Portrait realism masterclass — for Houston artists
A 3-day black & grey portrait-realism masterclass with Federico Galliani — built for Houston tattoo artists who want their portraits to still read in ten years. Milwaukee, October 6–8, 2026. Ten spots.
Getting to Milwaukee from Houston
From Houston it's about a 2h30 nonstop IAH→MKE, then 20 minutes to the venue.
The venue is SOL Studios, 11000 W Janesville Rd, Hales Corners WI 53130 — in the south-west Milwaukee metro, about 20 minutes from Milwaukee Mitchell airport (MKE). And the masterclass lands the weekend of the Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Convention (Oct 9–11) — one trip covers both.
Why Houston artists come to this masterclass
Houston's deep realism scene is a short nonstop from a dedicated portrait intensive.
This isn't a seminar you sit and watch. It's ten artists, three days, hands-on — the kind of specialized black & grey training that's hard to find anywhere, let alone within reach of Texas.
What you'll learn in three days
Day 1 — Foundations
The grey-wash system from the ground up: reading reference, value and tone mapping, mixing black with water, machine and needle setup, and building contrast that survives healing.
Day 2 — Live demonstration
Federico tattoos a full portrait in front of the group, narrating every decision — layering, saturation, skin tones, highlights.
Day 3 — Supervised practice
You work on synthetic skin under Federico's direct supervision, with real-time feedback on your dilution, needle angle and pressure.
Full breakdown: the craft & curriculum →
Built to heal — not just to photograph fresh
The whole method is longevity-first: greys made from black diluted with water, opaque darks, protected highlights, values spaced so the face still separates once the tattoo settles. That's the difference between a portrait that looks great on day one and one that still reads in ten years. Read the method: grey wash that heals →
Your instructor
Federico Galliani — "Portrait KID" — is an Italian black & grey portrait specialist, co-owner of White Label Tattoo, twelve years in, award-winning on the U.S. convention circuit with first places in Baltimore and Chicago and roughly twenty U.S. conventions behind him. Taught in English.
What's included
- Full workstation, ready when you arrive
- Premium ink and grey-wash sets
- Synthetic practice skin for Day 3
- A live model demo on Day 2
- Catering across all three days
- Certificate of completion
You bring only your machine.
The details
$500 deposit holds your spot · the $1,500 balance isn't due until Sept 6, 2026 — no interest, no fees. If your application isn't accepted, every cent back immediately. Only 6 of 10 spots left.
Houston — questions
How do Houston artists get to the masterclass?
From Houston it's about a 2h30 nonstop IAH→MKE, then 20 minutes to the venue.
What level is it for?
Intermediate and advanced tattoo artists who already tattoo and want to specialize in black & grey portrait realism. Taught in English.
How much is it and how do I hold a spot?
A $500 deposit holds one of the 6 spots still open (4 of 10 are already taken); the $1,500 balance is due by Sept 6, 2026 — no interest, no fees. Apply here.
Can I do the Milwaukee convention too?
Yes — the masterclass runs Oct 6–8, the days before the Milwaukee Tattoo Arts Convention (Oct 9–11). One trip, both.
Traveling from somewhere else?
See all cities → · or go straight to the main site.
Last updated October 2026.