Darby Womack

The Art of Tattooing

High school (9-12)

Goal
The goal is for students to develop an introductory understanding of the different cultural
aspects of tattooing as well as the development of the process over time. The focus of the
lesson will be the importance of line in making effective tattoos and examples will be pulled
from modern, tribal and religious tattooing practices.

Lesson 1: History of Tattooing

Objective
I can explain the importance of tattoos in the Pacific Islander culture and in the practice
of Coptic Christianity
EALRs
7.1 (Proficient) Hypothesize ways in which art influences perception and understanding
of human experiences.
11.1 (Proficient) Describe how knowledge of culture, traditions, and history may
influence personal responses to art.
Materials
Student - pencil and sketchbook (Notes and sketches)
Images
Tribal Tattoo Examples
Coptic Tattoo Examples
Modern Tattoo Examples
Art History Lesson Summary
The focus of this lesson will be an introduction of the culture of body modification,
specifically tattooing. We will look at two different cultures that use tattooing as well as
tattoo culture in modern America. This discussion will be heavily discussion focused,
with the goal of seeking to understand what influences people to put permanent images
on their bodies, and the significance behind the images.

Lesson 2: Aesthetics of tattooing, the importance of line

Objective
I can use my understanding of negative and positive space to create a clean and
precise line drawing that is meaningful to me.
EALR
2.2 (Proficient) Explain how traditional and non-traditional materials may impact human
health and the environment and demonstrate safe handling of materials, tools, and
equipment.
2.1 (Accomplished) Through experimentation, practice, and persistence, demonstrate
acquisition of skills and knowledge in a chosen art form.
Materials
Student - Sketchbook and pencil
 Teacher - Markers, felt pens, rulers, compasses, lightbox
Philosophy/Aesthetics Lesson Summary
This lesson will focus predominantly on the concept of positive and negative space as
well as line and their importance and use in tattooing. There will be a shorter
presentation about precision and creating clean lines, with a short discussion centered
around photos comparing poor precision to clean precision. There will also be some time
devoted to talk about the importance of safe tattooing and the process. The majority of
the lesson will be a work time where they will practice designing an image that is clean
and meaningful to them, with individual help offered where needed.

Lesson 3: Critique and Criticism

Objective
I will contribute to the class critique and offer feedback to my peers on the strength and
precision of their drawing as well as how clear the meaning of the drawing is portrayed
EALR
1.2 (Proficient) Shape an artistic investigation of an aspect of present-day life using a
contemporary practice of art or design.
Materials:
Student - Pencil
Teacher - Peer Assessment Questions
Art Criticism Lesson Summary
This lesson will be an extended critique time where each students drawings will be
given
a couple of minutes in which they will receive feedback from their classmates. Students
will also fill out a questionnaire asking them to choose different designs by their peers
and explain what they think is strong about their designs. Students will be encouraged to
take the feedback that they receive from me and their classmates and rework their
design to be stronger.
Lesson 4: Henna tattooing or Surface Design
Objective
I will demonstrate my understanding of line by executing a clean and precise drawing
onto an organic shape in the form of a henna tattoo or another 3 dimensional form.
EALRs
1.1 (Accomplished) Individually or collaboratively formulate new creative problems
based on students existing artwork.
Art Materials
Students - Bodies/3-Dimensional Object they are okay with drawing on
Teacher - Henna Art Supplies, Sharpies, Paint pens, extra objects for students
Studio Lesson Summary
This lesson will be predominantly based around giving students the opportunity to
implement their practice with line and precision on 3-dimensional objects, including
themselves if allowed. There will be a brief history discussion around the significance of
henna tattoos. If the students are not comfortable with henna they have the option of
practicing surface design on the object of their choice, so long as it is not a
 predominantly flat object. Students will also be taught briefly about photography and
documentation of 3 dimensional work. A self-reflective assessment will be required to be
turned in with their object or pictures of their object.

Assessment
There will be multiple forms of written and oral assessment throughout the project,
namely in the Art Criticism lesson where a majority of the formative assessment will be
provided by me and their peers. There will also be a self assessment at the end of the
project and a written report at the end of the year where they are required to make
connections between the history and cultures and different art forms that we will be
learning about.
Below is an example of the questions they will be asked to answer in open critique time
in lesson 3.

Integration
There is an integration in the realm of social studies and history when examining
the history of tattooing and the different cultures
There is a significance of learning about the importance of precision in work, as
precision, drawing straight lines and creating clean compositions can be useful in
the fields of math and science.

Resources

(Coptic Cross tattoo) https://cruxnow.com/faith/2015/06/27/tattoos-arent-just-a-fashion-

statement-for-egypts-copts/
(Tribal tattoo) http://www.apolynesiantattoo.com/polynesian-tattoo-history
(Slow motion tattoo closeup) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxLoycj4pJY
(Tribal tattoo) http://www.tattoodirector.com/Maori.htm

Design Critique
Go around the room and choose projects that are not your own that fit with the qualities of the
questions below. Do not write about a project more than once!

Choose a design that you believe shows a good use of varying lines What are some of the
different lines that they used?
Design #______
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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Choose a design that has a good balance of positive and negative space. What color is the
positive?
Design #_____
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Choose a design and explain, or attempt to explain the meaning behind the work
Design #______
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Choose a design that is clean and precise. Do you think the precision makes the design
stronger?
Design #______
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Choose your favorite design. What makes this design your favorite?
Design #______
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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Images
Polynesian Tribal Tattoos
Coptic Cross Tattoos