Tattoo Artist.

1. Tattoo Artist. By:Kelsey Robinson.

2. Getting started.. • Make a portfolio of your drawings and tattoo designs so that who ever you working with knows how talented you are. • Find a professional in a local studio that likes your work and is willing to give you the opportunity to have an apprenticeship under him. • After or during your apprenticeship, choose an appropriate school or system that will teach you what you need to know about tattooing. Take time to really think about which program will really work for you and help you out the most.

3. WherewillIwork? • Most tattoo studios are small and sterile studios mostly in towns with a bigger population because of the larger number of people. This isn’t how all studios are, they can vary greatly. If you are opening your own studio you can design your studio to however you want it, or open it in whatever town you want. • If you aren’t starting your career in a studio, and you want to be more of a free spirited tattoo artist, you will be working in your house, or wherever the customer is. This way of tattooing can sometimes be difficult because you will have to carry your tools wherever you go and learn how to work in any kind of situation.

4. Working conditions.. • Busiest during spring and summer season because what better place to show off your new tattoo then at the pool or beach? • Your schedule will not be like a normal 9-5 job. Tattoo studios usually open later in the morning and close later at night at about 9 or 10.

5. Forever Expanding.. There are tons of tattoo artists, this is a job that is greatly increasing. In certain towns you could find maybe ten artists. Tattoo artists usually try and work in towns with a high population, so the higher the population, the more tattoo artists you will find.

6. What do I have to do?? • Apprenticeship under a professional to learn the tools and techniques. • Attend an art college to earn your license. • Apply in a studio or start your own business.

7. Future Possibilities.. • Apprenticeship under a professional. • Working in someone’s studio. • And owning your own tattoo studio. • The more your reputation in an area increases, the more customers you will have.

8. Salary.. • Depending on how many tattoos and hours you work. • The usual amount is anywhere from $80-$150 an hour. • The more experienced you are, the more money you’ll get paid. If you have been doing tattoos for awhile you’ll get more customers, which means that you’ll get paid more. You could even earn $285 an hour. • On average a tattoo artist will work around 60 hours a week.

9. Love of the art.. Usually tattoo artists draw tattoos because of their love of drawing. They do the job because they love the kind of people they meet, and they love what they do. Some people have gotten tattoos and fell in love with the work so they became a tattoo artist themselves. The whole business is based on the artists’ love of the job.

10. Writing and Speaking Skills. You need speaking skills in this job field. You will need to learn how to calm customers down by speaking calmly to them and explaining the procedure in a helpful way. You don’t really need much writing ability but you will need to be an extremely good artist. So, instead of needing writing skills you will need to have drawing skills.

11. Although not everyone will want to become a tattoo artist, this job is exactly what I want to do. I love to draw, and I love meeting new people. Tattoos have interested me my whole life. When I was younger I would always draw on my self. The past couple of years I’ve been extremely interested in tattooing. I’ve spent most of my time around it and learning some of what happens and I’ve grown to love it. My family and friends think that I can do much more with my life but are happy for me that I’ve found a job that I will enjoy doing for the rest of my career. I hope that I will be successful in this career. From now on I can only work hard and keep my eyes on the prize.