Being a tattoo artist may be a rewarding profession but like many other forms of art, it takes years of practice and dedication to master. The time and commitment required to become a tattoo artist are enormous but doesn’t the result have the potential to be far greater?

There are several stages to becoming a tattoo artist and prospective artists must follow them in order to enhance their skill level, learn the profession, and perfect the art of tattooing. 

This blog will teach you how you can get started.

Questions to Consider Before Choosing Tattooing as a Career

• Am I artistic and creative?

• Do I have a favorite tattoo artist or a tattoo role model?
• Am I dedicated and persistent?
• Do I have strong communication skills? Am I willing to establish relationships with clients?
• Am I an opportunity seizer?

 

Tattooing in 2023 - Quick Guide

Whether learning to tattoo was a lifelong dream or became a newer fascination when you got your first tattoo, there are a few essential steps you must take to become a pro.

#1 Get a Sketchbook, Start Drawing

Draw the things that fascinate you to help boost your creativity. Continuous drawing practice is required to improve your tattooing skills. Take your time recognizing your sketching abilities.

Examine the work of famous tattoo artists to get inspired on the style that really fits you.

The best way to gain a deeper understanding of tattoos is to study other artists' work. Search for artists with various art styles and discover what they've been able to produce using ink, guns, and needles. See what resonates with you and just go for it!

If you enjoy art but aren't sure what kind of art you want to do, experiment with a variety of forms before making a decision.

Tip: Practice creating tattoo art for others. Ask your friends and family what tattoo would they have, let them describe it for you, and draw that. This is an important practice since you'll be tattooing art that meets the needs of others.

 

#2 Learn the Fundamental Elements & Principles of Art and Design

Before you ever consider creating tattoos or attempting to perform tattooing, you must first work on refining your sketching abilities and illustrating techniques.

It’s important to grasp the fundamentals of graphic design, whether you have an art degree or build your drawing talents through experience. You'll need to understand line, form, texture, color, value, and size theories.

The concepts of graphic design, such as forms, lines, colors, texture, balance, alignment, repetition, contrast, and space, are also important to master. These concepts assist to provide the groundwork for art, and no drawing is complete without them. Because how each appears varies considerably from piece to piece, it's critical to cultivate a strong capacity to manipulate these principles in a wide range of ways.

You need to learn all that before you can execute your designs on human flesh!

If you also think you’re missing out on a few design techniques here and there, learning fundamental creative rules may provide you with a solid understanding of many design aspects.

You might be an excellent artist and your friends might find your drawings flawless but understanding design components provide you with a solid basis for building elaborate designs like expert tattoo artists.

 

#3 Invest in Art Education

Tattoo artists should receive formal training by taking tattoo classes, participating in relevant tattoo courses/workshops, or earning a university degree. 

Formal art training allows you to gain in-depth knowledge of design concepts as well as develop and polish your drawing skills.

Be realistic about your financial status and examine your artistic abilities before deciding whether to pursue a university art degree, training at a tattoo institution, lessons at a community college, or self-teaching using online resources. 

The simple line is that the more time you spend honing your craft, the better artist you will become. 

Tip: Put aside a small amount of money to invest in new courses or workshops, each month. Remember that no matter how strong your skills are, there’s always a new trend, a new style, or a new technique to learn. 

 

#4 Work with an Experienced Tattoo Artist

Once you're confident in your sketching abilities, it's time to get some hands-on experience and begin implementing the methods you've learned in a real-world setting. Tattooing is not something you can learn from a book; you must work with a mentor who has ideally been tattooing for many years and is ready and able to take you under their wing. 

What Should You Look for in a Mentor? When looking for a tattoo artist to apprentice under, it's critical to complete your research. Look for a tattoo artist who: 

• Works in a well-known reputable tattoo parlor.
• Follow basic hygienic rules. Avoid tattoo businesses that appear to be vacant, and can't inform you about their sanitary policies.
• Have previously guided an apprentice.

 

#5 Create Your Professional Portfolio

When starting a career as a tattoo artist, creating a portfolio is critical because it allows prospective mentors and employers to quickly assess your work and decide if you can be their apprentice. 

Build a Professional Portfolio. Your portfolio should be both eye-catching and professional in appearance. Don't keep all of your artwork in an old binder or a single manila folder. Use a new three-ring binder with sheet protectors instead, or have the pages matted. The outside of your portfolio should be clean, consistent, and appealing.

Include your most impressive drawings and tattoo designs, maybe 25 to 100 finished drawings. Make sure that the pieces you present do an exceptional job of demonstrating your variety as an artist. Add some description to each drawing.

 

#6 Obtain a Tattoo License

Refer to your state's requirements. You may be required to complete certain hours of training with an approved tattoo artist and pass a written exam and skills assessment. So, examine your state's licensure requirements because it differs from one country to another.

Also depending on your country, you will be required to take classes in disease control, health and safety, and other fundamental health care concepts, to meet your state’s tattoo licensing requirements.

To finally be legit after you’ve met all necessary prerequisites, you’ll need to apply for your tattoo practice licensure(license). Often, this is simply providing papers, filling out a form with your local department, and paying a fee, however, this too differs from state to state.

Tip: Refer to the requirements of any other states where you intend to tattoo later on throughout your career.

 

#7 Purchase your Own Tattoo Equipment 

Each tattoo artist has their own set of equipment preferences. Perhaps you prefer a certain type of tattoo gun, or you must use nitrile gloves instead of latex owing to an allergy. 

Typically, tattoo businesses demand artists to supply their own supplies; you'll want to start with a few fundamentals and build your collection as you get more skill.

In general, you'll need at least two tattoo guns that you enjoy using, an ultrasonic, tubes and grips, sterile needles for lines and shading, green cleaning detergent, spray bottles, little plastic cups for ink, gloves, and other equipment to keep your area clean. 

This equipment is likely to cost several thousand dollars or more.

 

#8 Work in a Tattoo Shop or Open Your Own Studio

Once you're licensed and set up, you're ready to apply for any tattoo artist job you desire. If you are no longer under contract with the tattoo studio where you apprenticed, look for openings at local shops where you want to work. 

Drop off your resume and portfolio for consideration; tattoo shops frequently hire new artists when they like someone's work, even if there isn't a formal job ad posted.

Why not start early if you want to own your own tattoo studio and work for yourself? Begin by researching what you will require to create your own store, such as leasing space and furnishings. Choosing a strategic location is also crucial. Evaluate your competitors and target market, and shift to a more profitable location if necessary.