Got Ink? Steampunk Tattoo Designs, Part 2

Steam Swallow by Tattoos and Doodles

      Since the single post regarding steampunk tattooos is the single most viewed post of all time on my entire web site, I decided to bring you more ideas and share some photos of steampunk/biomechanical tattoos that I really like.
     The designs labeled with the artist "Tattoos and Doodles" may be used under the Creative Commons license, that is, it may be shared and modified as long as you correctly attribute credit to the author/artist, and as long as you share your own derived work under the same terms.
     So yes, you can have those four designs tattooed on your body, legally.  Enjoy.

Steamoboros dragon tattoo design from Tattoos and Doodles

Another gear tattoo from Tattooos and Doodles

Gear tattoo from Tattoos and Doodles

Now for some tattoos that simply came from the web. As usual, the origins of the photos are often not given. (If you know who did the designs/inking in an unlabeled photo, please let me know by leaving a comment.)

Shoulder tattoo by Stefano Alcantara

by Russ Abbott of Ink and Dagger Studio, Decatur GA USA

by Russ Abbott

by Russ Abbott

by Russ Abbott

Possibilities... from tat-designs.com

I hope that these have offered some inspiration. Want more ideas?  Tat-designs.com has a dozen more steampunk tat design ideas.

 If I can find the design I want and figure out where to have it done (where on me and what establishment/artist can do it properly), I will probably end up with another tattoo; this time it will be steampunk.

How to Draw Steampunk Machines

(Picture and Drawing by Huang, from CrabFu site)

 What comprises a steampunk machine? 

I-Wei Huang, the artist and maker of CrabFu Steamworks has created a wonderful guide explaining how to draw the various parts of a steam engine and related mechanisms.  It includes exhaustive explanations of how these parts function in a real steam machine.

He says that the essential parts boil down to the following: Flywheel, Oiler/ displacement lubricator, Governor, Condenser, Valves, Safety Valve, Water Sight, Glass, Water pump / tank, Gauges, Sprocket, Levers, and Whistles.  Simple enough?  Sure!  

Look up each part and gather images which help you understand and remember the purpose of each; then you can use the images to refresh your memory while drawing.  Familiarity with the workings of an actual steam machine will lend credibility to the amazing machine you dream up.

How do we begin?  Sketch "loosely" at first, drawing the main components of your machine, then add details over top of the initial drawing once the main parts are in place.  The human mind has an ability to fill in the blanks when viewing things.

"The #1 goal should be a well designed, balanced, and eye catching machine."  Above all, keep it simple and open.  Steampunk people want to see what makes things tick.  Enjoy!

~ DS