custom tattoo design process
austin, texas
my process
every tattoo i create is approached with intention and care.
from the initial concept, i seek ways to integrate your personal meaning into the design. in the placement and design, i prioritize flowing with your body's natural form, movement, and how the tattoo will age with you over time. every decision along the way is made thoughtfully.
i will only accept tattoo projects that align with my work as an artist. this isn't exclusionary, it's how i make sure you get the best tattoo possible.
i much prefer a simple, rudimentary sketch of your idea over anything ai generated. what you're drawn to, what you've been collecting, what you can't quite put into words, all of it is useful.
embodiment
·
expression
·
intention
·
f l o w
.
embodiment · expression · intention · f l o w .
from inquiry to finished piece
after you submit your inquiry, i read and review it personally. i respond sun, mon, and tues each week, so you'll hear from me within that window.
for larger or more layered custom tattoo projects, i'll suggest a brief 15-minute consultation before we book. this is a chance to align on concept, placement, and flow before we begin. consultations are complimentary.
designs are created custom for each client and presented on the day of your session, with room for thoughtful refinements together. i use a combination of stenciling and freehand drawing depending on the project. we explore sizing, placement, and body flow as a collaboration.
full day sessions and large scale work — austin, texas
my work emphasizes flow and is often larger in scale. full sleeves, thigh and hip pieces, back pieces, cohesive, timeless works of art designed to move with you.
full day sessions run up to 6 hours and are the foundation of large scale custom tattoo work. this session is dedicated entirely to your project, my full focus, all day.
for larger works such as full sleeves and back pieces, i break the process into intentional phases:
an initial session focused on outline and foundational detailing. one or more follow-up sessions for shading, refinement, and colour. sometimes a final finishing session of 1 to 2 hours, not a touch-up, but the close of the piece.
i work session-based rather than hourly. this protects the work from being rushed, and protects the day from extending past what your body can sit for comfortably.
freehand and stencil — designed for your body
i use a combination of freehand drawing directly on the skin and custom stencils, depending on the project. this allows each design to respond to your individual body, its curves, its proportions, the way it moves.
placement is not an afterthought. it is part of the design from the very beginning. this is what body flow tattooing means in practice.
-
my best work happens when there is creative freedom and creative trust in the process.
i work with clients looking for a fineline tattoo artist in Austin who will bring their own vision to the piece. as soon as i have the details i need, it becomes my passion to translate your concept into a unique work of art, created for you and inspired by you.
i always want you to love what we're creating together. i share my thoughts and ideas throughout the process and ask for yours. i'm always open to adjustments, and i love when i can do so in a way that honors both you and my work as an artist. these are the sessions where i push myself furthest and create the pieces i'm most proud of.
a note: i do not copy other people's tattoos and will not replicate ai generated designs. i understand these tools as a way to translate ideas, and i much prefer a simple, rudimentary sketch of your concept over anything ai generated.
i will only accept projects that align with my work as an artist. this is how i ensure you get the best tattoo possible.
-
larger scale placements are where my work can best f l o w. half and full sleeves (arms and legs), hip and thigh pieces, back, shoulder, chest. pieces that are inspired by the individual body, designed to create flow, movement, and accent your natural form.
i do not tattoo the following placements: palms, feet, face, genitals.
-
my inspiration is from connection to the natural world
floral and botanical curated collections, mixed with mandalas, charms, butterflies, moths and other insects, birds, snakes, dragons, eyes, big cats, fish, skulls.
and beyond that: moments of a memory, pottery, studies of objects, landscapes, dreamy smoky mist, sunsets and clouds, rivers and water, mountains, studies of traditional asian paintings. all of these things, and more, combined.
this is not an extensive list.
-
fineline, illustrative, black and grey, dot work, watercolour, ink and dip pen. soft colour pencil, painterly colour, expressive and vibrant, with curated colour palettes. contemporary.
ready to start?
if this process feels aligned with how you'd like to approach your piece, i'd love to hear from you.