Want to be a Tattoo Artist? You'll Need an Apprenticeship, Portfolio and More

Tattoos are getting more and more popular due largely to television shows such as Inked and Miami Ink. As a result, more people are becoming interested in working as a tattoo artist. Becoming a licensed tattoo artist takes a high level of commitment and a lot of training, but if you can make it through that, it can be a great job. As a tattoo artist, you can work in a fun environment and have a chance to meet new and interesting people and share in their life stories.

Being a tattoo artist is also a very stressful job at times since if you screw up someone's tattoo you can both ruin your reputation as an artist and even worse - make some poor person live with a bad tattoo for the rest of their life.

You are a good candidate for becoming a tattoo artist if you love to draw, have good artistic skill and enjoy being around and working with people.

Different states have different rules regarding what is required to get a tattoo license, so check with your state you make sure that you qualify. There are usually age requirements and some states have basic education requirements such as a high school diploma or a GED.

The next step is to put together a portfolio of your best work. Practice drawing until you are as good as you feel you can get and then put your best pieces together into a portfolio.

To train to become a tattoo artist you need to do what is called an apprenticeship. This basically means that you work at a tattoo shop sort of like an intern and learn from a teacher or the shop owner, usually without getting paid. You will need to take your portfolio around to higher end tattoo shops and see if anyone is looking for an apprentice and is willing to take you on. It can be difficult to find an apprenticeship, so be sure to be diligent and persistent.

After you find an apprenticeship (and before you accept it) be sure that the shop is clean and that they will not only teach you how to tattoo but also the safety procedures to keep from spreading disease. There is no set time limit on apprenticeships. The shop owner or teacher usually decides when you are done and ready to move on.

Once you have completed your apprenticeship you can apply for a license from your local health department. You may have to pay a variety of fees including and application fee or licensing fee and may also have to take an exam. After you have your license you can work at any tattoo shop you would like. Many people are hired on by the shop where the worked as an apprentice while others choose to move on to another location.

Being a tattoo artist is not easy and it is not for everyone. However, it can be a fun, interesting and rewarding career.