What is this project about? Making something for your ideal client! For me, I think my ideal client would be looking at potential tattoo designs of mine one day, if I figure out what I want to do. Here, I have a plan of attack for this project:

My current go-to tattoo artist who would theoretically take me under his wing as an apprentice

Name: Beejay (Brian) Kane

Location: Irish Ink on Meridian; Greenwood IN

Tattoo style: traditional

Personality: very nice, acts like an old man even though he’s in his 30s (uses a flip phone)

Looking for: a strong portfolio with many quality tattoo designs, someone easygoing yet determined, someone patient

As an apprentice: answer phones, take out the trash, learn sanitation, create designs that your mentor approves of, learn how to set up and use a tattoo machine, learn how to tattoo (8-9 months in)

As a learned artist: tattoo! carry out sanitation procedures, create custom and flash designs

Digital flash sheet, full color. Done in Photoshop. Emulate the neo-traditional tattoo style.

Target audience: 

Beejay or the people at the shop in general. I wouldn’t be able to tattoo these designs for almost a year, and I just want to get an apprenticeship. Impress him!

Copy points: emulate the neo-traditional tattoo style, but with my own twist. Make it tattoo-able (with the characteristics mentioned above). I want to re-design a flash sheet I have from a sketchbook that I didn’t get to finish. I only have two pieces on there: a deer and a jackolope, both with a certain magical feel to them.

The pieces themselves should seem magical and majestic, as well as tattoo-able. What I hope for Beejay to understand through the pieces is that I understand the basics of what makes a good tattoo, and that I’m willing to learn and improve.

Single message: take me under your wing!

When tattooing first started to gain mainstream popularity in the U.S., people like Sailor Jerry were at the front and center of the movement. They were tattooing in a style called "traditional" tattooing. Back in those days, custom designs weren't done at all. Instead, a client would pick a design from a sheet that the tattoo artist already made up. That sheet is called a flash sheet. And they're still used today! Traditionally, flash sheets are done in watercolor. The designs above this are traditional flash sheets.

So what does that mini history lesson have to do with my project?

Well, I wanted to make my own flash sheet! But I wanted to take inspiration from a different tattoo style, which is called "neo-traditional." Neo-traditional tattoos have a wider color palette than traditional tattoos, are more detailed, but still have the (absolutely necessary) bold linework and colors. Here are some great examples of neo-traditional tattoos:

I have a fascination with deer and how seemingly magical they are, so I wanted to have a deer design on my flash sheet. I also have a jackalope on here, and he was not planned. But I'm happy my deer has a buddy! Anyways, I have my reference and inspiration here:

And here's the sketchbook page that's been sitting like this for a while:

So I kinda just... transferred it, colored, it, and blended the colors like you would with a real tattoo :) Also! I wanted to keep a level of authenticity, so I added a watercolor paper texture and a coffee stain texture.

Fun fact: I put the jackalope with prickly pear cacti because that's what jackrabbits eat, and I gave the deer English ivy for the same reason! Also, the deer's name is Ignacio :)

Final look: