Whip lines are flowing, dynamic lines that are thick at the base and taper towards the end. Artists use them to give a composition movement: they are how waves, flames, wind, hair or fur are drawn. The name comes from the word "whip".
Where do you see whip lines?
They are common in oriental tattoos, for example in backgrounds of water and wind, and in neo-traditional work. They also shape the high energy style, where a sense of movement on the skin is what counts. The same hand movement is behind the whip shading technique.
Why is a tapering line difficult?
The artist has to ease off pressure and speed smoothly within a single stroke. Ending too abruptly gives a ragged tip, and too slowly an uneven weight. Well-drawn whip lines make the design follow the shape of the body and move with it.
Flowing lines work well on arms and legs, where the composition can run along the limb, for example in forearm tattoos. Work with dynamic linework at our studio is done by Lupus.