Ways to use this list
- Flash sheet challenge for artists: spin eight motifs and fit them all on one page in the same line weight, like the sample sheets in a studio window.
- Temporary tattoo design: kids draw a spun motif small, colour it boldly and turn it into a stick-on transfer with printable temporary tattoo paper.
- Style practice: spin a motif, then tap Tattoo styles and spin again. A fox drawn as fine line looks nothing like a fox in bold traditional outlines.
- Linework training: simple motifs are perfect for practising clean, confident lines with a fine pen, a core skill for any illustrator.
- Cards and stickers: turn a spun motif into a bookmark, sticker or greeting card for someone who loves that animal or flower.
Press Spin the wheel, tap the game or press the Space bar. Change the list in the box as you
like: add your own, delete what doesn't suit you, or write *2 after an entry to give it double the
chance. The game buttons switch the same list to a duck race, hat, claw machine and more.
The full list (57 entries)
- Rose
- Sunflower
- Lotus
- Cherry blossom branch
- Lavender sprig
- Fern leaf
- Pine tree
- Mountain range
- Ocean wave
- Mushroom
- Daisy chain
- Olive branch
- Acorn
- Cactus
- Koi fish
- Swallow
- Hummingbird
- Butterfly
- Moth
- Bee
- Fox
- Wolf
- Bear
- Owl
- Whale
- Octopus
- Jellyfish
- Cat silhouette
- Paw print
- Snake
- Dragon
- Turtle
- Crescent moon
- Sun and moon
- Shooting star
- Constellation
- Planet with rings
- Lightning bolt
- Cloud
- Rainbow
- Paper plane
- Compass
- Anchor
- Arrow
- Feather
- Key
- Hourglass
- Hot air balloon
- Lighthouse
- Origami crane
- Treble clef
- Music note
- Teacup
- Stack of books
- Pencil
- Heart with a banner
- Ship in a bottle
Questions people ask
Can I use these ideas for a real tattoo?
They are drawing prompts, not finished designs. A real tattoo is a permanent decision for adults, and in many countries you must be 18. Take your sketches to a professional tattoo artist, who will draw a design made for you.
What makes a simple tattoo design work?
Bold, clear shapes and not too many tiny details. Very fine lines and small gaps can soften and spread over the years, so designs that still read clearly from a few steps away tend to age best.
What are the main tattoo styles?
Traditional uses bold black outlines and a few flat colours; fine line uses thin, delicate lines; blackwork fills shapes with solid black; dotwork builds shading from dots; and watercolour looks like soft washes of paint.
What is a flash sheet?
A flash sheet is a page of ready-drawn designs that a tattoo studio shows customers to choose from. Artists still draw them today, and fitting many small designs on one page makes a great sketchbook exercise.