Backwards Blending Techniques for Traditional Tattoo Flash [VIDEO]

What’s This All About?

A few weeks ago I did a tutorial on blending. In that article, I discussed the idea that the best blending starts in the mind and not the marker. While it’s a true statement that we should blend with our minds before our markers, it’s also true that blending requires the physical act of laying one color over another. So this week I’m going to show you how to use your markers to get good blends using your markers AND your mind.

For this tutorial I’ll be creating a drawing in the style of traditional tattoo flash. In an effort to keep it as clear and understandable as possible, I’m limiting my pallet to four colors from the Toner Gray family.

The colors I’m using are:

• 100 Black
• T7
• T4
• T2
• T0
• 0CB

Notice that there is only a small value difference of 3 or less between each successive marker. Keeping the values in this range makes blending easier. It’s been my experience that blending markers that are four or more value numbers apart requires more work than necessary, so I try to keep the numbers as close as possible without having to use too many markers to do the job.

Backwards Blending

In an effort to stay true to the traditional techniques of making tattoo flash, I’ll be blending backwards for this tutorial. If you’ve done much investigation online on how to blend Copic markers, you know that the recommended blending order is to go from light to dark. The reason the light to dark method is recommended is because Copic markers are solvent based. When we lay one Copic color over another, the solvent in the top color has the effect of lifting and lightening the color underneath. This effect is especially noticeable when we color a light color over a dark.

So when we want to keep our darks as dark as possible, putting them in last is the best way to go. But blending from dark to light has its place too. Especially when you only have a few values of each color. With fewer colors at our disposal, the lifting and lightening effect of backwards blending allows us to create smooth transitions by lightening the darker color.

So let’s get to it.

Step 1: Lay in Your Blacks

In this step I’ve placed all my blacks in their appropriate spots. I’m imagining the flame behind the dove to be the light source. Technically a light source like this would illuminate the dove from all sides, but that would make for a flat, boring image. So I’ve decided to make the strongest light coming from below. That means in this drawing, my blacks all need to go near the top edges of my forms.

Technical note: In order to have the most control when drawing near an edge or line, point the tip of the marker toward the line when laying in your color.

Also notice how the back end of the brush nib leaves an uneven, bumpy edge. This is a good thing. That rough edge is easier to blend out than a hard, crisp edge.

Step 2: Laying in the Next Darkest Value

When I lay in the next value, I make sure to overlap the edge of the black. Notice how the T7 blends almost perfectly with the black without any actual “blending” on my part. This is a good example of how markers with a value difference of less than four blend together naturally. You can see this effect more clearly in the short video below.

Step 3: Laying in the Mid-tones

In this step I lay in my mid-tones. The alcohol in the T4 lifts and lightens the ink at the rough edge of the T7 I used in the previous step. With only one layer like this, the blend isn’t perfect, but it’s a good starting point. I have intentionally left the blending a bit rough in these photos so you can see how the values look up next to each other before softening them all together.

Step 4: Laying in the Lightest Values

To complete the gradation I lay in the lightest values. Once all of my primary values are placed, I’ll soften everything together with the T0.

Here’s how the finished drawing looks after blending.

I’ve left the values a bit strong so they will show through the transparent color layers that I will ultimately apply over the top.

To learn how to add color to a grayscale drawing, click here:
What the Hell is Grisaille?

The paper I’ve used for this drawing is 100 lb. smooth Bristol board. The template shown in the final image and video is one of the practice sheets I’ve created to help me work out my color schemes before working on an important drawing. Using a template like this allows me to practice new techniques and keep track of the colors I’ve used and the things I’ve tried. I find them to be invaluable when starting a new drawing, and after I’ve completed one, I have a record of what works and what doesn’t.

A Final Thought

Getting great blends takes thought and practice, mind and media. We’ve all heard the saying ‘practice makes perfect’, but practicing a new technique on an important drawing or coloring page is never a good idea. It’s always best to keep the practice and the performance separate.

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