The Great Gigeresque Ink Project (part 2)

Following on from the preliminary concept and sketches, to get an idea of the proportions of the tattoo (as Giger's design does not map onto a real human very easily!), I opted to paint a rough sketch on the person who will be getting the tattoo. This turned out to be essential as the proportions in the original meant that instead of extending from foot to hip, it would have reached far up her rib-cage. So, I need to know what proportions to use, and a mock-up is useful so she can see if she actually likes it!

Paint-job done

Does it work when stood up/full-length? I think so...

It's good to relax...

So, we agree that the design works - in the end it needed the thigh section of the original image to be shortened but other than that it is much the same. This is still at an early stage though - the image will have a surrounding 'background' and that's where the real creativity comes in as it'll be my original design. As I intend to draw it full size, it's time to find a nice big sheet of paper... more soon!

The Great Gigeresque Ink Project (part 1)

I was recently asked to design a tattoo - nothing especially unusual about that, except that it's a full-length hip-to-foot piece. It's also in the style of H.R.Giger - you know, the guy who designed Alien (there are lots of tattoos around inspired by his work). The size and intricacy of the piece means it's going to be a lonnnnnnnggggg project (months), especially as I may decide to draw it full size. So, with the eventual-canvas's permission, it feels like something well worth documenting as it progresses.

The core of the design is the microphone stand that Giger designed for Korn frontman Jonathan Davis. You can already see how this might work along the length of someone's leg, albeit with some tweaking to the proportions.

Concept art for the mic stand, full length

Concept art for the mic stand, detail of the top part

Giger's work is known for its intricacy and detail/realism (if 'realism' is the right word for images that are clearly a dark fantasy, but you know what I mean) but that's not a technical challenge as such - it simply takes more time. For me the challenge comes in fitting the design to the person so it looks right - after all, it's going to be there forever, and creating a background that can be blended into the surrounding skin and which will enhance the centrepiece. So far I have a preliminary concept sketch - very scruffy and scribbly, but it's something concrete to work on. Next step - fitting it to the recipient...

The first concept sketch...

So, more soon hopefully, and in the meantime, if you're wondering what 'KooKoo pins' means on the sketch, have a look at this album cover by Giger...