Plan Better • See the Work
Tattoo guides and project studies from Tornado Tattoo.
Explore Josh’s planning approach, prepare for consultation, understand general aftercare, and study how finished tattoos solve placement, scale, contrast, and color.
High-intent service guides
Choose the kind of project you are planning.
These pages explain the decisions Josh evaluates before the drawing begins.
Black-and-Gray Tattoos
Josh Poindexter plans black-and-gray work around readable value structure, placement, scale, and the amount of detail the tattoo can support over time.
Read guide →Service guideColor Tattoos
Josh uses color as part of the structure of a tattoo—not as decoration added at the end. Palette, contrast, placement, and surrounding skin all affect the final result.
Read guide →Service guideSleeves and Backpieces
Josh plans sleeves and backpieces as complete compositions, then organizes the work into practical stages based on placement, detail, color, healing, and scheduling.
Read guide →Service guideMemorial Tattoos
Josh helps clients translate a person, memory, service, place, or shared symbol into a custom tattoo that fits the body and remains readable over time.
Read guide →Before and after the appointment
Practical client guides.
Consultation Guide
You do not need to arrive with finished artwork. You do need enough information for Josh to understand the subject, placement, scale, style, and practical limits of the project.
Read guide →Client guideTattoo Aftercare Guide
Follow the written instructions Josh or your tattoo artist gives you at the appointment. This page provides general education and does not replace medical advice or artist-specific bandage instructions.
Read guide →Permanent portfolio pages
Project studies that explain the design—not private client details.
Each page uses original portfolio photography and clearly labels unpublished session counts and unconfirmed fresh or healed status.
Samurai backpiece
This project study examines the visible composition and planning decisions in Josh Poindexter’s samurai, temple, and mountain backpiece.
Study the project →
Tiger and skulls backpiece
This project study looks at how a large tiger focal point, skull elements, and dark atmosphere are organized across a full back.
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Color owl sleeve
This project study examines how an owl focal point, floral elements, and saturated color are connected across the arm.
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Traditional tiger
This project study examines how a recognizable tiger subject, confident outline, and concentrated color create a fast visual read.
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Blue gemstone sleeve
This project study looks at how a limited blue palette, gemstone highlights, and ornamental structure create a connected sleeve.
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Cover-up planning
The public portfolio does not label these images as before-and-after cover-ups. This study uses them honestly as examples of contrast, scale, texture, and composition that can matter in cover-up design.
Study the project →Ready to talk about your idea?
Use the guides, then bring Josh your own story.
The best consultation starts with a clear subject, placement, approximate size, and useful references.