The reference photo and this stencil are AI-generated examples made for this library — not a client photo, and not InkLine output.
Free printable stencil · Flowers
Sunflower tattoo stencil
This sunflower tattoo stencil is a sunflower seen face-on, with two rings of pointed petals around a large seed head, a straight stem running to the bottom edge and two heart-shaped, serrated leaves on short side stems. The seed head is drawn as a pinwheel of curved lines rather than individual seeds, and the design suits a forearm, thigh or upper-arm piece.
Print it at true size
Type the width you want on skin and print. In the print dialog choose 100 % or “Actual size” — “Fit to page” rescales it.
Bigger than one sheet? Split it across pages with the free stencil tiler
Free to print and tattoo, for yourself or your clients. Can I use these stencils?
What to trace, what to simplify
The seed head and the front ring of petals carry the design. Transfer the jagged rim of the seed head exactly — every petal starts there, and a lopsided center makes the whole flower look tilted. The petal outlines come next; the back ring only shows as tips between the front petals. The pinwheel lines in the center and the lines inside each petal are shading guides. The pinwheel lines all meet at one point, so below about 10 cm (4 in) tall they crowd into a dark spot: keep every second line, then drop the petal and leaf veins.
Size and placement
With its stem and leaves the sunflower is about a third taller than it is wide. At 12–18 cm (5–7 in) tall it suits the outer forearm, the thigh or the upper arm. For a smaller piece, crop the stem just below the leaves, or print the flower head alone at 6–8 cm (2.5–3 in) across for the wrist or the back of the hand.
From print to skin
Print
Thermal stencil paper through a stencil printer, or plain paper you trace onto hectograph paper by hand.
Prep the skin
Clean, shave and dry the area, then apply a thin, even coat of stencil transfer solution.
Transfer
Press the stencil flat, hold it for a few seconds, and peel it off in one move. Let it dry before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the sunflower’s center drawn as swirls instead of seeds?
Hundreds of seeds would close into one dark disc on skin. The pinwheel lines mark the direction of the seed spirals instead, so you can build the center’s tone along them — stippled for dotwork or shaded smoothly — and the seed head keeps its spiral without a single seed being drawn.
Which parts of the sunflower go first on a small tattoo?
The back ring of petals, which only shows as tips between the front ones, then the veins in the petals and leaves. Keep the seed head, its jagged rim and the front petals as drawn — they are what reads as a sunflower from across a room. If the space is narrow, crop the stem just under the head.
