Becoming Tattoo Artist
Like all things in life you will find becoming a tattoo artist can be done through many paths. Many learn to be tattoo artist by doing tattoo after tattoo on who ever will let them until they learn the craft. However like in any skilled trade to be a good tattoo artist you need to find a good artist and do an apprenticeship and learn the craft from an experienced tattoo artist.
You may think apprenticeships are only for plumbers and electricians, but doing tattoos is also a trade and art and you need to learn from a good well trained instructor or mentor to learn the craft and do good quality tattoos. A apprentice will likely make little or no money while in training, much like when going to college but the training you receive is invaluable as it will give you a good and profitable and life long career. The apprenticeship of a tattoo artist can many times be up to a year or longer depending on how fast the apprentice learns the craft and doing tattoos well becomes second nature. In an apprenticeship you learn first by seeing how tattoos are done and then by doing tattoos under the careful eye of a master tattoo artist. When you start your apprenticeship as a tattoo artist you will have to learn to clean the equipment and clean the shop as well as learn the art of doing excellent tattoos. It may seem as if some of what you are learning is non tattoo related, however a clean shop and equipment are a huge part of having a successful and long term tattoo business. I can’t over emphasize how important cleanliness and hygiene are to a successful tattoo business as they are as important as doing good tattoos and you have to learn to respect the process and the customers need to be in a clean and sterile environment while being tattooed.
As you start to learn the art of doing tattoos you may start by creating stencils, and some artist may let you create some of your own which you can add to your portfolio which you will build up as you do your apprenticeship. Many shops buy their needles, however some make their own and if so this may be one of your duties as an apprentice and will be helpful if you choose to do so in your own shop some day. The next logical step will be to watch tattoo artist do tattoos, and help position clients when needed in doing difficult tattoos where skin needs to be kept tight during tattoos. When you first start tattooing you will do so on fruit, animal skins, or fake practice skins and once the master tattoo artist is sure you are ready he will let you slowly start actually working with clients and building your skill as a tattoo artist. Usually in the beginning you will only do lining around tattoos or shading as you build your skill and expertise in doing tattoos. You may think tattoo artist are looking eagerly for tattoo apprentices, however getting an apprenticeship with a good tattoo artist can sometimes take a year or more and sometimes you may even have to relocate much like going to college.
You may ask yourself is all this time and effort worth it and why would anyone go through all this to become a tattoo artist. The answer is being a tattoo artist is a recession proof industry as people will always get tattoos and body art, and being a good and experiences tattoo artist will bring you and your family a very nice income for the rest of your life and you can move any where and will always have clients if you learn you craft and trade. So best of luck and I want to wish you the best as like anything in life nothing worth while is ever easy, but the rewards are well worth the work and time needed to become a good and qualified artist.
