Aspiring Tattoo Artists

As an apprentice, you’ll be performing a lot of tasks before you’ll be tattooing people. These tasks may include: Completing tasks around the shop For the first couple of months, you will most likely be performing smaller tasks around the shop, like cleaning up, filing paperwork, etc. Remember that though you’ll likely be taught to tattoo by one mentor, you’re basically working for the entire shop. Other employees might ask you to perform tasks for them as well. 

Create designs for clients  You might be asked to create drawings that match the needs of your mentor’s clients. Your ability to follow directions demonstrates your skills as an artist and employee. 

Learn how to set up the equipment and mix ink As you get closer to tattooing, your mentor will teach you how to put a tattoo gun together, clean skin, keep a workspace sterile, and mix inks in your gun. 

Give out free tattoos for practice Apprentices typically give around 100-200 free tattoos before they start charging people; even then, it’s usually heavily discounted at first. Ask around on social media if anyone wants a free tattoo, and tattoo your friends and family. 

Some of my favourite tattoo artists’ work, what do you guys think? :)

(The artists’ Instagram pages are, in order: @edtattooer​, @dziabkianki, @fimmtattooer, @sang.amour, @kazisvet_, @woozymachinetattoos, @tato_coco, @hand_job_tattoo)

In the past few years, so-called “tattoo schools” have become more popular among aspiring artists. In tattoo schools, you’re taught how to tattoo in a relatively short period of time. Here are just a few reasons why you should not pick this over a traditional apprenticeship: 

Tattoo schools ask for a (relatively high) tuition. You shouldn’t have to pay for a tattoo education, you should earn it through time spent in an apprenticeship. 

It lacks respect towards the industry. Networking is important in this industry, and an artist who has spent years earning their reputation will not be impressed by someone who bought their title. 

Tattoo schools prevent the necessary socialisation needed to communicate with clients; something you will gain through being in a tattoo studio. 

Before you start tattooing, you need to learn about how shops operate and how this industry operates. The best way to learn about this is to experience it for yourself.   

No apprentice is the same. Some artists may only be an apprentice for about a year, while others may spend years learning. There is no “set time” in which an apprentice can become a full-fledged tattoo artist.

Tattoo schools don’t promote individuality: you’ll be getting the same exact training as hundreds of others. With a one-on-one apprenticeship, your mentor also gives insights on developing your own style. 

An apprenticeship is the best way to get started in the tattoo industry according to a lot of experienced tattoo artists. But why? 

Rhys McKay at Marie Claire says, “ Apprenticeships can take years, and in some cases they’re unpaid, but you’ll get something that money can’t buy: experience. You’ll tattoo clients under the watchful eye of your mentor, get real-time guidance, and develop your skills in the real world.”

According to Magnum Tattoo Supplies, a tattoo apprenticeship is “an important part of aspiring tattoo artist’s career. It not only serves as your training, but it’s also a way of showing respect to the community and to those who have worked hard to earn their rights to become tattoo artists.”

Having a good portfolio is very important when looking for a tattoo apprenticeship. This is how you show a future mentor that you have the artistry it will take to succeed. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Get a binder.  Your binder is the first thing people will see, so make sure it looks professional. You’ll want a binder with rings that open, so you can easily move and remove pages.  

Steps 2 through 100+: Draw. Draw. You’ll want to fill your portfolio with a wide variety of different styles. There should be between 25 and 100 drawings in there. If you don’t know what to draw, ask your friends what they would like to get tattooed and draw those. 

Do:

- Create original work in various art styles - Start and finish your portfolio with your best work - Include any artwork that shows off your skill, even if they’re not drawings - Make some flash sheets

Don’t: 

- Steal or re-draw other artists’ work - Fill your portfolio with everything you’ve ever made, only add the stuff that shows off your skills - Add unfinished pieces

On my Instagram page (@aspiringtattooartists), I asked what you guys did you keep yourself motivated. I wanted to share some of these tips with the Tumblr crowd as well :)

“I try to focus on the things that I DID do instead of the dings I didn’t. Focus on the little things and take all the wins I can get.”

“Finding motivation can be hard for me, I'm a bit of a lazy person. But seeing how happy people are when they get a stick and poke done by me, keeps me thriving. A lot my friends want a tattoo done by me and I think that's so cool! I also get very motivated by seeing other artists' work.”

“I think big picture to stay motivated, and know my future self will be benefitted by my current hard work.”

“I try to take walks and be at the fresh air to motive myself or I just take a break and watch a nice series to recharge.”

Sara MacGregor is a full-time tattoo artist in Utrecht, going by the online name Cosmobotic. Whether you want a tattoo that’s fine-line, anything anime, or lively colour; she’s the one you go to. She did my very first tattoo, and ever since I have been inspired by her amazing work and optimistic attitude. I got the opportunity to interview her about her experiences on how she got started as a tattoo artist.

As an artist and avid tattoo collector, Sara tells me a client inspired her to start her tattooing journey.  “One day, I was doing an art commission for someone, for a tattoo design, and they asked me if I tattooed anywhere. When I said I didn’t, they asked, “well, why not?” And that’s when it clicked.”

In 2016, she started an apprenticeship in The US, which she later finished here in The Netherlands. “Getting an apprenticeship was hard. It’s a lot of learning to take ‘no’ for an answer. A lot of things can go wrong, it’s really hard to support yourself while being an apprentice, but it’s definitely the way to do it. (…) It’s one of those professions where you really need to put everything into it and learn from another person… That’s the hard part.”

From the moment she started searching for an apprenticeship, it took some 5 years to finally get one that was right for her. She mentions that the length of her apprenticeship was “kind of abnormal” for her. “The guy that was teaching me was pretty eager to get me tattooing people, so 6 months in, I was already able to support myself off of tattooing. Which is not usually how it goes!” 

Sara tells me that full-time tattooing was surprisingly similar to what she had imagined. “I was a freelance artist doing commissions before this, and it’s not too different”, she says. “you do things on request, you do custom pieces, just with tattooing you need a physical space and put it on someone’s skin.” Aside from tattooing, tattoo artists do a little bit of everything; handling your social media, scheduling appointments. Though in Sara’s words, “so much of it is drawing”.

She tells me that it was very hard for her to deal with her social anxiety when she started tattooing. “Even with small things, like giving a price indication; you can’t help but feel a little full of yourself when you’re putting a price on your own work. And as much as you know that your work is worth it, it’s really difficult to put yourself out there and tell people, “I’m worth being permanent on your body”.” 

Another thing she wishes she’d known from the start is how to tell people ‘no’. “You really want to do everything someone asks for, but in the long run that’s not always a good idea.” It’s very important to learn right away when to tell people you can’t cram all their ideas into one tattoo, or make a detailed design as small as they might’ve wanted. 

Something very important to Sara when it comes to art is self-motivation. “You have to be driven, you can’t just passively do this. (…) Without that motivation, I feel like any kind of artist will just plateau; they stop learning and just continue doing the same thing, and never grow. If you stop pushing yourself, that’s where you start to see yourself fail.” When it comes to developing your personal style as an artist, Sara advises to “just let go and do what feels right, don’t try to fit any sort of mould.” 

You can find Sara’s art on her Instagram page, @cosmobotic (https://www.instagram.com/cosmobotic/). For more like this, please follow this page and my Instagram page, @aspiringtattooartists (https://www.instagram.com/aspiringtattooartists/). Thanks for reading, and until next time!