The tattoo industry is becoming more popular than ever. So many people want to get tattoos on one or more parts of their body. They are all rushing to tattoo parlors, hoping to get some real cool design to show off to their friends. In fact, the number of people who want tattoos is significantly growing and there are an insufficient amount of tattoo artists out there to accommodate them all. For this reason, many people are breaking into the business and want to learn how to become tattoo artists. However, there are qualifications to becoming one and ways for meeting those qualifications.
The most important qualification is artistic ability. Drawing tattoos is still drawing. Just like when you draw a picture, you want it to look credible, if you are trying to sell it. With tattoos, it is even more difficult because you are using a needle and people are your canvas. If it looks terrible, it is a lot more difficult to just erase it and start all over. If you are artistic, then it is a bit simpler. Instead, you just need to learn how to make tattoos and draw on people.
There are many ways to learn how to draw tattoos. You can take classes, read books, or learn from an experienced professional. Then, you put together a portfolio of your own original designs to show to potential employers. The better and more professional they look, the better your chances of gaining employment.
Afterwards, it is time to seek an internship with an experienced tattoo artist. Some may pay a little bit, but others probably will not. Still, it is very important to do an internship because this is where you will gain vital experience in the art of tattooing. This includes both the business side as well as the artistic side.
To seek an internship, the best thing you can do is go from parlor to parlor and ask for one, but bring your portfolio with you. Some may be short-term and others may be long-term but, either way, the experience will be crucial. It may even be a good idea to intern at more than one place just to get the perspective of more than one experienced tattoo artist. Of course, if you have a friend in the business, do not hesitate to ask for help. Their experience and mentoring can be very helpful.
You will need your own equipment to start, so find the least expensive equipment you can and start practicing. Many tattoo artists usually practice on oranges and other fruits. Once you are ready to start practicing on people, look for friends to do this with. They will be more likely to help you out, especially since you will be doing it for free, at first. But, even for free, you will be gaining that much needed experience, plus you will have more examples for your portfolio. Furthermore, if they really like your work, they will give you referrals.
In summary, choosing to become a tattoo artist is a career choice, and just like any other career choice, you have to follow a certain path to break into that career and reach your personal goals. Doing this will help set you on the right path to becoming a successful tattoo artist.
