On Tattooing
Are you interested in learning to tattoo as a career path? Follow this checklist to see if tattooing is meant for you.
1) Do you like drawing?
The number one advice all tattoo artists give is: Draw.
If you are interested in tattooing as a potential career path it's good to take a step back and assess how often you draw. If you only draw once a month - you may want to revisit why you want to tattoo, or spend some more time drawing on a regular basis and see if you could keep it up indefinitely.
If you do draw on a regular basis, have you developed a certain style/theme? Artists are only limited by what they want to take on and although you may have no certain attachment to any style, tattoo artists tend to slip into styles that are enjoyable for them to do on a regular basis as it is work and stability is necessary to a healthy work life. Do you have a style you can work with?
On top of drawing, tattooing requires a good understanding of composition, as well as knowing what makes a good design. Spend time looking at a variety of portfolios to see what makes strong tattooable art.
A note on references: Most artists use references to draw inspiration. Never copy another artists work or rip them off. Using someone for a study, and passing their work off as your own are two different things. If you are asked to recreate someone else's work, either ask the original artist for permission OR refer that person to the artist directly. Sometimes the waters can be muddy in regards to tattooing comics, famous art, etc. but err on the side of caution specifically around another tattoo artists designs.
2) Do you have a portfolio?
Instagram is one of the best ways to connect with other artists and potential clients near you. Keeping an account meant only for showcasing your art allows for others to discover your work. Having a personal website is a great idea, but if you don't have either, Instagram is a great place to start.
If at some point you would like to approach a tattoo artist about tattooing, make sure to have a portfolio showcasing your best illustrative work and flash pieces. That being said, ask first before sending over your work as people should be allowed to say no to giving you feedback/advice.
By creating a curated portfolio with only illustrative work, whomever you are getting feedback from will have a better idea of your vision - as opposed to a portfolio with paintings/sculptural work/etc - which does not showcase what you would potentially put on a human body, and be able to give you reasonable feedback.
3) Where's your head at?
Tattooing is a magical job, but it also has a steep learning curve. Regardless of whether you take a self guided route or find a mentor/apprenticeship, the job involves a lot of mistakes, failure, and expenses.
How are your people skills? Although getting tattoos are a fun experience for most, many clients will be nervous, need lots of breaks, have had bad experiences with other artists, and have different levels of communication with you.
You need to know how to make people feel safe and comfortable in a respectful way. Many places on the body are both extremely painful and difficult to tattoo - do you think you would be capable of shepherding someone through that in a patient and empathetic manner?
Body modification creates real and permanent changes to the body. Commitment to cleanliness, staying up to date on Blood-Borne Pathogens courses, understanding different skin and skin conditions, potential infections, aftercare, knowing the limitations of the body, avoiding blow-outs and scarring, are all more important than the tattoo itself - these factors dictate the health of your client and the longevity of your work. Prioritize learning the medical aspects of this career.
Trauma informed tattooing (https://santibaneztattoo.com/resources) should be part of every tattoo artists practice. You are not only giving someone a piece of your artwork, there is a power dynamic and energy exchange as well. Modern tattooing has centred around whiteness, maleness, and cis/het dynamics to the point that many people are uncomfortable getting work done at all. This industry has a long history of racism, colourism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and anti-semitism. What are you willing to do to make the tattoo industry a safer place for ALL people?
4) Get Tattoos!
Have you taken inventory of the tattoos you have? Who do you tend to get tattoos from?
The majority of tattoo artists get tattooed on a semi-regular basis. Not only is getting tattoos an excellent way to network, it is a place of learning as well. Every tattoo artist has a unique practice, every shop has a unique vibe. There is a lot to learn from simply observing and watching how different artists work and move through their space.
Getting tattoos is also a way to show commitment to a tattoo lifestyle, openness to learning, and willingness to support your community. Just as having a portfolio shows a commitment to the work we put out, getting tattoos shows a commitment to the support we give others. This is why it is especially important to prioritize getting work from BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ artists. Supporting work means uplifting creators.
Creating a relationship with artists you admire can foster an organic space to talk about tattooing in a professional way. Although getting into tattooing can be exciting, resist the urge to ask an artist about it until you've gotten work from them and have decided they may be a good fit to receive information and feedback from. This is not to say that information shouldn't be accessible, but that you may not get the answer you want (ie. rejected, vague, may give you harsh criticism). Some artists may gatekeep, and others may simply be uncomfortable/tired of answering tattoo questions.
5) What Next?
Once you have put together a comprehensive portfolio, learned about the medical aspects of tattooing, unlearned biases, and spent some time getting inked - and you still wanna go for it! - it's time to get some feedback.
Not all artists have the time or energy for an apprentice, but some will be happy to give you feedback on your portfolio and constructive or blunt criticism of your work.
Here's an example of an email you can send:
"Hi XYZ, I'm an artist who's interested in learning to tattoo. Would it be alright to send you my portfolio for some feedback?" or "Here's a link to my portfolio, if you have a moment I would really appreciate your feedback" ...And then you just roll with whatever you get. Not everyone will like your work, but it may motivate you - even if it's out of spite.
Another option for getting feedback is asking if an artist has a consultation fee in exchange for information or inviting them for a coffee/lunch if you are familiar with each other.
Emailing shops are perfectly good ways to inquire about apprenticeships. They tend to simply fall into peoples hands - so it never hurts to be in the right place at the right time!
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In regards to self-guided tattooing:
I avoid using the term self-taught anymore as there is no such thing within tattooing. We learn from one another, and people give us their bodies to learn on. There is no tattooing in a vacuum so I felt like this term may be more appropriate, at least for myself.
There are many resources in regards to the actual tattooing part, it is trial and error. There is no rush to becoming a tattoo artist - learn what you need to learn before starting.
If you think this is a better route for you these are some recommendations:
Learn before you leap - understand how you can create a safe studio prior to tattooing.
Start with stick and poke - it is lighter, slower, and gentler. It gives you an understanding of skin before moving onto machine tattoos where there is less room for mistakes.
Start with fruit and yourself! Honeydews, oranges, and YOU are a great resources before tattooing others.
Make the effort to find a space that is not your home to work from. You will eventually get tired of having strangers in your house, and managing a space will be incentive to produce more.
Go SLOW! Nothing good comes from rushing tattoos. In lieu of having colleagues, make sure you are spending ample time learning about technique and your own limitations.
Don't take on projects you are not comfortable with. Money can be tempting especially while trying to spread your wings and also likely working another job - but resist the urge unless you are confident about the challenge.
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Good luck on your journey! I hope that this has been an informative start to a potential path for you.
Dox
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or any organization that speaks to you that uplifts others.
I live and work on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.