What Art Should I Major in if I Want to Be a Tattoo Artist

How to Become a Tattoo Artist

Past TACP Staff on July 28, 2019

If you love fine art and pattern and accept a passion for tattoos, becoming a tattoo artist can be a rewarding career. Like many creative trades, pursuing a career in tattooing isn't easy. The cost and time commitment to go a task as a tattoo creative person is significant, merely the payoff has the potential to be so much more.

There's more than one path to become a tattoo artist – the ane you choose depends greatly on what type of artist you want to be, your finances, talent, and the opportunities available in your expanse. However, at that place are some mutual steps all aspiring artists must follow to improve your skill level, acquire noesis of the merchandise, and primary the fine art of tattooing. Here's how to get started.

1. Learn How to Draw

The primal to creating a bang-up tattoo begins with a visually appealing drawing, so it'due south essential that yous focus on improving your drawing skills and illustration techniques earlier you even retrieve about designing tattoos or attempting to practise tattooing. Here's how you can go started.

Practice Drawing On Your Own

The get-go thing you tin can do to become started is to brainstorm drawing on your own. Keep a sketchbook and a pencil handy to describe in your free time; you don't demand anything else to take that initial step. Draw things you lot run across, things you think, and things other people describe. Get a feel for whether y'all truly bask drawing and creating art, particularly art for other people. Since you'll exist drawing requests virtually of the time, it's of import that y'all're comfortable creating art that meets the specifications of others.

Written report the Work of Famous Tattoo Artists

A great fashion to get a feel for the fine art of tattooing is to study the piece of work of notable tattoo artists. Find famous artists with different types of art styles and explore what they've been able to create with ink and a tattoo gun. Run across what jives with you and what the market feels like for the kind of tattoos y'all desire to practise. Popular tattoo artists include Mirko Sata, Chris Nunez, Miya Bailey, Gerhard Wiesbeck, Frank Carrilho, Rit Kit, and Stanislaw Wilczynski.

Explore Different Art Forms

If you enjoy art but aren't sure what kind of art you really desire to exercise, be sure to try out plenty of different forms prior to making a decision. Create fine art, contemporary art, abstract art, and even things similar t-shirt designs and logos. Before you become too far into the thought of becoming a tattoo artist, make sure information technology's the blazon of art you similar to practice most.

2. Get an Art Instruction

If you're serious about a career in tattooing, information technology'south important to seek out opportunities to get a well-rounded artist. It's important to be realistic about your financial situation and to assess your skills equally an artist so you tin make a decision virtually whether to pursue a traditional fine art degree, training at a primary tattoo institute, classes at a community college, or the cocky-taught route. The bottom line is, the more than time you lot spend developing your skills, the better creative person you volition exist. Tattoo artists aren't required to have formal educational activity or even a high school diploma, and so this step is a big decision. Counterbalance the pros and cons of each.

Accept Art Classes at Your Local Community College

Taking fine art classes at your local community college is the most affordable way to get an education in art, notwithstanding, it'due south not as robust as formal pedagogy at a tattoo school or university. Here, you tin learn many basic design concepts and sharpen your skills past practicing creating fine art for a wide variety of applications.

Earn a Degree in Art

If you lot want a traditional education in the arts and have the financial means to practice and so, consider going to a university that has a good arts program. You're unlikely to notice a programme specifically for tattoo artists, so look for a school that offers a caste in design, illustration, graphic design, digital arts, performing arts, or commercial fine art. A degree program can as well help you develop a strong background in the arts, including art history and studies,

3. Constitute Bones Blueprint Skills and Knowledge

While considered by many to be a less traditional art grade, tattooing still encompasses all the bones tools of pattern. It's important that y'all have a robust noesis of how different design elements work together and how they affect each other, regardless of whether you choose to obtain an pedagogy or go the self-taught route. Yous should:

Learn the Basic Elements of Graphic Design

Whether you obtain an pedagogy in fine art or develop your drawing skills through experience, it's critical to primary the basics of graphic design. You'll need to learn the theories of line, shape, texture, color, value, and size. You'll likewise need to learn how to apply those theories on paper to create the image you want, how to stencil, and eventually, how to execute your designs on human skin.

Learn the Principles of Graphic Design

Other essential skills to master are the principles of graphic design, such as balance, alignment, repetition, proximity, dissimilarity, and space. These principles assistance to build the foundation of fine art itself and no drawing is complete without them. How each manifests differs greatly from piece to piece, and so it'due south crucial to develop a potent ability to manipulate these principles in a wide variety of ways.

four. Build a Portfolio

An fine art portfolio is by far one of the most important tools in a tattoo creative person's chugalug. It allows prospective mentors to quickly look at your best work, and so they can determine if your particular fine art style is what they're looking for in an apprentice. How yous put your portfolio together impacts the impression information technology has on your potential mentors, so make certain you:

Create a Professional person Portfolio

Your portfolio should be both attention-grabbing and professional person looking. Don't use an onetime binder you found lying effectually or a single manila folder for all your art. Instead, utilise a new three-ring binder with canvas protectors, or have the pages matted. The outside of your portfolio should look sleek, uniform, and inviting.

Include the Right Work

Put 25 to 100 completed drawings and tattoo designs in your portfolio; these can be either copies or original works. Make sure that the pieces you choose to include exercise an excellent chore of showcasing your versatility as an creative person. Include a few examples of work you have completed in black and gray, even if your strongest work is typically equanimous of colorful illustrations. Even if the slice may not necessarily interpret well into a tattoo, information technology will demonstrate that you have strong technique and have the talent for designing tattoos.

Avert Common Mistakes When Creating Your Portfolio

While it may seem obvious, information technology'south important to mention that there are a few things you want to steer articulate of when building your portfolio, including:

Copying the work of other artists
This is plagiarism and could consequence in legal activity depending on the laws in your surface area. At best, the tattoo shop volition know that you've submitted plagiarized art and won't accept your awarding. At worst, you could be declined and your reputation ruined before you even get started.

Submitting photos of tattoos y'all've done
If you lot're not already a professional tattoo artist, don't include photographs of tattoos yous've given no affair how good you believe they are. Starting time, tattooing without a license is illegal. 2d, it shows that you lot're not willing to take the wellness of your clients and the art of tattooing seriously. It too tips them off that y'all may take some bad "scratcher" habits that demand to be ironed out, making it more than challenging to mentor you.

Create an Engaging Portfolio

Be sure to create a portfolio potential mentors want to await at by:

Writing a comprehend letter of the alphabet and including your resume
Your resume highlights relevant education and experience, and a encompass letter addresses your potential mentor by name. Including these give your portfolio an instant feel of professionalism.

Including but completed work
If you have a lot of sketches simply few finished pieces of art, wait to create your portfolio until you take more than to put in it. Use finished piece of work only for your portfolio, but feel free to include some copies of what the piece looked like at various stages during the drawing phase.

Memorize a few talking points about each piece
You'll probable be asked a few questions about your art. Get comfortable talking well-nigh a few main points for each slice included in your portfolio, so you're prepared no matter which slice your prospective mentor wants to talk over.

Leaving your business concern card
Unless you have an date at the tattoo shop, the creative person may not be able to review your portfolio right away. Leave a business carte with your proper name, contact information, and a link to an online portfolio where your artwork tin be viewed at their convenience.

5. Work with an Established Tattoo Artist

Once you're confident about your drawing skills and ability to design attractive tattoos, it'due south fourth dimension to gain easily-on experience and to beginning applying the techniques yous've learned in a real-world environment. Tattooing isn't something you tin can learn from a book; it's critical to work with a mentor who has been tattooing ideally for many years and who is willing and able to accept y'all nether their fly. Here's what to keep in mind when finding a tattoo artist to work with:

What to Wait for In a Mentor

It's of import to practise your due diligence when searching for a tattoo artist to apprentice under. Expect for an creative person who:

Works at a reputable tattoo shop
Brand sure they abide by bones hygiene guidelines and have plenty of clients. Avoid tattoo shops who seem to exist empty, who can't tell yous about their hygiene practices, or that you just become a bad vibe in.

Has mentored an apprentice before
Mentoring is difficult even for the virtually seasoned tattoo artist. Look for someone who has taken an amateur before, so they accept a ameliorate idea of what works and what doesn't.

Who tin challenge y'all
The creative person you choose to mentor you should be able to challenge yous, concord you accountable, and push you by your limits. Don't cull a mentor who seems too easy-to-delight; a laissez-faire arroyo won't assist you lot in the long run.

How to Approach a Shop About an Apprenticeship

When you approach a tattoo shop about an apprenticeship, the impression you brand matters. You lot should:

Do your homework
Acquire as much every bit you lot can nigh the shop you want to apprentice at. Familiarize yourself with each artist'southward bio and portfolio, as well equally any other key details about the business organisation.

Make face up-to-confront contact
Don't just call the tattoo shop and talk to someone on the telephone. Get your face in their minds by showing up and maxim how-do-you-do. Drop past in the afternoon on a weekday when it'south least likely to be decorated.

Care for everyone you encounter with respect
The person you lot see working the front desk may be an artist covering for the receptionist while they're out to dejeuner, or they may exist tight with all the artists there. Treat everyone you see like their opinion of you tin make or break your apprenticeship; chances are, it can.

The Cost of a Tattoo Apprenticeship

Very few tattoo apprenticeships pay; rather, the reverse is ordinarily truthful. There are some gratis apprenticeships, just almost have a cost. Free apprenticeships at reputable tattoo shops are the most competitive and hard to get, and most price effectually $5,000. In rare cases, they may exist every bit high as $10,000 depending on the skill and reputation of the creative person you're apprenticing nether. Most artists who begin a tattoo apprenticeship need to have a side job to sustain themselves financially while they consummate their tattoo training.

Understanding Tattoo Amateur Contracts

Typically, you'll be required to sign a contract with the tattoo store you have an apprenticeship with. A contract is a legal document that sets forth the responsibilities and expectations of both parties and provides protection for either party if one does not run across their contractual obligations. The contract outlines how long your apprenticeship will concluding (usually a twelvemonth), how much yous volition pay, what your daily and weekly responsibilities are, what you should expect to learn from your mentor, and if yous'll exist required to work at the shop for any length of time after your apprenticeship is complete. Consider having an attorney review your contract prior to signing to ensure your interests remain protected.

6. Consummate an Apprenticeship and Learn the Trade

Before you tin begin tattooing professionally, you'll need to complete an apprenticeship to larn the merchandise. This can be done with your mentor, or you lot can expect for a tattoo shop that is advertizing an opening for an apprentice. When starting a tattoo apprenticeship, you tin can wait:

A Large Upfront Investment

Beyond the cost of your apprenticeship, you'll besides need a number of basic supplies to work with, including tattoo guns, sterile equipment, art supplies, and more. Exist prepared for a significant upfront investment to become a tattoo artist.

To Acquire How to Design Tattoos

While tattoos are art, non all fine art tin can be a tattoo. You lot'll need to learn how to design tattoos so they wait nice on the torso and last for equally long as possible without the need for a touch-upwards. Where on the body the tattoo is placed, how large the tattoo is, and how detailed information technology is all affect what it will expect like over time. Poorly placed tattoos with besides much detail for the size will heal unevenly, causing the ink to spread and lines to become blurred.

To Learn How to Operate a Tattoo Machine and How to Work with Ink

Ink and flesh every bit an artistic medium can be quite challenging to work with, and no two bodies are exactly the same. As y'all apprentice, yous'll larn how tattooing differs from other mediums, how to operate a tattoo machine, and how to work with ink to create fine art that looks expert on the skin.

To Learn Aseptic Work Practices

Because tattooing is a body modification that punctures the peel and draws blood, there's a certain standard of hygiene that must be met for both the creative person and client's safety. You'll learn how to create a sterile work field, how to proceed your tattoo machine clean, when to modify gloves, and more than. Retrieve that reputable artists have hygiene very seriously; ask to review an artist'southward hygiene practices before agreeing to amateur under them. In fact, information technology'southward an excellent idea to get a tattoo by the artist you want to apprentice under when possible.

To Acquire Professional Business Skills and Customer Service

Nigh tattoo artists demand to acquire at least some professional skills like how to balance a ledger, process payments, and interact with clients. Apprenticeships that offering grooming on more than but tattooing and teach the essential skills needed to operate and/or manage a tattoo shop are ideal. This is peculiarly truthful if y'all want to start your own tattoo shop at whatever point in your career.

To Work for Gratis for at Least a Year

It's common for an apprenticeship program to be unpaid and you should expect to do a lot of gratis tattoos, so it's of import to have enough savings set aside or to have another source of income so you can make ends come across. You can plan for a year, but in some cases, your apprenticeship may be longer.

7. Obtain Additional Pre-License Certification and Preparation

Afterward your apprenticeship, yous'll need to get a few certifications and/or get through specific training courses to run into your land'southward tattoo licensing requirements. Depending on your country, you may also need to take classes in disease control, wellness and safety, and other basic health intendance concepts. These include:

A Claret Borne Pathogen Certification

Since the canvas of a tattoo creative person is human being pare it is essential that they follow strict wellness and safety guidelines. Preventing claret borne pathogens from being spread and working to preserve the health of the customer and the artist will be a focal point of your training. You will exist required at some bespeak during, or later your apprenticeship program, to become certified in how to prevent the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other infections while creating a tattoo, and you'll need to be able to show proof of blood borne pathogen certification upon request.

Training on Peel Diseases, Infectious disease, and Disease Prevention

Many blood borne pathogen certification programs require y'all to go through classes or seminars on disease management before you lot tin can get certified, while others simply crave you to laissez passer a exam that demonstrates your knowledge. Equally a tattoo artist, you should have a robust knowledge of the types of diseases that tin be spread through tattooing and how to prevent them.

8. Get Licensed

Yous've made information technology! You're educated, skilled, and experienced, and you're gear up to showtime tattooing on your own. Next, you demand to:

Check Your Country Requirements

Licensing requirements often vary by land. For example, tattoo artists in Oregon must complete no less than 360 hours of preparation with an approved tattoo artist and l tattoos, as well as pass a written examination and skills cess to go licensed. In other states, just the shop needs a license. Review your land'south requirements for licensure, every bit well every bit the requirements for any other state you programme to tattoo in. Similar healthcare, you tin be licensed to tattoo in more one state as long every bit you lot meet that country'south requirements.

Apply for Licensure

Later you've met any necessary prerequisites, you'll demand to employ for your license. Often, this is simply filling out a grade with your local department and paying a fee, however, this too differs from state to state.

9. Buy Your Own Tattoo Equipment

Each tattoo creative person tends to accept equipment preferences. Perhaps y'all like a particular mode of a tattoo gun, or you need to use nitrile gloves instead of latex due to an allergy. Normally, tattoo shops crave an artist to furnish their own supplies, so you'll want to invest a few nuts to start out with, growing your collection as you proceeds more than experience.

The Basic Equipment Every Tattoo Artist Needs

You'll demand at to the lowest degree two tattoo guns that y'all like using, an ultrasonic, tubes and grips, sterile needles for lines and shading, green cleaning soap, spray bottles, small plastic cups for ink, gloves, and other supplies needed to keep your area clean. Expect this equipment to cost a few 1000 dollars or more than depending on what y'all become.

10. Start Your Career

The very terminal footstep to condign a tattoo artist tin frequently seem similar the well-nigh daunting. If you're here, it'south time to finally put yourself out at that place as a tattoo artist, either on your own or at an existing tattoo shop. Here'due south what to do next:

Employ at a Tattoo Shop

One time you're licensed, you're ready to apply for whatsoever job you want every bit a tattoo artist. If you're not under contract with the tattoo studio you apprenticed with, look for openings at local shops yous want to work at. Or, drop off your resume and portfolio for consideration; ofttimes, tattoo shops will hire new artists when they like someone'due south work, even if they don't accept a formal employment advertizing posted.

Open Your Own Studio

If your dream is to open up your own tattoo studio and work for yourself, why not start early? Brainstorm looking into what yous need to open your ain store, such equally rental infinite, furniture, and actress equipment. Evaluate your competition and your target market and if needed, relocate to an area where you're likely to become more business.

Want to Become a Tattoo Artist? Y'all Need Less Than You Think to Become Started

If yous want to learn how to become a tattoo artist, you lot really demand a lot less than you recall to take the first step. In all honesty, all you need is a piece of newspaper and a pencil to showtime cartoon. Then, the rest tin can come piece by piece over a few years. Yous can consistently hone your skills in your gratis fourth dimension, no matter where y'all are in the process of becoming a tattoo artist!

Additional How-to-Become Guides for Craft & Fine art Careers

If yous are considering a career inside the industry of Craft or Art, check out these additional how-to-become guides to learn about similar career options in the field.

How to Become a Blacksmith
How to Become a Floral Designer
How to Become a Graffiti Artist
How to Go a Painter
How to Become a Screen Printer
How to Become a Sculptor
How to Become a Woodworker

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Source: https://theartcareerproject.com/how-to-become-a-tattoo-artist/