Hey everyone,
Im pretty new to tattooing and looking for some guidance on technique. My background is in drawing, and I tend to work in a very textured, almost grainy style (pic 1 is my work, pic 2 is from an artist whose approach I really like).
Im trying to figure out how to translate this look into tattoos without losing that texture.
Right now I’m considering using dotwork/stippling since it seems like it might preserve that texture better than smooth shading.
I’ve also been really drawn to the look of stick and poke, but I’m unsure if it’s practical for achieving consistent, dense coverage on bigger pieces, or if it would just be too limiting/time-consuming.
So I guess my questions are:
Is dotwork (machine or hand-poked) the best way to preserve this kind of texture?
Would a machine with certain needles/settings give me more control over density while keeping that organic feel?
Any advice, experiences, or even artist references would be super helpful. Thanks! :)