Learn to use the clients physical traits to inform your design
Use body placement to determine layout
Let the clients personality help simplify your decisionmaking
Use the Fireside Method of tattoo design to establish a hierarchy of dark and light shapes early on in the design process
Learn to use hard and soft edges to drive viewer attention and make your tattoo easily readable
Learn to use landmarks to make accurate physical maps of the area to be tattooed
Learn to use the planes of the body to ensure your design works well from all angles and vantage points
Learn to use simple color palettes to create harmony in the design
Use a combination of muted and high key colors to reinforce your heirarchy
use color to create atmosphere and depth in your designs
Colored Pencils (If Analog)
Learning to accurately map the area of the body that we are designing to is critical for creating a great composition. In Simplify, you will learn to use common "landmarks" that will inform your decision making during the design process
Value Study
Working Background to Foreground
In this phase, we will introduce color and refine edges in order to create a sense of depth in the design. We will discuss how to use rich, bright and muted colors effectively to achieve interesting effects.
Jake Meeks has been tattooing since 1996 and founded the Fireside Tattoo Network in 2013 with the goal of "blurring the lines" between tattooing and fine art.
In 2016 Jake introduced the "Fireside Method" which aims to help tattooers simplify and improve their work by focusing on the principles of Shape, Value, Edge and Color.
The Fireside Method has been the base for Jake's teaching over the last 5 years as he travels with the Fireside team, podcasting and teaching seminars and workshops
Our Fireside Simplify course is designed to help tattooers create more dynamic designs easier by reducing their options throughout the design process!
-Find Your Unique Style