TPC's Tattoo Artist Challenge Series #3 - The Shading Style Challenge (Snake Edition)
- Mia Parziale
- Nov 21, 2025
- 1 min read
This week’s challenge is about how shading changes the feel and depth of a tattoo using a subject that shows it well.
Snakes are perfect for this because you can keep the structure the same while showing how different shading techniques completely change the final look.
Tattoo Artist Challenge Series #3🐍 The Shading Style
Here’s how it works:
Draw one snake design. A simple clean outline.
Create two versions of that exact snake:
Version 1: soft shading or whip shading
Version 2: bold shading, saturated blacks, or heavier contrast
Keep the linework identical. Only the shading changes.
Under each version, write how long each one would take you to tattoo.
Post it as a carousel or video to highlight the difference in mood, depth, and texture.
Clients don’t always understand how shading impacts healing, longevity, or how “dramatic” a tattoo looks.
This gives them a clear visual without needing a complex design.
It also shows your technical control. Smooth blends vs. punchy blacks.
