Tattoo Apprenticeships, How To Get Them And Why You Need Them
83Tattoo Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship is the basis for a great tattoo career. They are not easy to do, not easy to get, not easy to prepare for, not easy to pay for. But all of this is for a reason. This hub will help you learn the ups and downs, pros and cons of getting a tattoo apprenticeship and how to go about getting one.
An apprenticeship is what a potential tattoo artist (and piercers too) have to go through to become a professional artist. Think of it as earning your wings to take flight as a full fledged artist. Here are the basic steps.
1. Bulding a portfolio
A portfolio consists of 50 to 200 drawings. This means COMPLETED and COLORED. You don't want to walk into the shop and have a shoddy portfolio. Choose only your best work. Portfolios should be in an actual portfolio, placed and matted in sheet protectors. Choose a portfoilo that looks professional, don't just use a three ring binder. Presentation is all about showing how professional and serious you are about getting your apprenticeship.
As far as drawings go, you want to have a wide array of work. Draw things that people usually get tattooed and some of your own creative ideas for tattoos. DO NOT copy other artists work. If that's your idea of tattooing, then you better find a different career. When drawing your own creative ideas, think of different life experiences that people would get tattooed. Tattoos are all about commemorating a time in your life, remembering something or other people and representing yourself artistically. In your career you will constantly be doing these kind of tattoos. Ask your friends what they would get tattooed and draw it. There's no better way to prepare yourself than to talk to people who may be your potential clients someday.
Draw everyday. At least four drawings each day and ALWAYS finish them. Make every drawing your best. Don't give up on an idea just because its too hard or boring because you will not have a choice when it comes to tattooing.
2. Finding a Shop
Find a shop with a good reputation. You want to learn from someone who actually wants to teach you, has a good educational background, and who will challange you. This person is responsible for helping you learn the basics and some of their own tricks for tattooing so you want the best. Apprenticeships will cost you from nothing (good luck finding that!) to around $5,000, so you will want to make it worth your while.
Make an appointment with the artist to come in and show your portfolio. bring your portfolio and a good attitude. Make a dazzling first impression! Be friendly, smile, be yourself!
3. The Apprenticeship
When you get an apprenticeship, prepare to be what they call the 'shop bitch'. You don't get paid and you do all the dirty work. Take care of the trash, set up stations, make sure they're stocked, sweeping, run errands, etc. Chances are for awhile that's all you'll be doing. They do this to make sure you're actually interested in doing the job, to weed out the unworthy. So take these tasks as an honor. You're lucky to be there! So act that way. And don't wait to be asked to do these things, just do them.
When you start learning, you will do a lot of watching. You will sit and watch several tattoos being done. Stay attentive. The best way to learn is through watching. You will learn how to make needles, use the autoclave, and all the health precautions to be taken. After, you will start learning to use the tattoo machine (NEVER call it a gun!). At first, you will tattoo on fake skin, fruit and maybe even yourself. You will learn about all the different set ups for the machines, the difference between liners and shaders, etc. You will also have to keep drawing, learn how to draw things quickly and well. Its a LOT of hard work so don't get discouraged. Apprenticeships can take 6 months to 2 years, so plan accordingly.
4. Becoming a Tattoo Artist
You will do around 100 tattoos for free during your apprenticeship. But free tattoos mean that YOU will pay for them. So make sure to have a lot of money saved up for supplies. You can tattoo friends, family, whomever you wish. After that, you will possibly tattoo some clients at the shop.
Then the time will come you take your test to becomed certified. You absolutely need to take this test or you will be risking your reputation and possibly get into some trouble with the law.
Once you've passed your test, you may start tattooing and charging for it! So Congradulations! You've made it.
5. Professional Work
Finding a shop to set up at in a permanent position is your next step. Keep tattooing, take pictures of every tattoo you do, add these to your portfolio. Find a shop that is looking for an artist. This may require you to relocate. If you're lucky you might be able to stay at the shop you apprenticed at. Keep working hard and meet as many other tattoo artists as you can. You will learn from each other, inspire each others work. Go to conventions! Put yourself out there. Make your way in this world as a great artist.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
I know the shops around here only let apprenticeships tattoo basic black and white tattoos. I think this is a good idea because it'll help them with the basics of tatttooing.
Good hub.
hi im hopfully going for an apprentiship to moz at droylsden tattoos i really do hope i get it ive been looking for years an now i found 1 fingas crossed.
ive been tattooing for over 7 years and i still have not masters it completely its not sumthing u can just pick up and cool im gunna be a tattooist it take time and alot of patient for me it all worht it .
i'll be trying to get an apprenticeship once i turn 18 (so soon!), but i'm also going to have to have a job to pay bills and possibly be going to school. i have confidence in my ability to juggle all three (this is really all i want to do), and i was just wondering if anyone could tell me what kind of hours i'd probably be looking at for the apprenticeship. thanks :)
Thanks everyone for your comments. I thought I would respond to some of them!
Whitney05 - I'm actually kind of surprised to hear that's the case. I will suggest that apprentices DO NOT take these apprenticeships. Grey and Black tattoos are a great skill to learn of course, they are the basis of all tattooing. However, color is incredibly crucial to learn as well. Your teacher should show you how to do basic outlining, shading, black and grey, and color. You are not getting a well-rounded education otherwise.
tankdog - Tattooing is a lifelong learning experience. tankdog makes a good example. Apprentices and newly trained artists should not feel discouraged if they are still nervous about themselves as tattoo artists. You will constantly be learning for the duration of your tattoo life. Each tattoo you will learn something new.
boxedclass - Chances are yes, you will have to have another job to cover expenses. The number of hours in the shop learning will vary with different shops. Some might want you to be there just on weekends. Some might want you Monday through Friday. You will have to ask once you land your apprenticeship. Chances are they won't mind making a schedule around your working hours. Good luck!
thanks alot for the info. Ive been reading everything i possibly can about getting an apprenticeship. I actually have an appointment with a tattoo artist this week. I read on this other article and they said if you use references when drawing something that your not cut out for tattooing. I can draw without looking at anything but if its something i havent drawn before or for a while i need to look at something to get the idea down. now could you please tell me im not the only one who does this? or am i. anyways thanks alot for any further help.
adamadam-
The use of references in artwork in general has been a great debate among the endless artist communities. Some frown on it completely, others completely embrace it.
My personal thought on this is yes, it is absolutely ok to use references for your work, as long as it is not completely copying a photograph, a drawing, or especially another tattoo. I believe it is part of a learning process to train your eyes and mind to understand and then transform it into something of your own. If you look at any great artist, they learned from looking at real life. And your subject may not be readily available to complete what it is you are trying to draw. So it isn't wrong at all to look for a source of inspiration or something to even just help you understand what something SHOULD look like.
In short, NEVER completely copy something, but let it influence you to create something of your own.
Regarding looking at other artwork for reference, i would go as far as saying that if your not willing to then your going to be a very narrow minded tattooist. 9/10 times when you tattoo it will not be your choice and as we all have such different tastes in art then as a tattooist you have to be open to study other artists and styles. If not then your not going to go far!!!
I am doing an apprenticeship at the moment and I love it, even if some people call it a "shop-bitch" I enjoy setting up the station, cleaning the equiptment, generally being in the shop everyday is a blessing. I usually work mon-sat noon to six or seven. Then I head over for my night job. I am seventeen and I really suggest to everyone that is looking for an apprenticeship, it is well worth it. Even if you are cleaning and setting up, doing drawings, its all part of the process of tattooing, being sterile and clean, proper setting up, and quick and different ideas and flash art. Honestly, Keep looking and draw draw draw!
Sincerly yours, Dez.
and thank you tattooed Lady!
hi tatooed lady i really really want to become a tattoo artist, i am good at art now especially drawing on a whim, i hav just had a little girl and was thinking of doing an open degree in art is it necessary to have an art qualification before obtaining an apprenticeship?
Hi everyone,
Thanks again for your support!
To answer your question, reddog, I'd have to say that most shops don't really care. It can be a plus, but when it comes down to it, its not going to sway an artist one way or another to apprentice you. It's what you bring in to show them that counts. Raw talent is the key to a successful career in tattooing. If you have that, you have a TON of room to grow and learn with each tattoo you do.
Congrats on your new little one. :)
Richard VanIngram says:
14 months ago
Good article, tattooed lady.
I did a year as an apprentice before I became a professional -- that was how it was done at the shop I worked at. Anyone who isn't prepared to spend at least a year just learning and paying their dues has no business thinking about putting ink on people.
I also tattooed myself -- it was a rite of passage in our shop. I have two relatively nasty pieces on my left calf for my troubles, blew out the lines on one of the things because I had a heavy hand, and then let another young tattoist do a hellish coloring job on one of them so he could practice. But there's no better way to learn -- you fairly quickly figure out how to avoid giving your customers unnecessary pain (a tattoo can be painful enough, of course, without an inexperienced hand jamming in the needles or overworking an area).
Hands down, my least favorite task was making needles. In itself, the construction of quality needles is a real craft. It takes time and patience. Like everything to do with tattoing, it's work.
My bachelor's degree was in Fine Art, with a concentration in printmaking. I graduated near the top of my class; I draw very well with pencils and pens. I say this, not to brag, but so this next sentence carries the proper weight: Tattooing, by far, was the most difficult thing I have ever learned to do in my life. It isn't for everyone, even if you can draw and paint. It takes a person who has a good intuitive grasp on what a client really wants and will like; it takes a person who understands that human flesh is three dimensional and mobile, and working on it is an entirely different thing than working on paper and canvas. Most of all, it takes someone who understands that making permanent marks on another human being to commemorate a stage in their life is a privilege and a heavy responsibility -- yet, the tattooist has to be able to perform the work in an unselfconscious way, without undo nervousness.
Tattooists deserve respect. Hats off to you, tattooed lady.