Freehand Cursive Lettering Tattoos
A course by Delia VicoTattoo Artist
A course by Delia Vico, Tattoo Artist
Discover the techniques to create freehand lettering in cursive and learn how to tattoo it on different parts of the body
Lettering and tattooing are two art forms that often come together as one. The first helps you express yourself with an elegant and visually striking design, while the second transforms it into an unerasable memory. Join tattoo artist Delia Vico and learn how to ink your letters directly on skin following body contour and volume.
Delia has nearly two decades of experience in tattooing and specializes in cursive lettering and calligraphy. In this course, she teaches how to form single letters, compose words, and precisely draw them on skin to create a unique, balanced tattoo. Bring your message to life and create a composition that leaves its mark.
What will you learn in this online course?
12 lessons & 16 downloads
My toolbox
3 minutes, 7 seconds
Grid writing and letter drawing
15 minutes, 2 seconds
How to draw words
14 minutes, 56 seconds
Anatomy analysis
3 minutes, 56 seconds
Reproduction of the grid on the skin and design of the writing
12 minutes, 9 seconds
Performing the tattoo 1
16 minutes, 26 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet your teacher, Delia Vico, and hear about her journey to becoming a professional tattoo artist and what led her to specialize in lettering and calligraphy. See some of her biggest influences and the artists that inspire her work.
Begin with an overview of the final project and see the materials you need for working on both paper and skin. Then, learn the basics of freehand lettering and start practicing with a grid to create a stylish, legible, and balanced composition.
Now it's time to think about ink. Delia explains important hygiene measures and shows you how to set up your workstation and choose the right needle based on your design.
Delve into human anatomy and study different body parts to understand how to properly position a tattoo for the best results. Choose an area for your tattoo and draw some guidelines paying close attention to dimensions and volume.
Once you've drawn your design on the skin, start going over it with needle and ink following Delia's expert advice. With the letters in place, enhance your composition by adding simple yet eye-catching effects.
Delia wraps up the course by explaining essential tattoo aftercare practices to ensure your work stays looking like new throughout the years.
What is this course's project?
Draw and tattoo a cursive lettering design on skin.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Lettering lovers who want to deepen their knowledge of this writing style and tattoo artists interested in improving their freehand lettering skills.
Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge of design and experience in tattooing are needed for this course.
As for materials, you need paper, colored pencils, felt-tip markers, a ruler, a tattoo machine, plastic wrap, ink, petroleum jelly, a spray bottle, and other items your teacher will specify during the course.
Reviews
- 3 months ago
¡Me encanto el curso! La forma que la profesora explica es excelente se entiende muy facil
- 3 months ago
Tutto perfetto e lei bravissima
- 9 months ago
Lei è bravissima
- 1 year ago
explica muy bien el recorrido de las letras me gusto mucho
- 1 year ago
Excelente curso!
She got her first taste of ink at the age of 16 and immediately knew she wanted to pursue tattooing as a career. From there, she began drawing sketches and gradually perfecting the art of lettering and calligraphy.
She currently works at Hold Fast Tattoo studio in Finale Ligure where she specializes in large cursive lettering compositions.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Reference models
- U2
Necessary materials and study of the lettering on paper
- My toolbox
- Grid writing and letter drawing
- How to draw words
- U3
Preparation and tattoo
- The workbench and the choice of needles
- Choose the word and write it in the grid
- Anatomy analysis
- Reproduction of the grid on the skin and design of the writing
- Performing the tattoo 1
- Performing the tattoo 2
- U4
What happens after getting the tattoo?
- Take care of the tattoo
- FP
Final project
- Freehand Cursive Lettering Tattoos
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
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Get front-row seats
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Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
Lettering in tattooing is the art of designing custom lettering on the skin. This course is aimed at those who already have basic tattoo skills and want to specialize in cursive and decorative writing techniques.
The course is intermediate level and requires basic tattoo knowledge. It’s perfect for tattoo artists looking to refine their lettering and calligraphy skills applied to skin.
To follow the course, you’ll need guideline markers, a tattoo machine, fine needles, black ink, tracing paper, practice notebooks, and materials for skin preparation and hygiene.
You’ll learn how to design and draw custom lettering, compose harmonious words, select and combine fonts, draw guidelines, prepare the skin, and create precise, safe cursive tattoos.
The course teaches you how to analyze the shape of the chosen area and adapt letters along anatomical lines to achieve a balanced composition without distortion.
Techniques covered include freehand drawing on paper and skin, using grids, marking guidelines, and controlling pressure and angle to create smooth, elegant strokes.
The course explains the differences between thin and thick needles, and how to select them for outlines, fills, and shading depending on the lettering style and body area.