While every tattoo artist’s journey is unique, there is a general path that most follow on their journey to working professionally. As an aspiring tattoo artist, you need to know what those steps are…and how to follow them.

In this article, we’ll be breaking down the 7 steps you must complete to successfully become a tattoo artist. Missing any of these pieces will make it much more difficult to break into the industry, and make it harder to achieve your goal of working full time in a tattoo shop.

In this article, we’ll be breaking down:

• The 7 steps you need to take to become a tattoo artist
• How to complete each step
• What resources you can use to move forward in your career.
   

1. Practice Drawing Tattoos


Alt image text: tattoo artist jobs. Find drawing inspiration on inkpedia.org

You don’t have to take art classes to become a successful tattoo artist. In fact, many fine art classes won’t teach you how to draw designs that are made to flow with the body (something tattoo artists have to do everyday).

However, improving your drawing skills and learning tattoo design is a huge part of learning to tattoo. The best way to learn to draw tattoo designs is by looking at the work of famous tattoo artists you admire. (The best place to look for tattoos to copy is Instagram or Inkpedia.)

Trying to redraw the tattoo designs they created will help you improve your own art skills and prepare to develop your own tattoo style later on in your career.

2. Make a Tattoo Portfolio

A tattoo portfolio is a folder or book that shows off your best tattoo designs. If you are trying to get a job as an apprentice, you should only include drawings, flash sheets, etc.

Some mentors don’t want you to be tattooing before you get an apprenticeship, so it’s best to only show artwork instead of tattoos.

If you are applying to work as a tattoo artist, you can include pictures of tattoos you have done as well as your favorite designs.

Present a Professional Portfolio

Whether you’re trying to get a tattoo apprenticeship or applying to work in a shop, everything in your portfolio should be completely finished (no sketches), and your work should be placed neatly in plastic sleeves or printed in a book.

3. Take a Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Course


Alt image text: tattoo artist certification. Bloodborne Pathogens certification renewal card.

Tattoo artists deal with blood on a daily basis. That’s why tattoo artists are required to have their bloodborne pathogens certificate before they can apply for a license.

Bloodborne pathogens training can be done online or in-person, and prepares tattoo artists to prevent the spread of disease.

Training Must be OSHA-Approved

Whatever type of training you do, make sure that your course is OSHA-approved, and that you’ll be getting a certificate of completion when you’re done. The Course for BBP website can help you find OSHA-approved disease prevention classes.

4. Get Tattooed by a Professional Tattoo Artist

When it comes down to it, tattooing is a complicated process that calls for extreme precision. Seeing a tattoo artist work in person is a great way to get an idea of what you should be doing yourself.

If you are getting tattooed with the goal of learning, make sure you get the tattoo on your arm or thigh so you’ll be in a position that lets you watch what’s going on.

5. Practice Tattooing Fake Skin

Now that you’ve seen a tattoo artist in action, it’s time to try it out yourself…on fake skin.

Fake skin is usually made out of silicone and lets aspiring artists practice their skills without risking mistakes on human skin. You’ll want to practice the three most important skills in tattooing: lining, shading, and packing.

Practice is Easier with a Pen Machine

If you haven’t bought a tattoo machine yet, we recommend getting a beginner-friendly pen machine. Traditional coil machines tend to vibrate more and they’re heavier, which can make it harder to learn.

6. Decide Whether You Want to Learn in a Tattoo Shop or Online
 



Alt image text 1: artist working in his own tattoo shop
Alt image text 2: tattooing lines
Images from Tattooing 101’s tattoo training program.

Traditionally, aspiring tattoo artists learned as apprentices under the eye of a more experienced mentor. The apprentice works and learns in the tattoo shop for 1-4 years.

While in-shop apprenticeships are still considered the mainstream way to learn, they are full-time, unpaid positions that often come with lots of tasks unrelated to tattooing (cleaning, taking phone calls, running errands, etc.).

Self-taught artists learn primarily online on their own time. This option is great for people who are transitioning careers but still need to work fulltime or independent learners who are comfortable working on their own.

Hybrid Learning: Practice Online with Help from Professionals

Becoming a tattoo artist without any help at all can be hard and can cause you to accidentally skip important information. For artists who want to learn independently, but still want guidance, we recommend Tattooing 101.

Their online course is broken down into segments that mimic an in-shop apprenticeship, and you can still get feedback from professional tattoo artists in their online community, even if you’re learning from home.

7. Become a Licensed Tattoo Artist

Whether you learn in a tattoo shop or online, to start working with clients you will need to get your tattoo artist license. In most cases, you will need to send in an application to your local health department.

Recap: Your Tattoo Artist Roadmap

Being a good tattoo artist means understanding the artwork, being able to use the right tattooing techniques, and keeping customers safe.

To be able to do that, you need to take the right steps and use the right resources:

1. Practice Tattoo Drawings: Check out Instagram and Inkpedia for references.
2. Make a Tattoo Portfolio: Only include your best (and completed) work.
3. Take a Bloodborne Pathogens Course: Make sure the test is “OSHA-approved.”
4. Get Tattooed by a Professional Tattoo Artist: Take mental notes while you’re watching.
5. Practice Tattooing Fake Skin: Get a feel for your tattoo equipment.
6. Decide to Learn in a Shop or Online: Pick the tattoo artist training that works for you.
7. Become a Licensed Tattoo Artist: Send your application to your local health department.

After these steps, you’ll be ready to start applying to work at local tattoo shops, or even open your own tattoo studio.