| Becoming a tattoo artist makes for an interesting | | | | of buying equipment on their own to get their hands |
| career choice. Unlike nearly all other professions, the | | | | dirty. This does not mean giving tattoos, as there is |
| training for tattoo artistry has not be co-opted by | | | | fake skin to practice on just for that. However, it is |
| university and tech schools where you can simply | | | | worth considering buying a tattoos kit or other type of |
| enroll, take a course, learn the skill, and then move out | | | | beginner supply kit to understand what pieces are |
| into the real world and become a professional artist. | | | | involved, how to handle them, how they work, and |
| In fact, the tattoo world has kept its doors closed to | | | | how to clean them. |
| others, allowing people in one by one as an apprentice. | | | | With this knowledge fresh in mind, it may become |
| This is a nod to the old school style of teaching a | | | | easier to find a mentor who can see that you are |
| trade, craft, or a skill. It keeps the talent moving from | | | | serious about becoming a tattooing artist. Often the |
| person to person and creates a real personal touch to | | | | first step in the door means working for free doing |
| the craft. | | | | mundane but necessary work around the tattoo shop, |
| The question is how to become an apprentice? | | | | such as sweeping the floors and running the front |
| The easiest way to get moving on this is a simple one, | | | | desk. However, this is how people tend to start, and it |
| but it actually stops most people from ever starting. | | | | gives an aspiring tattoo artist a chance to see how a |
| This is the act of going out and asking local tattoo | | | | shop is run, and in due time, a chance to work directly |
| shops and local tattoo artists for their input on how a | | | | underneath a mentor tattoo artist. |
| person can become a tattoo artist. This naturally leads | | | | It may not be the most efficient technique for |
| to a good opener into the question of local | | | | producing tattoo artists, but it keeps the tattoo industry |
| apprenticeships and how one might get their foot in the | | | | and tattoo culture something personal and close to the |
| door of such an opportunity. | | | | heart. |
| At the same time, beginner artists might take the step | | | | |