Scratching the Surface

Scratching the Surface is a tattoo project that involves designing and tattooing a full sleeve on a synthetic arm, displaying technical skill and creative ambition. I will be using the experience I’ve gained through the IDA program at the University of Arizona to use a new medium and create a tattoo sleeve consisting of multiple styles to show versatility and to get a taste of what I would like to specialize in (portraiture and American traditional). These styles will include human and animal portraits, American traditional, calligraphy and small flash illustrations.

I chose a tattoo project for my thesis because I intend on pursuing a career in tattooing and this was a great opportunity to prepare for the real world. Just like a real tattoo, the stakes for this project are high and mistakes are unaffordable. Every mark that I make is permanent and every decision made about placement, color, and composition cannot be undone. I believe that this project is an accurate reflection of the pressures and professional atmosphere of a career in the tattoo industry. My favorite part about this project that is unlike the real tattoo industry, is the ability to create and have full control of the tattoos that I design. I am blessed to have the opportunity to work on something that I am passionate about and create a custom piece from start to finish.

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Preliminary Work

Tattoo vocabulary

Design

• Flash – Pre-drawn tattoo designs available for clients to choose from

• Custom piece – A tattoo designed specifically for one client

• Linework – The outlines that define the tattoo’s shape and structure

• Composition – How design elements are arranged within a tattoo

• Flow – How the design follows the body’s natural curves or muscle lines

• Motif – A recurring element or symbol within tattoo design

• Stencil – The paper or transfer used to outline the tattoo design on the skin

• Placement – The area of the body where the tattoo will be applied

• Negative space – Untattooed areas that create contrast and definition in the design

• Reference – A source image used to inspire or guide the tattoo artwork

Prep and Sanitation

• Autoclave – A sterilization machine used to clean tools and equipment

• Disposable setup – Single-use materials to prevent cross-contamination

• Barrier film – Protective wrap placed over equipment and surfaces

• Antiseptic – Solution applied to disinfect the skin before tattooing

• Green soap – A mild, antibacterial soap used to clean the skin during tattooing

• Shave – Removing hair from the area to ensure a clean surface

• Transfer paper – Paper used to apply the stencil design to the skin

• Gloves – Worn to maintain hygiene and prevent contamination

Machine

• Tattoo machine (or tattoo gun) – The handheld device that inserts ink into the skin

• Coil machine – A traditional machine that uses electromagnetic coils

• Rotary machine – Uses a motor rather than coils for smoother operation

• Needle configuration – The arrangement of needles for different effects
   • Round liner (RL) – For precise linework
   • Round shader (RS) – For small shading areas
   • Magnum (M1 or M2) – For shading or coloring large areas

• Cartridge – A needle-and-tip assembly used in modern machines for quick changes

• Tube/Grip – The part held by the artist that guides the needle

• Power supply – Provides consistent voltage to the tattoo machine

• Foot pedal – Controls when the machine is active

• Ink caps – Small disposable cups that hold tattoo ink

• Clip cord – The wire that connects the machine to the power source

Process

• Linework – First step of tattooing; outlining the design

• Packing – Filling in areas with solid color or black

• Shading – Creating gradients or tonal depth with diluted ink

• Whip shading – A flicking motion used to create soft gradients

• Color blending – Gradually merging one hue into another

• Saturation – Ensuring the ink is fully and evenly embedded in the skin

• Layering – Building up tones and details by working in multiple passes

• Stretching – Pulling the skin taut to help the needle penetrate evenly

• Ink dilution – Mixing ink with water or solution to create lighter tones (especially for black and gray work)

• Blowout – When ink spreads under the skin due to improper depth or movement

Healing

• Plasma – Clear fluid that leaks from a fresh tattoo

• Bandage/wrap – Protective covering applied immediately after tattooing

• Saniderm (or second skin) – A breathable adhesive film that aids healing

• Ointment – Moisturizer used to prevent scabbing and promote healing

• Scabbing – The natural healing process where dried plasma forms over the tattoo

• Peeling – The shedding of old skin layers as the tattoo heals

• Touch-up – A later session to fix faded or uneven ink

• Healing time – The period (usually 2–4 weeks) required for the tattoo to fully settle

• Sun protection – Essential for preventing fading and damage post-healing

Styles

• Blackwork – Tattoos using only black ink and solid areas of fill

• Fine line – Tattoos with delicate, thin lines

• Traditional (American traditional) – A bold, limited-palette style with thick outlines

• Neo-traditional – Combines traditional structure with modern color and detail

• Stippling – Shading or imagery made entirely of dots

• Realism – Tattoos that resemble photographs or naturalistic imagery

• Illustrative – Combines drawing styles with tattoo techniques

• Cyber Sigilism - Geometric symmetry, metallic flow, and digital or biomechanical motifs

• Portraiture – Captures the likeness, emotion, and fine details of faces or figures through precise shading and tonal depth

• Calligraphy - Elegant linework, rhythmic flow, and stylized script

Set up & Materials

Tattooing requires a lot of set up and preparation to ensure a quality tattoo. Choosing the right size needle is very similar to choosing the right paint brush for a painting. Different styles of tattooing require different techniques, but it is up to the artist to determine how they execute them.

To set up my station properly for this project, I first had to print out the desired design and find the correct placement on the arm. After finding a satisfactory placement, I used a stencil marker to mark small lines on the arm to keep track of where the tattoo will be placed. I then cleaned and wrapped everything according to the tattoo sanitation guidelines. Next, I prepared my spray bottle of green soap & water to wipe excess ink and debris. I am now ready to begin the stencil process. To make a stencil of my desired design, I ran my printed design through my thermal printer with stencil paper and thermal ink. I can now prepare the area on the arm by washing it with green soap (and shaving with a disposable razor if on a real person) and apply stencil primer to the area. After placing the stencil, I pressed and held it down to ensure it fully transfers onto the skin and let dry for 10 minutes. Now that the stencil is prepared, I used Vaseline to stick my ink caps onto a popsicle stick to keep them in place and layout my color pallet or grey wash depending on which tattoo I was working on. The last thing I had to do before getting started was putting a machine cover over my tattoo machine and wrapping it with grip tape for control and comfortability.

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Below is a list of materials that I used for this project

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• Tattoo machine

• 3RL Needles

• 5RL Needles

• 7RL Needles

• 9RL Needles

• 5RS Needles

• 7RS Needles

• 9CM Needles

• 15CM Needles

• Thermal printer

• Stencil primer

• Transfer paper

• Fake skin

• Fake arm

• Ink + caps

• Grip tape

• Latex gloves

• Green soap

• Sterilized water

• Razors

• Spray bottles

• Vaseline

• Cling wrap

Sanitation

Before any tattoo, the tattoo station must be thoroughly cleaned with bleach and wiped down along with any materials that will be handled before each tattoo. Tattooing real skin is a process that can be dangerous and prone to serious infection if not prepared properly.

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Below is a condensed step-by-step guide to sanitizing the workspace

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1. Wash hands with antibacterial soap

2. Always wear latex gloves (gloves must be changed after handling of any unpackaged product)

3. Wipe down machine and all surfaces with bleach & water before and after

4. Wrap everything that is going to be touched with cling wrap (Chair, tray, bottles, machine, arm rest, power supply etc.)

5. Almost everything is single use and disposable

6. Scrap all disposable items after

Technique and Application

Linework – Needle hang 1.5 – 2 mm, (7 – 9 volts)

• Stretch the skin, tight in three directions

• Keep consistent speed and hand pressure, don’t rush or slow down mid-line

• Needle angle: 45 degrees, steady hand — keep your needle perpendicular enough to penetrate skin evenly

• Dip often and always have enough ink in your tip to avoid patchy lines

• Warm up with long straight pulls on fake skin or paper before working on clients

Shading – Needle hang 2 – 2.5 mm, (6 – 8 volts)

• Use pendulum or whip motion for smooth gradients

• Dilute your black ink (gray wash) in different cups to build depth gradually

• Don’t overwork an area

• Stretch the skin gently, too much tension can make your shading patchy

• Always wipe gently to avoid irritating or tearing skin mid-shade

Packing – Needle hang 2 – 3 mm, (8 – 10 volts)

• Small, tight circular motions 

• Saturate fully before moving on

• Always wipe with green soap + distilled water mix to see true saturation

• Work dark to light to avoid muddying colors

• Use larger mags for even coverage

Fineline – Needle hang 1 – 1.5 mm, (6 – 6.5 volts)

• Light hand, low voltage

• Single-pass lines only