Blackwork Tattoo Design

Make your work memorable and showcase your unique style using the design techniques of illustrator and tattoo artist Sophie Mo. The London-based designer specializes in blackwork tattoo design, creating unique work that has received the attention of brands like Airbnb, BBC 6 Music, Squarespace, Microsoft, REVLON, and more.

In this course, learn how to create your own blackwork tattoo design by combining a variety of analog and digital techniques. Developing good design skills is essential for any prospective tattoo artist. With Sophie, discover the methods for achieving clean lines, high contrast, and a singular aesthetic that gets both attention and clients.

Get started by meeting Sophie and hearing about her academic and professional background. She shows you some of her work and what subjects inspire her most, specifically cinematography, Asian culture, and botanical-style Victorian illustration. Then, see the steps for completing three different monochrome designs for your final project, going from rough sketch to final illustration.

Go through some different drawing techniques that Sophie uses in her designs, including linework, dotwork, and solid shading, and learn how to create a signature blackwork design by bringing these elements together. See the materials you need to start designing and go through their different uses. Visual research is key to any work of art, so learn how Sophie finds references and new inspiration using both physical and online resources.

Get started with your final project. Focus on the concept and start sketching the main shapes, adding definition as you finish your designs. After you have some rough sketches of the designs, learn how to refine your drawings and determine the ‘base lines’ needed to achieve a clean outline. Shade all three illustrations using the techniques Sophie teaches for achieving precise results and high contrast.

To wrap things up, Sophie gives you some final tips on how to transform your physical drawing into something digital. Learn to correctly adjust the size of your drawing, a resource that is especially useful if you want to create prints or merchandise. Get some of Sophie’s advice on the best body placement for your new design, as well as how to take care of a tattoo if you choose to ever have one done on your own body.

Learn how to create a blackwork tattoo design with different analog and digital techniques. Sophie will be showing how to design a portrait, an animal drawing, and a botanical illustration.

This course is ideal for anyone interested in tattooing and illustration, especially for those who want to start designing their own tattoos.

No prior knowledge is needed to take this course, but some basic technical drawing skills are an advantage.

For the materials, you need some pencils, erasers, fineliners, printer paper, tracing paper, and a ruler. A computer with Adobe Photoshop installed is needed for final corrections and resizing.