Research shows that 46% of Americans have at least one tattoo. According to research, Italy has the highest number of people with tattoos at 48%.
It is obvious that the demand for tattoos is not going to go away anytime soon. That is why becoming a professional tattoo artist is a great career path.
If this is something that you are passionate about, you should pursue it. There are multiple ways to become a tattoo artist and improve your skills.
Keep reading to find out how to become a professional tattoo artist and gain experience.
Table of Contents
1. Practice on Your Own
The very first thing you need to do is practice on your own. Tattooing is not something that you can simply jump into without understanding how it works.
The majority of people who join the tattoo artist career are already interested in art. They may draw or paint and want to take their skills to the next level.
These are skills that you will need to have if you are going to be tattooing people. You should already be practicing your art for several years before trying to become a professional.
This is the perfect time to learn your style and how you approach tattooing. Practicing is not going to be like tattooing an actual person, but it is the next best thing.
2. Learn Different Styles
There are so many different types of tattoos that people choose to get. This means that you will need to have experience in a wide variety of styles.
Until you are an established tattoo artist, you will often be doing a variety of work. You may not be able to offer your specific style until you are more successful.
Because of this, you will need to understand how to do the most popular styles. The more variety you can offer, the faster you will be able to grow.
This will also help you to get a job easier if you have a diverse skill set. Once you become more established and have clients, then you can offer your own specialties.
3. Buy the Equipment
Tattooing is not necessarily a cheap thing to do. Despite this, it is important that you actually invest in the equipment to get a feel for it.
Practicing only takes you so far until you actually hold the tattoo equipment in your hands. It is a good idea to invest in multiple tattooing machines and materials.
You can use this equipment for practicing to get a better understanding of what tattooing is. This increases your skills and helps you to start creating a portfolio.
As you become better, you may even be able to find volunteers to tattoo. This is very important for showcasing your experience and your ability.
4. Learn the Basics
Different techniques are used when it comes to tattooing. You will need to understand the basics if you want to pursue this career.
Some examples of the basics include shading, lettering, and outlining. After all, you are going to be tattooing on a person’s skin with permanent ink.
Mistakes are something that you cannot make when handling something so important. One great way to learn the basics is to join a tattoo Academy.
A professional tattoo school will instruct you and help you to elevate your skill level. Anyone who wants to become a tattoo artist should join a tattoo artist academy that can also go on their résumé.
Click on the link to learn more about this tattoo school.
5. Find Your Weak Points
It is also important that you learn where your weaknesses lie when it comes to tattooing. No matter how much you practice, there are certain areas where you will be weaker.
You may not be very good at shading, or you may struggle with color blending. No matter what it is, it is important to identify what you struggle with.
This will help you to know what areas you need to practice in the most. It will also help you to be more professional and honest when you approach clients.
If certain tattoo styles are not in your skill set, you will be able to let people know this. Honesty is very important and is a valued trait when it comes to tattooing.
6. Update Your Portfolio
No matter what profession you go into, your portfolio is very important. This is especially true when it comes to being a tattoo artist.
Your portfolio is going to be even more important than your résumé. This is because it showcases your skills and the types of tattoos you have done.
As you are improving and gaining experience, you should be updating your portfolio. This is something that you should do every few months to include your latest projects.
You most likely will want to start replacing different tattoos in your portfolio. After all, you want to showcase your best tattoos and your latest skills.
7. Get on Social Media
Social media is a tool that tattoo artists can start to use. It is able to act as a kind of portfolio to showcase your work.
This opens up opportunities for tattoo clients in the future. It also shows potential employers that you are a serious tattoo artist who already has a following.
Becoming a Professional Tattoo Artist 101
If you want to become a professional tattoo artist, there are a few tips to consider. These tips will help you to improve your skills and your portfolio for potential employers.
Did you enjoy reading this article about becoming a tattoo artist? Keep reading for more business and career-related content.
