How to Become a Tattoo Artist

2/17/22, 3:09 PM

How to Become a Tattoo Artist | Sean Baltzell | Art

a How to Become a Tattoo Artist

by Sean Baltzell | Feb 17, 2022 | Sean Baltzell, Tattooing

You will need some artistic talent to become a tattoo artist. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be born with the talent, but you will have to develop your artistic skills through years and years of practice. This will give you the basic expertise to pursue any type of career in the arts. From there, you will have to go through an educational process to help you establish your qualifications in becoming a tattoo artist.

Get an Education While you may not need a degree in art to start your own tattoo business, obtaining a formal education can benefit you in several ways. Having a degree will help you get the training and experience you’ll need before you can start your own business. Additionally, your education will help you refine and hone your artistic skills. You’ll learn how to use computer applications and other tools to help you enhance your artistic creations. You’ll also have opportunities to network with others in your classes, and that can benefit your tattoo business in the future. https://seanbaltzell.com/how-to-become-a-tattoo-artist-2/

1/3

2/17/22, 3:09 PM

How to Become a Tattoo Artist | Sean Baltzell | Art

Start an Apprenticeship Upon earning your college degree, you should start lining up an apprenticeship with an existing tattoo shop in your community. The apprenticeship will help you learn how to apply your artistic skills to the practice of tattooing. You’ll observe a mentor and eventually perform tattooing under the supervision of that mentor. As you get practice giving tattoos, be sure to take pictures of the tattoos you give to customers. This will help you create a portfolio, which you can use when you do start your own business.

Buy Your Tools Your next step will be to start your own tattoo business. This involves developing a business plan and raising capital, so you should have some understanding of how a business operates. You’ll need to raise capital to help you buy or lease a building, invest in the equipment and tools you’ll need for your trade, and pay for utilities and network services. Once you have funding, you can put your business plan into action.

Even after you have gone through this process and have your own tattoo shop, you will have to market your business. You can do this on a shoestring budget by publishing a website and starting social media pages for your tattoo business. Write blog posts that will be of interest to those who like tattoos and post pictures of the tattoos you have given to past customers. These steps will help you build your brand.

Search

Recent Posts How to Become a Tattoo Artist Art Collecting’s Technological Transition How Art Influences Tattooing Finding the Best Price for Your Tattoo How to Fix a Botched Tattoo

https://seanbaltzell.com/how-to-become-a-tattoo-artist-2/

2/3