In this instructables I will show how to easily draw a pin up girl tattoo. Is relatively easy because vintage tattoo had simple line and shape and use only few colors. Plus vintage tattoo don't need a look too professional.

Is nice to make your own tattoo or just draw one for fun.

☛Remember:
-make simple and single outline;
-use very few color, because in the past there weren't all the choose of tattoo ink we have today;
-every piece you don't color in the flash will be "pink skin" in a real tattoo (so I preferred to cover the whole paper in pink to have a better idea of the real tattoo final look);
-try to don't make the parallel line of your draw to close together because in a real tattoo the ink will spread and the lines will touch each other;
-don't be afraid to use black for shading and live many uncolored space (for example for the girl skin, or for the edges of the objects).

Step 1: WHAT YOU NEED

material:
-pencil (2 or 3 B);
-soft colored pencils (I used prismacolor);
-ink and nib (or black ink pen);
-smooth paper ;
-non abrasive eraser (the almost transparent kind);
-sharpener.

Step 2: FIND a PIN UP PHOTO

Find a pin up photo you like. The internet is full of them, you just tape "pin up girl" on google image.

Step 3: DRAW THE OUTLINE

Draw the outline of the girl of your photo. Simplify the image as much as you can.

Use a soft pencil and don't press too much with it or when you color your image there will be a white mark on the paper.

Step 4: USE THE INK

Pass back on your draw with the ink pen and erase the pencil with the non abrasive eraser.
(Regular eraser will fade the ink).

Step 5: COLOR THE BODY

-Color the body with a skin pink (if you are using a yellow or pink paper you don't need too);
-make the shading with a darker pink and a dark brown (don't use black for shading bodies);
-make the cheeks red (really typical on vintage tattoo).

I colored with the same pink the background too, just like if it was on the skin.

Step 6: THE MOUTH

Make the mouth with only few line, color with only red and black and live a little white spot in the middle of the lips.
In small tattoo draw, like the one I made, the mouth is only made with two black lines.
Add a beauty mark for vintage look.

Step 7: THE EYES

Also the eyes are really simple, you can make them only with black lines.
The eyebrow is round and tall, like in the old fashion style.
Under the eyes you can color a big red cheeks.

Step 8: THE NOSE

The nose is really simple too, only few outline and a darker pink spot for shading.
You can also make it with only two black dots.

Step 9: THE HAIR

On the hair use only one or two color.
Leave some white part, blend it on the side with a lighter color and draw some line on top (like in the photos).

Choose a vintage air cut (curl on the face were really popular on those vintage tattoo).

Step 10: THE OUTFIT

Color the outfit with few color.
Draw a vintage outfit, really simplify.

Step 11: ACCESSORIES

You can fill in your drawing with things, like roses (really popular on vintage tattoo), or accessories for your girl, like sailor hats or big bows.

Rose: they are really easy to draw. Draw a simplify rose and color it: before with bright red (let some white space on the edges of the petals), then blend with black for the shading(look at the photo), do the same for the leaves with green and black.

Sailor hat: is really easy to draw and you color it with two shade of blue and black shading (look at the photo).

Step 12: THE BACKGROUND

Add some more color on the corner of the drawing page and fill it up with some simple star.

Some small simple ancor will be nice too if you choose a sailor subject.