“Skin Not Paper”: Why Tattooing Is More Than Just an Image
Tattooing is often perceived as a final image - a picture placed on the skin.
But for me, tattooing has never been about images alone. It’s about design, responsibility, and the relationship between art and the human body.
That understanding is what led me to write Skin Not Paper: The Modern Tattoo Guide.
Why I Wrote This Book
After more than nine years of professional tattooing across different countries and cultures, I noticed the same issue repeating itself: many tattoos look strong on paper or on a screen, but fail to truly work on the body.
Skin moves. Bodies change. Anatomy matters.
A tattoo is not a flat surface - and treating it as one often leads to disappointing long-term results.
I wrote Skin Not Paper as a response to that problem.
The book is not about trends or shortcuts. It’s about thinking like a designer, respecting the body, and understanding tattooing as a long-term discipline rather than a quick visual result.
What the Book Is About
Skin Not Paper is a professional guide created primarily for tattoo artists, but it’s also valuable for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of modern tattooing.
The book covers topics such as:
modern tattoo design principles
adapting designs to real bodies
composition, flow, and balance
common mistakes artists make when translating designs onto skin
working responsibly with clients
developing your own visual language as an artist
Rather than focusing on one specific style, the book explores how to think, not what to copy.
Tattooing as a Design Discipline
My background in design and years of hands-on experience shaped the way I approach tattooing.
For me, every tattoo is a collaboration between idea, anatomy, and execution.
A strong tattoo should:
feel natural on the body
move with the anatomy
age well over time
reflect both the artist’s vision and the client’s identity
This philosophy is at the core of both my tattoo work and the book.
Who the Book Is For
Skin Not Paper is written for:
tattoo artists who want to grow beyond copying references
artists who care about longevity and quality
creatives who see tattooing as applied design
clients who want to better understand the process behind meaningful tattoos
Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or already experienced, the goal of the book is to encourage critical thinking and conscious decision-making.
Why This Matters
Tattooing leaves a permanent mark - physically and emotionally.
That’s a responsibility I take seriously, both in my work and in my writing.
Skin Not Paper reflects the same values I bring into every tattoo session: clarity, intention, respect for the body, and continuous growth.
If tattooing is more than decoration to you - if it’s a form of design and self-expression - then this book was written with you in mind.
If you’d like to read the book, you can purchase it on Amazon.
