While retaining their unique and artistic nature, tattoos have been embraced by the U.S. and indeed much of the world, with an estimated 21,000 tattoo studios in the U.S. alone. In order to keep the art of tattooing fresh, we need creative and exciting new artists. If you’re a hopeful apprentice tattoo artist, becoming a professional tattoo artists isn’t as simple as learning the trade and taking your show on the road. Attending and graduating from a tattoo school is an important step for an apprentice tattoo artist to take.
Becoming A Tattoo Apprentice: Why?
It’s true that an apprentice tattoo artist has to do a lot of grunt work in the beginning. But the fact is that you actually don’t have a choice over attending tattoo school. Sure, you may have heard about tattoo artists who are “self-taught” and practice out of their homes. Practices like this are at best shady and at worst — and in most cases — completely illegal. To be a professional tattoo artist, you need to abide by your state’s regulations, most of which require you to have professional training. Furthermore, any studio that hires tattoo artists that haven’t professionally trained aren’t places you want to work for. Remember that as fun and beautiful as tattoos can be, they’re also permanent marks on a person’s skin. You are performing an invasive procedure with risks of infection and other complications. To provide the safest environment for your clients — and the most legally secure one for you — you need to attend and graduate from a tattoo trade school before you begin working, no matter how accomplished you think you are.
Tattoo Art School: The Creative Side
There are plenty of ways that a tattoo training school can enrich your creativity. With over 20% of all American adults having at least one tattoo, plenty of people now want to push the envelope with their ink. A tattoo school will teach you new techniques and styles — even if your preferred style is Japanese, for example, you’ll still want to know how to produce watercolor or American Classic tattoos. You’ll also learn the most popular tattoo designs, ensuring that you can give a quality tattoo in a short amount of time. And of course, you’ll need to know how to make a good coverup tattoo — those aren’t easy, but with 10% of tattooed Canadians having some regret over their ink, it’s a lucrative business.
Tattoo Artist School: Practicalities
It’s not all about the art, of course. Tattooing is a business, and going to a tattoo trade school will teach you how to keep a clean studio, as well as how to follow legally required procedures. Upon graduating from tattoo school, you’ll be able to create amazing tattoos — and ensure that you and your clients are as happy and safe as possible. This is truly the key to your success as a tattoo artist.