So You Want To Be a Tattoo Artist
When we’re younger, it seems like the prospects for what we’ll do as a career are pretty limited. We’re not always encouraged to truly follow our passions, and to make our dream jobs come true. However, at some point when we’re older, we realize that, actually, there’s nothing stopping us from doing what we want. The main jobs will always be there, and may even be the ones pushed onto the public at large, but they’re not the only options!
It’s just that the journey towards working in a different position may be a little different. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at becoming a tattoo artist, offering tips and guidance that’ll help your dream to become a reality.
Your Art Pedigree
If you want to be a successful tattoo artist, then you’ll need to have something of an art pedigree. It will be your ability to be creative and to complete projects to a high technical standard that’ll really ensure long-term success; nothing else can do that. The best method would be to receive some technical training, such as by completing an art degree or similar. But this isn’t always necessary. If you’ve been creating art in your bedroom for a decade, then you’ll probably have what it takes! You can even utilise tools like this AI tattoo generator to spark inspiration if you're in search of fresh ideas, or leverage it to hone your skills further by exploring different styles and experimenting with unconventional designs.
Work With the Best
Of course, it’s a big jump to go from creating art in your bedroom, to putting art on someone else’s body. As such, it’s recommended that you get a grounding in everything tattoo-related by undertaking an internship with an experienced and reputable tattoo artist at their studio. You won’t be putting any ink on a body at this stage, but you’ll find that this process is just as important as anything else, since you’ll learn the nuts and bolts of tattoo life. Plus, you’ll get an opportunity to get a tattoo for yourself. You can’t be a tattoo artist without being inked yourself!
Legal Requirements
You’ll also need to check that you’re doing things the correct and legal way. You’ll need to get a license, though the requirements for getting that license will depend on where you live. Regardless of location, you’ll need to take steps to have good health and safety practices, such as using a high-quality needle cleaner. If you’re not entirely sure of what you need to do, then talk with a more experienced artist, perhaps the one who works at the studio where you gained experienced earlier on.
Looking After The Client
While you may want to become a tattoo artist, it’s important to remember that it’s not really about what you want. It’s about what the client wants. As such, it’s recommended to spend some time working on your people skills, unless you’re a natural of course. This will help with all facets of tattoo artistry, but most important communicating with the client to ensure they get just what they want. If you have ambitions of opening your own studio, then it’ll be the relationship with your clients that really pushes you towards success.
