wrong.

I've said this elsewhere more than a few times - and I'm risking trouble again - but you're a FINE ARTIST, not an illustrator. You work with passion, and need to build your feelings into your work.

And before anyone jumps on me to defend illustrators... theirs is a different skill. They're superb at accurately reproducing their subject with no room for personal interpretation.

Keep going. You can only succeed.....

Thank you Mike.
Again ~ you know me very well
I’m looking for inspiration, for the soul of the entire art…
What I’m producing has to mean something, anything really
I don’t feel for geometrical shape designs, it shows now.
I’m struggling because they’re soulless designs, just shapes, edges, lines.
I don’t feel anything.

There’s a hope though, that I may be up to something what I’d love to do
It’s a baby angel resting on some sort of textile, like it was a cloud.

My friend wanted very simplistic design of it, like in case of the arrow made with few lines…
She had lost a newborn baby long ago…
Again ~ I didn’t want to make just outlines of the angel for such memorable tribute
I’ve done research again, and I’ve found very nice artwork representing the same idea, but much much better done.
I’ve introduced it to her, and obviously she was sold to it
It can become my window opener
If I manage to do it nicely, it can bring me more people wanting nice portraitures or other art designs…
It could be my escape from soulless line work then

Let see how it goes
Thank you very very much Mike for keen comments

lovely, simply elegant tatt.

LindasPencils wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:54 am lovely, simply elegant tatt.

I wish I was more confident regarding the line work, but I'm stressing as well while doing it, and lack of experience on the skin...
Thank you a lot