Fall Flash and How to Comes to Be
School has started, and the mornings have gotten earlier. While the early days can feel sluggish sometimes, gaining a few extra hours in the morning to create some art has been wonderful, including some new fall flash!
I recently found a great coffee shop in Tolland, CT — Radial Coffee — with a really nice space to hang out, draw, work, and drink some amazing coffee. I often forget to eat breakfast, so I’ve probably been partaking in a few too many scones. The frittatas are good, too!
There’s something about having a little extra time in the morning, a good cup of coffee, and a place to sit and draw that makes it much easier to get into a creative rhythm.
Finding Inspiration in the Everyday
With fall right around the corner, I’ve been spending some of those mornings working on new tattoo flash designs.
My process changes a little depending on what I’m working on, but most of the time, I try to use things around me for inspiration. I’ve always found it easier to draw from things I already know or can actually see.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t usually a random Google search of a very generic term somewhere in the process to get things started.
This time, the inspiration was right outside my window.
Goldenrod.
Unfortunately, the goldenrod was also outside my window absolutely destroying me with allergies.
In between sneezes and watery eyes, I created a goldenrod floral tattoo design, and it kind of snowballed from there. I’m starting to see the first signs of fall all around me, and it’s been inspiring me to create more seasonal tattoo flash.
The changing colors, plants, cooler weather, and all of those little signs that summer is winding down have me thinking about what I want my fall and Halloween tattoo flash to look like this year.
My Tattoo Flash Process
My process usually goes something like this:
Research → Sketching in Red → Redefining in Blue → Stencils → Finished Design in Procreate
I really love the way my pencil sketches look, and one of the things I’m always working toward is recreating that feeling in my finished tattoos.
There’s something about a loose pencil drawing that I really enjoy. It feels a little imperfect and organic, and I want to carry some of that feeling into my tattoo designs while still making sure the final tattoo will work well on the body.
Once I have an idea I’m happy with, I refine the drawing, create the stencil, and finish the design digitally in Procreate.
It’s always interesting to see how different the original idea can look by the time it becomes a finished tattoo design.
Coming Up at Wildwood Tattoos: Manchester Book Fest
And speaking of tattoos, there’s a fun event coming up!
Wildwood Tattoos is hosting a walk-in event on September 12 for Manchester Book Fest.
I’ll be offering first come, first served walk-in tattoos from 11 AM–5 PM featuring my book-themed fantasy flash, while Caitlynn will be offering walk-in tattoo consultations from 10 AM–Noon.
I’m really excited to see everyone and be part of the event!
If you have your eye on one of my book-themed flash designs, get there early to claim your spot since walk-ins will be first come, first served.
Can’t make it to Book Fest? That’s okay, too. The book-themed flash will also be available to book for a different day later in the month.
You can check out the available designs and submit a tattoo inquiry if you’d rather schedule an appointment.
What’s Next?
I’ll be posting my finished fall and Halloween tattoo flash as I complete it, so there will be plenty more to come over the next few weeks.
For now, I’m enjoying the process of watching the season change and seeing how much inspiration I can pull from what’s happening around me.
Sometimes it’s a cup of coffee.
Sometimes it’s a plant outside my window.
And sometimes it’s a plant outside my window that makes me sneeze for three hours.
Either way, I’m excited to see where these ideas go.
Which design is your favorite so far? Let me know!
And if you’re looking for a tattoo artist in Manchester, CT, Tolland, CT, or the surrounding Connecticut area, I’d love to hear what you’re thinking about for your next tattoo.
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