We had the pleasure of visiting Aggie Vnek; Sponsored Artist at Killer Ink, Resident Artist at Abrakadavra Studio, and Pro Artist at Whitfields Tattoo Co. While there, we watched her create an incredible cyborg colour surrealism tattoo featuring bold blackwork elements.
Watch the full video to see Aggie Vnek bring her masterpiece to life!
Colour Transition Techniques
Aggie talked us through her colour transition techniques, including layering colours. She starts with a mid-tone base colour and layers a darker colour over it to create the transition, followed by lighter tones.
This helps to avoid overworking the skin and allows the inks to mix naturally. By building colours gradually, she achieves depth and vibrancy without damaging the skin.
Blending Colours in a Surrealism Tattoo
To create seamless colour blends, Aggie combines multiple techniques:
- Pendulum motion to blend colours into each other.
- Small circles to pack colour.
- Whip shading using a faster hand speed and lifting the machine slightly at the end of each stroke to whip the colour out into another.
This helps achieve an extra smooth transition and creates a gradual fade with a less saturated edge. Before switching colours, you should whip the first colour out towards the skin tone with minimal ink to create a soft, gradual edge.
Incorporating Blackwork into a Colour Tattoo
For adding blackwork elements:
- Pack black ink using slow, sideways motions with a curved magnum.
- Finish with the outline on the edges with a round shader.
This combination of shading and sharp lines creates a striking contrast against the vibrant colour work.
Product Highlights
Check out some of the tattoo supplies Aggie used to create her surrealism tattoo or shop the whole set-up to try them yourself!
