Matrix Inspired Full colour tattoo

For my final project, I created a full colour artistic tattoo inspired by the client's theme of the matrix & follow the white rabbit.

I chose this theme because of the client's story and the interesting visual inspiration, and I wanted to design something that flows naturally with the body lines and uses bold, expressive colours to bring the piece to life.

For this project, I used the following:

Digital design: Procreate for sketching and colouring

Stencil prep: Stencil paper + thermal printer

Tattooing tools: MAST, 12 - 3RL- 9RL - 9RS - 9RM -9M1

Inks: TangDragon Inks (Cheap AliExpress for practice)

Other: Blue soap, Vaseline, cling film, nitrile gloves

I began by gathering references based on the chosen theme. I then created a mood board to explore shapes, colours and compositions that would suit both the concept and the area of the body.

Using a photo of the tattoo area, I designed the illustration to follow the natural flow of the body lines. This helped ensure the tattoo would sit nicely and look good in motion.

Once I finalised the composition, I selected a colour palette based on my design choices and the inks I had available. After receiving some feedback from my mentor, I made small adjustments to improve both the drawing and the colour composition.

I prepared the stencil digitally and applied it carefully onto 3mm fake skin. During the tattoo session, I focused on achieving clean lines, smooth shading and even colour application.

There were some challenges along the way. I originally designed and practised a first version of the tattoo, but I was not completely satisfied with the result. Practising it helped me identify areas where the composition did not flow well and where the colour choices could be improved.

Rather than continuing with a design I did not feel confident in, I returned to the sketch phase and created a new version. I applied what I had learnt from the first attempt, and this second design felt much more successful, both visually and technically.

The final piece followed the body lines more naturally and had stronger colour harmony. I am glad I took the time to rework the design, as the final result was far more satisfying.

By this stage, I had run out of 3mm fake skin, so I used some thinner 2mm sheets instead. These were also smaller in size, which meant I had to reduce my design (see pictures for measurements).

Applying the stencil was more challenging. The skin did not take the stencil well, so I began by lining what I could see, then re-applied the stencil for the missing parts and continued from there. This caused some inconsistencies compared to the original drawing, but it was excellent practice, even if the final piece did not turn out exactly as I had hoped.

This project taught me that good planning, a clear vision and the ability to adapt are essential. I am proud of what I achieved and excited to continue learning and improving.