Xiaan Bodyart - Tattoos - Designing Tribal

Design Gallery

Each of the thumbnails above link to an image ready for printing. If you want to get high resolution images or PDFs, please contact me.

The Background

It all started when I couldn't find a single design in any tattoo parlour that I liked enough to get inked on my skin (I haven't yet found anything - more on that later).

I decided that if I was ever going to get a tattoo, it would have to be something of my own design.

From some significant trial and error, I've developed a formula for this particular style of tattoo design. Not to say that this is a foolproof method, but I can't draw accurately with a pen and paper, but have been able to churn out some impressive designs, even if I do say so myself.

The Basics

You can see the progression of a design I made for Mysteree Helm to the right.

The animated GIF at the top of the page shows it in more of a build-up view. View a full-page view of the final design, which still needs to incorporate a few inter-connecting strands to make it a good armband design.

All the designs I've done have evolved from chicken scratch on paper. As you can see from the drawing on the left, things really start to evolve once the design gets onto my computer screen.

I use Adobe Illustrator, because I'm used to the drawing controls. Feel free to use any program that lets you easily modify drawn lines (Corel Draw is another good program for this task).

I'd say Paint Shop Pro should work as well as either of the Corel products, if you can't get your company to buy you expensive drawing programs like mine does.

Working the Design

I wish I could give you fantastic advice about how to make your designs look good. But, alas, I've never been to art school, and took music in grade school instead of art (oh lordy what a mistake).

I do, however, know what I like. So, start collecting designs on paper and in your head, and you should be able to put something onto paper or the computer screen.

Although it is a lot harder, IMHO, you can do your design work with a compass and a good eraser, but this is the 21st century.

Good luck! And if you have any questions, comments, criticisms, or praise, contact me.