How to Design Your Own Dolphin Lower-Back Tattoo

Tattoos are extremely personal, and when you consider getting one you might enjoy is more if you have had a hand in the tattoo's design. Lower-back tattoos can be difficult to design because of the placement of the tattoo. When designing a lower-back tattoo you will want to make use of natural curve shapes. This will complement the placement of the tattoo on your lower back. In the example for this article you will learn how to design a dolphin lower-back tattoo.

Things You'll Need

• Paper Pencil Black ink pen Colored markers

Instructions

1. 

   Draw a reverse "S" shape for the top of the head and back of the dolphin. Add another reverse "S" shape for the chin and belly.

2. 

   Create the dorsal fin of the dolphin with a curved triangular shape. The tip of the fin should be on the right-hand side of the drawing, and the bottom part of the fin should have the most pronounced curve. Apply this shape for the two front fins. The front fins should have their tips facing downward.

3. Draw the tail by combining two thin triangular fin shapes at the bottom of the two "S" curves. Round off the nose with a "c" shape at the top of the "S" curves.

4. 

   Draw the mouth of the dolphin with a line extending from the tip of the nose and into the head. Just above the mouth add an oval for the eye. Draw a curved broken line for the bridge of the nose.

5. 

   Ink the entire drawing. Let the ink dry, and carefully erase the pencil lines.

6. 

   Color the tattoo design with hues that work well against your skin tone. For tan to fair skin tone aquamarine will contrast nicely against your skin. Take this design to a tattoo artist. He can then take this design and fully flesh out the details and colors.

Resources

• How to draw a killer whale.
• An article on drawing totem poles that you can use for a tattoo idea.