TIPS ON CREATING QUIALITY FLASH!!!???!!!

So I've been looking at a fair amount of flash, a lot of my own work conceptions with a more far eastern philosophical Japanese related imagery. In a lot of the flash I'm seeing done by current tattoo artist whom too, specialize in this field, I'm noticing it's mainly done with water coloring, with maybe an ink outline???? My question is, how do I go about creating quality water colored based flash, for my portfolio. Do I start with a sharpe outline, or a permanat ink outline, then fill it in with the water color paints similar, to formation of actual tattoos, OR water color first over a pencil outline, and then marker or ink outlines? Sorry if this question is seems dumb, but I have limited materials, I know the best way to learn is through personal tirals and tirbulations but I'd appreciate any sage like wisdom anyone could give me. Thanks for you time. Peace.

I just started designing with watercolors. I was originally trying colored pencil, but the coloring isnt solid enough. I have been doing the outline first with a fine tip DecoColor paint pen and then coloring in with the paint. I chose the paint pen because the watercolors do not make it run(I had a problem with regular ink running a little bit, making the outline hazy and cloudy in some areas). After the watercolor has dried, I go back over the outline with the paint pen to re-line any areas that the paint got on and to thicken any lines that need it. It looks very good when all done. I do the actual flash sheets on 11" x 15" 140lb watercolor paper. Most all the office supply chains(Office Depot, Office Max, Kinko's) can print copies of the flash on 120lb card stock in full color, so you can really use whatever stock paper you are most comfortable with for the original, but I am kind of heavy with the paint, so the higher weight paper is nice for me. I hope I helped a little.

I'm no expert or anything but I just had an art class last semester and I had to buy these pencil crayons and I wasn't the one to colour in my drawings cuz i just never liked the look of the way it made the pic look BUT these ones are watercolour pencils...yeaa and they would be perfect for flash with a 0.5 or 1 tip permenent marker that way it doesn't run when you apply the water. Ok well there is two ways you can use these...(not sayin u dunno how to colour but there is a sertain way you can do it) the 1st one is you can dip the tip of the crayon into water and draw but you have to keep doing that and that way it makes it look really good though. and the other way i to just colour in lightly then with a paintbrush go over it with a paint brush with water on it. Oh and try to avoid droping them becuase they break easily in the inside...=) o and you can probably find them in any art store...i live in canada so i find mine in Micheals.

o I forgot...they are called Karat Aquarell water colour pencils.

Yeah the color intensity with color pencils just isn't strong enough I feel like. Thanks so much sublime tat, and Megz for your input on the matter!!!!! You've both been very imformative. And it's very much appreciated. Anyone else with any tips please feel free to contribute as well, thanks again.

i myself am not quite to the level you guys are at just yet, but i'm browsing into this topic anyways... do you have to usse watercolor in order to do your own flash? i've never been a big fan of watercolor paint... i was snever that great w/ it... i'm real good w/ Oil and Acrylic, but mostly Oil... but i love color pencils too... and i was turned onto Prismacolor pencils by a local tat artist here, as well as Prismacolor Markers.. I didn't care for the markers, but the Pencils I LOVED!! I'll look into those watercolor pencils you mentioned..maybe i'd be better w/ those then the actual watercolor paint... could you use charcoal too? I've always been good w/ that... i'm just wondering what tools you have to work with for this... alot of the stuff i draw i use Black alot for... especially when i do graffiti or shading on it...

Brush pens!!!! Back when I actually was working up a flash portfolio (getting started on doing that again) I used alot of prismacolor pencils, acid free felt tip pens (for outlines), usually in .05 tips.... I had a set of the regular pencils, you know... HB 1b 2b etc... Little tip, if you use pencils, spray the finished peice with hairspray and unless they get wet, your art wont smear nearly as much. I wish I could remember who made those brush pens, they were SO nice for flash. I also fell in love with Prismacolors grey markers, but I had alot of problem getting them to shade and blend. I'd poke around your local craft/art supply store. Check out AC Moore, you can find a ton of droolworthy stuff in their pen aisle. :)

Thanks for hte imput..^^^

thx for the reply, i'll search online for some of that stuff...

BUMP!

I have been a professional artist for a number of years, but have very little experience drawing, painting or coloring flash. But what I have done is experimented on ways to color my black & white heavy- lined portraits (like Albert Einstein, Marilyn Monroe, etc. which have sold extremely well). What I am about to suggest may sound strange, but it's fantastic for creating speculative art, or when you want to experiment with different color schemes on a particular black & white piece. You may want to work small and experiment with this a few times before you actually try it on your flash, but essentially, you can use regular paper. After creating your black & white piece, cover it with modge podge (matte finish), but beware because it will want to curl as it dries. You can prevent curling by using thumb tacks on a piece of cardboard. Remember to experiment on unfinished paper before trying this to get a feel for how it will go. I'd hate to see you lose your work. After the modge podge dries, you will flip it over and modge podge the back and then mount it to poster board, bristol board, etc (acid free). After doing that, modge podge the front again, and that will give you a fantastic surface for painting watercolor, gouche, or watered down acrylic, while still leaving your original work intact. With watercolor or gouche, you will be able to wipe it off with a damp cloth, if you don't like the way the color turned out, or if you just want to see it in a differfent color. I've done alot of layout work like this for clients who wanted to see a piece in numerous colors. It sounds very time consuming, but usually only takes half an hour to prepare a piece for color. Modge podge dries very fast. (Watercolor and gouche are very cheap, and modge podge can be found at Wal-mart, Michael's or craft stores.) Hope this helps! I'm going to be using the same technique for my flash portfolio as well.

Very informative Itchy, thanks so much. I'll def. try that.