How do I become a tattoo artist?

Posted by TattoofortheApprentice at 10:12 AM
Sunday, February 14, 2010
How do I become a tattoo artist?

Reality TV shows, Tattooed musicians, Tattoo Flash Design website, Online Tattoo Supply superstores… Tattoo has been everywhere for the past 5 years or so. Is the industry finally calming down from this cyclical bump? You get the groups of tattoo artists who will tell you, “I hope so – we have too many scratcher wanna’be tattoo artists already.”

You get the groups of tattoo artists (less often) who will tell you that the business is one of those types that will go up in a down economy. Its hard to talk about anything these days without hearing about the big “E” word. Yup, economy is embedded in our 2010 vocabulary now.

You see a ton of tattoo artists out there trying to get their books and DVDs out as well. I know that there are a lot of young people (young in tattoo years) who want to get involved in tattooing. What does it take to get into the tattoo scene? Is there really money in the tattoo industry? Do you really need artistic talent to be a tattoo artist? Do you really need to do a proper apprenticeship? Is a tattoo machine that costs $49.00 in a catalog just as good as a $500.00 one that you can only purchase if you work in a real studio? These are all good questions that the new tattoo artist really wants to know about, and if you are anything like I was 10 years ago then you are scouring for information about tattoo everywhere (and that includes the internet).

What does it take to get into the tattoo “scene”? – It takes a lot of patience and observation. You have to check out a lot of studios, perfect your drawing and painting skills, get a ton of tattoos on your own body, and talk to artists. You have to really be dedicated and also be smart. You can easily be taken advantage of as a young apprentice by someone who might not even intend to teach you anything about tattoo.

Is there money to be made as a tattoo artist? – Kinda sorta not really… Sure there are tattoo artists who charge a ton of money, but they are really saught after professionals who have made a name for themselves. What a lot of young artists don’t realize right off the jump is that you really make your money doing the small stuff. Small stuff being the tribals, scripts, hearts, flowers, flash, flash, flash, and until you are sick of it… flash. It sucks, but if you are all about the money aspect of tattoo then get used to doing what I call “yard work”. Those of us who love the craft and trade of tattoo will gladly do a sleeve for someone for next to nothing (so long as our own bills are already in the green). It depends on the piece though. Art is art, and if you are an artist then you will love the art you do. Beware getting into tattoo thinking you are going to do awesome tattoos that are multi session and cost big bucks right off the jump. (don’t forget you have to give the studio owner his cut of the $ as well).

What about talent? – Yes and No.. I know a lot of tattoo artists who are not very good artists, but they make a living. They don’t get to do the fun stuff, but I think those guys are the ones who don’t really care about the trade that much to begin with anyway. If you think you are good at one medium (ie painting or pencil) then you will really test yourself ot learn the tricks of tattooing. It take a lot of time and practice. It is not like paper where you can just rip it up and start over either. You need to have well planned pieces and execute them in a timely manner and keep it clean. The more artistic ability you have the better off you will be. Art is subjective though, so what one guy thinks is good – another might think is not.

I will hit on the machines, apprenticeship, and other stuff in a later blog. I do go into a lo tof this stuff in my book Basic Fundamentals of Modern Tattoo, in a no B.S. way that will help you get the un-sugar coated truth about what it takes and how you should go about becoming a tattoo professional. (Not just another tattooer who traces flash all day)

Posted by TattoofortheApprentice at 10:12 AM
Labels: become a tattoo artist, learn tattoo, tattoo apprentice, tattoo bible, tattoo book, tattoo machine