Templates have been provided for students to complete as they learn the technical part of this course.

Your mentor, Che Crook will cover:

Chapter 1 - Needles, Machines & Ink
Needle taper, gauge, needle brands. Coil machines vs rotary machines, machine parts, stroke/throw, voltage. Ink brands, mixing grey wash, healed vs fresh ink.

Chapter 2 - Drawing & Design
There will be studies and exercises for students to do. An introduction into drawing, understanding the types of shading, learning to draw with shapes, breaking down reference photos, advanced drawing. The basics of good design, designing small and large tattoos, breaking down Che's drawings and tattoos.

Chapter 3 - Stencils
The 3 ways Che makes his stencils, preparing the client's skin, placing small and large stencils, removing stencils.

Chapter 4 - Hygiene
Setting up for a tattoo, wrapping furniture and accessories, avoiding cross contamination during the tattoo, breaking down your station, aftercare.

Chapter 5 - Lining
You will be provided templates to print and stencil onto fake skin. Che teaches his method, the 5 tattoo "variables" - voltage, stroke/throw, hand speed, needle depth and stretching the skin. Pushing and pulling lines, fine lines, bold lines, dipping the needle. Che tattoos fake skin to show a variety of styles, skin complexions and needle sizes, as well as how to adjust your machine technique appropriately.

Chapter 6- Shading
Following the lining chapter, you will learn how to control the tattoo variables while shading to achieve a variety of shading styles; smooth shading, stippling with a liner and whip shading for a more traditional look. Che tattoos fake skin to show different techniques, how to select the appropriate needles and adjust to different clients and body parts. Use the template provided to try the different techniques.

Chapter 7 - Packing
Learn to pack solid black with both magnum shaders and liners, selecting the appropriate needles for each tattoo, Che demonstrates on fake skin and clients.

Chapter 8 - Bonus
Social media, branding, tattoo photography, advertising and more.