Composition and flow in tattoo - A Digital Guide by Jesús Larreal

Create tattoo designs that work with the body’s anatomy and movement.

In this digital guide, tattoo artist and graphic designer Jesús Larreal shares his approach to body mapping, composition, and tattoo execution, connecting the design process with the three-dimensional surface of the body.

Inside, you’ll explore:

• Body mapping: analyzing muscle and bone landmarks, flatter areas, and body contours to guide your composition.

• Composition and flow: understanding how directional choices work with or against the body’s natural lines.

• Designing in 360°: considering multiple viewing angles to keep key elements readable as a tattoo wraps around a limb.

• Adapting designs to curved surfaces: adjusting proportions to compensate for visual distortion.

• Tattoo execution: exploring stippling and soft shading to build texture, volume, and smooth tonal transitions.

Develop a more intentional approach to tattoo design, with greater attention to placement, proportion, movement, and visual clarity.

Format: Digital guide (PDF).

Language: English.