Learning to tattoo requires a lot of hard work. However, some parts of the process are more difficult than others. Knowing what the biggest struggles are ahead of time can help you prepare as you dive deeper into becoming a tattoo artist.
In this article, we’ll break down the most difficult parts of learning to tattoo, including:
Biggest Struggles of Becoming a Tattoo Artist
1
Learning How to Draw for Tattooing
Creating artwork on a flat surface is very different from creating artwork for a curved surface like the human body.
Even if you have been drawing your whole life, learning how to draw tattoo designs while keeping the shape of the body in mind will be a huge stepping stone you need to cross before you start tattooing.Note:
Art school will not teach you how to draw tattoo art. The best way to learn to draw tattoos is to see what is working in the tattoo industry and model your own work after those styles (while implementing your own spin on it).
2
Learning to Tune a Coil Machine
Many tattoo mentors will make their apprentices learn how to build and tune a coil tattoo machine.
This means tearing down a tattoo machine, putting it back together, and tuning it for lining or shading - over and over again. This process takes up a lot of time. And while it might have helped tattoo artists a few decades ago because all they had was coil machines, most artists today use rotaries and don’t need to know how to be a machine builder.
If you want to tattoo with coil machines, you will need to learn how to rebuild and tune your machine.
If you want to tattoo with rotary machines, we recommend the Inkjecta Flite Nano.**We are not sponsored by Inkjecta. We recommend using their machines because that’s what we use when tattooing clients.
3
Drawing the Same Elements Over an Over
There are certain elements and images that come up on a regular basis in tattooing, like roses. Drawing them over and over again will help you memorize how to draw them so you don’t need reference images. It will also make sure you have strong muscle memory when you start tattooing them.
This is important because, no matter what tattoo you’re doing, you can always add in a rose with it to add flow to the design.Pro Tip:
If you want to practice drawing lots of roses, you can print out a sheet with several sets of concentric circles (which is the base for drawing Sailor Jerry roses).
Warning:
You never want to just copy another artist’s work - whether you’re looking at famous tattoo artists or smaller artists around your area - stealing another person’s design can end your tattoo artist career before it starts. (Most shops won’t want to work with a tattoo artist who can’t create high quality tattoos with their own drawing skills and creativity.)
4
Getting into a Tattoo Studio
To become a tattoo artist, you need to earn a place in a studio. Most aspiring tattoo artists know how difficult it is to get accepted into a studio for a tattoo apprenticeship.
To get into a studio as an apprentice and work under an established artist, you need to be able to draw well and have a strong portfolio of your tattoo designs.
Unless your lining and shading are 100% perfect, they do not want to see your work on fake skins. They will think you have developed bad habits learning on your own, and they won’t want to take the time to reteach you. Most mentors prefer to have an apprentice who is a “clean slate.”
So even if you have been practicing and you can tattoo pretty well, only include designs that you’ve done on paper in your portfolio. (This can include flash sheets, any realism drawings that you’ve done, etc.)
Note:
Different cities and states have different requirements to get a tattoo artist license. Not every state will require an apprenticeship to become a tattoo artist. Some places require tattoo school experience to apply for tattoo artist jobs.
5
Maintaining Life-Work Balance as a Successful Tattoo Artist
If you’re going through a tattoo apprenticeship, it can be very difficult to have a “normal” life. You do not get paid for the years you are an apprentice, and you usually have to work a second job to keep up with bills and personal expenses.
It’s easier to maintain this lifestyle in your early 20s. A day in the life of a tattoo apprentice usually means going to work 8-10 hours/day at the tattoo studio before working a night job and driving home for only a few hours of sleep. This can be very hard on your body.
When you’re finally working as a licensed tattoo artist, you have more control over your schedule. However, being a tattoo artist requires drawing time outside the studio, as well as handling your own social media and bookings. It’s important to find a balance to ensure you don’t begin to feel burned out.
6
Mastering Line Work
Line work is the first thing you learn as a tattoo artist, but it can be one of the most difficult skills to master. Creating a line with a tattoo machine is completely different than using a pencil or marker.
As a professional tattoo artist, shaky linework will make it difficult to get hired at tattoo shops.
7
Finding Quality Tattoo Equipment
Nowadays, it is easier to get professional-grade equipment, even if you don’t have your tattoo license yet. For example, sites like painfulpleasures.com offer aspiring artists the option to order high-quality materials online. That way, you can get plenty of practice using tattoo machines on fake skin before you start working in a tattoo shop.
However, if you end up buying a cheap machine that’s hard to tune or ink that’s too runny to actually get good saturation, you’ll end up learning to tattoo incorrectly because your equipment isn’t working how it should.
Investing in good equipment will pay for itself. If you are sure tattooing is the career you want, it’s better to buy a higher-quality machine, if possible. This will make learning to tattoo easier. Because you’ll learn faster, the machine will pay for itself in the amount of time saved.Note:
Sometimes, tattoo shops will provide some materials like disposables. If you have your own tattoo studio, you’ll want to offer items like paper towels, Saran wrap, and cleaners. However, many tattoo artists will prefer to pick their own tattoo equipment.
Become a Professional Tattoo Artist With the Artist Accelerator Program
Having a career in tattooing is not only fulfilling, but it’s also the most stable way to make a living as an artist. However, for decades, the process to become a tattoo artist has been notoriously difficult.
The apprenticeship process requires aspiring tattoo artists to work 50-60 hours a week without pay for 2-4 years. That, combined with the toxic culture of abusing apprentices, makes getting into the industry almost impossible for newcomers.
That’s why we created the Artist Accelerator Program. Our online course provides a simple, structured way of learning to tattoo that has been proven to work by over 2500 successful students, with many of them having gone on to open their own shops all around the world.
Inside the program, we’ll take you through every step of the tattooing process in 9 clear, easy-to-follow modules and support you along the way within the Tattooing 101 Mastermind online community.
In the Mastermind group, you’ll collaborate with other students, get answers to your questions, and receive personalized video feedback on your artwork and tattoos from professional tattoo artists. With this friendly community of both new and experienced tattoo artists, you’ll never be stuck again.
When you join the Artist Accelerator Program, you’ll have instant access to the full course and the Mastermind community, as well as our 30-Day Flash Challenge and recorded interviews with tattoo artists from all over the world.
Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.
