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 guideIllustrative Tattoos
Josh creates custom illustrative tattoos built around strong composition, readable subject matter, and clean visual flow. These projects can include landmarks, symbols, objects, botanical elements, and color-focused designs.
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 →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.