Insights on How to Generate Ideas for Fantasy Art Tattoos
I wrote this article in order to provide a little info on fantasy art tattoos, and also how to get the proper inspirations for creating concept sketches of this type of tattoo. I also wanted to showcase some of my own designs—some of which were conceived over 15 years ago (they were rejected by clients).
Last but not least, I simply wanted to celebrate the fantasy art genre because it has given me so much inspirational value, and has inspired me to create countless of fantasy tattoo concept designs.
Last but not least, I simply wanted to celebrate the fantasy art genre because it has given me so much inspirational value, and has inspired me to create countless of fantasy tattoo concept designs.
Producing fantasy style tattoos is a massive passion of mine! I have often found that fantasy genre tattoos are really a creative flux of ideas all mish mashed from a wide range of influences.
In the future, I’ll be providing additional guides on drawing mythical creatures (my favorite!), and you could incorporate them into actual tattoo designs—if your clients are interested, that is. I’ve already posted 3 guides on how to draw fantasy creatures for tattoo art, and you can check them out by using the links below.
How to Draw Tattoo Designs of a Griffin and Eye of a Dragon
How to Draw Tattoo Designs of an Elf and a Mermaid
How to Draw Tattoo Designs of a Gnome and a Centaur
Reference books for producing fantasy art are essential for tattoo artists of this genre. I personally have learned a lot from books and other helpful content resources such as online reports and articles. You should buy a reference book or two to get detailed guidance and advice on how to make your tattoo designs stand out, and be as professional as they can be.
In the future, I’ll be providing additional guides on drawing mythical creatures (my favorite!), and you could incorporate them into actual tattoo designs—if your clients are interested, that is. I’ve already posted 3 guides on how to draw fantasy creatures for tattoo art, and you can check them out by using the links below.
How to Draw Tattoo Designs of a Griffin and Eye of a Dragon
How to Draw Tattoo Designs of an Elf and a Mermaid
How to Draw Tattoo Designs of a Gnome and a Centaur
Reference books for producing fantasy art are essential for tattoo artists of this genre. I personally have learned a lot from books and other helpful content resources such as online reports and articles. You should buy a reference book or two to get detailed guidance and advice on how to make your tattoo designs stand out, and be as professional as they can be.
Unleash Your Creative Freedom
Making fantasy tattoo concept drawings should be done regularly so that you have a place for your own creative freedom to assert itself. Those concept drawings will provide you with the means to express yourself. If the concept drawings were limited in some way, your creative expression will be severely stifled, and your drawings will end up looking flat like pancakes. In other words, they will become useless pieces of body art!
I often find myself drawn to dragon tattoo art quite a lot, and other artist’s representations of this particular design. Just practice drawing whatever you want to, because in the fantasy genre, you can go crazy with your conceptual designs.
Only in realizing this, will you move up the ladder and get on with the task at hand, which is perfecting your tattoo craft. Find a quiet, peaceful corner, and practice drawing as many tattoo concept sketches as possible. You’re going to get good eventually, and don’t forget to ask for feedback from friends and family.
Drawing fantasy stuff is almost like drawing ordinary things you see in real life, but with fantastical elements added in to generate excitement and wonder. One of the best ways to create ideas for fantasy tattoo designs is to look at some real life photographs, and then try to put in a bunch of fantasy elements derived from your imagination as well as other sources e.g. books, magazines, films, action figures, etc.
You are also encouraged to create fantasy tattoo concept drawings from scratch. Sure, you can check out someone else’s art or tattoo designs for inspiration, but don’t copy their designs like-for-like. That’s not what tattoo art is about. The right thing to do is to find your own way of working, and then making it work for you.
Only in realizing this, will you move up the ladder and get on with the task at hand, which is perfecting your tattoo craft. Find a quiet, peaceful corner, and practice drawing as many tattoo concept sketches as possible. You’re going to get good eventually, and don’t forget to ask for feedback from friends and family.
Drawing fantasy stuff is almost like drawing ordinary things you see in real life, but with fantastical elements added in to generate excitement and wonder. One of the best ways to create ideas for fantasy tattoo designs is to look at some real life photographs, and then try to put in a bunch of fantasy elements derived from your imagination as well as other sources e.g. books, magazines, films, action figures, etc.
You are also encouraged to create fantasy tattoo concept drawings from scratch. Sure, you can check out someone else’s art or tattoo designs for inspiration, but don’t copy their designs like-for-like. That’s not what tattoo art is about. The right thing to do is to find your own way of working, and then making it work for you.
Getting Inspirations
Tattoos of dragons and mythical creatures are much more than just fashion statement, they serve as a way for a person to express his or her love and admiration for wonders that do not exist in this world. By just looking at the fantasy tattoos on their skin, their imagination begins to flow.
That’s what great fantasy tattoos do…they inspire imagination!
When I look at some of the fantasy tattoos conceived by my colleagues at the tattoo studio where I work, I too become inspired. Sometimes, I even wake up in the middle of the night because a bunch of fantasy tattoo designs ideas would just burst out in my mind. I would start sketching and conceptualizing as much as possible and before I know it, it's already time to get ready for work.
Inspiration for producing fantasy tattoos is not just limited to checking out other tattooist’s portfolio. You can obtain inspirations from watching horror and fantasy films, or even while listening to your favorite music.
I’ve produced a great deal of stellar fantasy and horror style tattoo designs after listening to bands such as Slipknot, KoЯn, Disturbed, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, and Megadeth. Even odd people that you encounter in real life can instill inspiration sometimes.
One of my favorite methods of acquiring creative inspiration for producing fantasy tattoo ideas is from comic books. I'm very much drawn to this medium and comics rarely fail to inspire me.
That’s what great fantasy tattoos do…they inspire imagination!
When I look at some of the fantasy tattoos conceived by my colleagues at the tattoo studio where I work, I too become inspired. Sometimes, I even wake up in the middle of the night because a bunch of fantasy tattoo designs ideas would just burst out in my mind. I would start sketching and conceptualizing as much as possible and before I know it, it's already time to get ready for work.
Inspiration for producing fantasy tattoos is not just limited to checking out other tattooist’s portfolio. You can obtain inspirations from watching horror and fantasy films, or even while listening to your favorite music.
I’ve produced a great deal of stellar fantasy and horror style tattoo designs after listening to bands such as Slipknot, KoЯn, Disturbed, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, and Megadeth. Even odd people that you encounter in real life can instill inspiration sometimes.
One of my favorite methods of acquiring creative inspiration for producing fantasy tattoo ideas is from comic books. I'm very much drawn to this medium and comics rarely fail to inspire me.
Keep Drawing For Fun and Great Design Ideas Will Soon Come!
Drawing fantasy tattoo designs, or any kind of tattoo art for that matter, should be a fun endeavor. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be doing it right. In my case, I just love drawing a shed load of concept sketches, though other things get in the way from time to time.
I would love to be drawing right through the night like I used to as kid, but raising a family and actually working at the tattoo studio in order to pay the bills are my top priorities.
But I’ll be producing some concepts in a short while. After I’m done typing this article, I’ll be burning the midnight oil. I’m going to stay up as long as I can, and develop ideas in my sketch pads. I’ll be drawing lots and lots of fantasy art tattoo concepts along with other cool stuff late into the night.
This habit has become the norm for me. I even set up a spare bed in my ‘tattoo practice and idea development room’, just in case I feel like dozing off while working.
I would love to be drawing right through the night like I used to as kid, but raising a family and actually working at the tattoo studio in order to pay the bills are my top priorities.
But I’ll be producing some concepts in a short while. After I’m done typing this article, I’ll be burning the midnight oil. I’m going to stay up as long as I can, and develop ideas in my sketch pads. I’ll be drawing lots and lots of fantasy art tattoo concepts along with other cool stuff late into the night.
This habit has become the norm for me. I even set up a spare bed in my ‘tattoo practice and idea development room’, just in case I feel like dozing off while working.