So I’ve gotten pretty good w/ whip shading until I want to shade back towards myself (picture a rose w/pedals radiating in all directions, shading from the center down, back toward you). With fake skin I can just turn it around but obviously that can’t be done w/ a client. Do you turn your machine completely around facing you? When I used to watch my mentor I swore he just did a backward flick of the wrist (in toward the arm rather than up and away) but I just cant get it to look the same as my up / side stroke whips and the lack of uniformity bothers me. Or maybe I’m just being a perfectionist?
Whip shading question
- Starter Johneff
- Start date
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I always whip shade so the force/resistance of the skin is pushing the needles to the back (or closed side) of the tip, so I never whip one way and then reverse without turning my machine round. I use wireless pen machines now and there’s literally no difference in the hand, but I know with coils you’re shifting all the weight around.
I also move myself around a lot, meaning I often stand up from siting mid tattoo, if i need to. I tell my clients at the start about stretching, pulling and pushing on their skin, and that when necessary I’ll reposition them or ask them to hold a certain position so that I can get the best line, whip, fill etc. So far they have all appreciated that helping me this way means they walk out with better work. I suppose what I’m saying is don’t be shy or afraid to make yourself as comfortable as possible for any part of the tattoo, ultimately the client will appreciate it. And shift/reposition your machine to get the ink in the way you want it with the least trauma on the skin.
I also move myself around a lot, meaning I often stand up from siting mid tattoo, if i need to. I tell my clients at the start about stretching, pulling and pushing on their skin, and that when necessary I’ll reposition them or ask them to hold a certain position so that I can get the best line, whip, fill etc. So far they have all appreciated that helping me this way means they walk out with better work. I suppose what I’m saying is don’t be shy or afraid to make yourself as comfortable as possible for any part of the tattoo, ultimately the client will appreciate it. And shift/reposition your machine to get the ink in the way you want it with the least trauma on the skin.
- Starter
- #3
Great tips, thanks so much. I’ve gone to a pen and battery set up myself also and it is really freeing, shifting positions is much easier!
I will change positions or move the client to where I want them to be.....I've had some clients comment that the position they are in is uncomfortable, I tell them that it's me who has to be comfortable to enable me to do a good tattoo, I do also tell them that we can take breaks if their position gets too uncomfortable for them, but most times they are only in uncomfortable positions for a short time while tattooing a certain part of the tattoo.
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