HOW TO BECOME A TATTOO ARTIST?
Here's the deal, put down your machine, you're not a tattoo artist. You are an aspiring tattoo artist, and you need to get an apprenticeship at a shop, under a licensed tattoo artist. Now, in most states, you have to have a formal apprenticeship to become licensed. You really want to own your own shop, well, you first have to become an established artist. If you try to open a shop without knowing the ins-and-outs of tattooing, you'll flop very quickly. Even if you want to just buy a shop and have people work for you, no one will take a job because you know nothing about tattooing. If you are serious about it, develop a portfolio. Not just drawings, but everything you do with art. A lot of tattooists also paint and sculpt, so the person you want to do the apprenticeship with will want you to have a very diverse portfolio, and see that you can work in all kinds of media. The skin is a very different canvas, and if you want to tattoo, you have to be able to adjust. In order to own your own shop, you will have the get a Health Department certificate, that shows the people in the shop are competent, licensed artists. They will do inspections, and check for the smallest of infractions. They will more thank likely make you change things after their first inspection. So, you have to spend more money to get things up to code. There's a lot more to it than just wanting to open a shop and go from there. If you have no reputation, who will come and spend their money at your shop? You have a lot to learn, and the best way to do that is to go to a shop and try to get an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships cost money. You can plan on spending $2500-$10,000 for a quality apprenticeship. Then, you work for free. You do all the grunt work in the shop and have to work a second job to make ends meet. You only start tattooing after your mentor tells you you are ready. Don't go into a shop and tell them you've taught yourself, they'll send you away. Unless you have large amounts of expendable cash, you'll never be able to open a shop and go with it, and be successful. I know I sound harsh, but do you want the truth, or do you want someone filling your head with false hope? Also, you need to be an amazing artist, not just an extremely good artist. If this is what you want, take some art classes, develop your skills, then start looking for an apprenticeship, with an amazing portfolio.
How do I become a tattoo artist?
Do not, DO NOT, go to tattoo school. You will have the door shut on you before you try to get in. Google "Artists Against Tattoo School" if you're curious as to why. You will waste thousands of dollars for nothing. Depending on your artistic ability, like others said, continue into art school. Get a degree in art and you'll have a great edge. Portraits, script, painting, drawing, different styles, hone them all. Take your portfolio to tattoo shops and ask them if they'd take you as an apprentice. If they see potential, they'll bring you in and teach you the ins and outs to the shop, how to use the equipment, how to work with customers, help you learn how to tattoo, which can take years, and give you the helping hand you need to succeed. If you want to get into piercings as well, take an anatomy class to learn where nerves and veins run in the human body. Tattoo schools are complete lies. It is impossible for those schools to teach you what you need to know in a few measly weeks and they certainly can NOT certify you to tattoo where you'd like. Tattooing is a state by state basis. Only a shop can direct you to the proper certification in blood borne pathogen training and anything else you need to legally tattoo in your state.
How do I become a tattoo artist in WV?
You'll need to do some blood sterilization courses, CPR, basically anything St Johns or Red Cross have to offer. You'll need a portfolio to show any future employers what you can do, then you'll need to land an apprenticeship. When I went to get my piercing apprenticeship I had to look at 10 different shops, the one that took me in was 45 minutes away from my apartment! http://www.ehow.com/how_2318049_become-tattoo-apprentice.html This surprisingly has some really good tips on it. Good luck (:
How to become a tattoo artist in arkansas. and do you have to have a license? ?
Professional tattooers need a license to operate in a shop, whether they own the shop or not. There are other state requirements, but any tattoo shop would know about them. Go to different shops with an art portfolio and see if anyone will take you as an apprentice. It's hard to do this way since many people apprentice people they know. So, if you wanted to make friends with a shop owner and get tattooed a lot, that is a better way to get apprenticed. Oh and by the way - go to a good shop to learn, since tattooing is mostly technical. The blind can't lead the blind.
What do you have to do to become a tattoo artist in the state of mississippi?
*about schooling* i didnt find any really helpful info. but from the following paragraph, id doesnt sound like there is any specifically "tattooing" classes. *about a license*-It's true that in most states, it is only required for the studio to have certification, not the artists that work there. The reason for this is because there is no formal training for learning how to tattoo that is regulated by the government. Because of that, they cannot require that anyone provide proof of training. However, some states do require that the artists at least be certified in blood borne pathogens, but that is not the case in all states. *apprenticing* Here's How: The next thing you need is an apprenticeship. An apprentice is someone who learns a skill from someone else already skilled in the trade. Sometimes an apprenticeship can be free, but many times they cost thousands of dollars. One with a master you feel you can truly learn from - not someone just offering apprenticeships to make money. Getting an apprenticeship can be a challenge. You will not be earning money in the shop during your training. Once you are an apprentice, you will learn many skills from your teacher, most of them having nothing to do with actual drawing. You will learn how to safely clean your equipment, how to operate a tattoo machine, how to adjust your power supply, how to protect yourself and your clients from disease, and last but not least - how to correctly apply a tattoo. This can take many months to learn completely. During your time as an apprentice, you will continue to practice and hone your drawing skills. You are not limited to only gaining knowledge from your teacher - you may also have the opportunity to spend time learning from other artists as well. Getting tattooed is a good way to watch and learn the techniques of other master tattoo artists. There's no formal graduation from an apprenticeship. Generally, the teacher decides when the student is ready to venture off on their own. *how to get one* its pretty long so here is the link--> http://tattoo.about.com/cs/articles/a/ap...