There is no typical day as a tattoo artist. Each day is unique and filled with excitement as you work to create masterpieces on clients’ bodies. Being a tattoo artist is both rewarding and challenging at the same time. You will be driven by powerful creative impulses and experience extreme aesthetic fulfillment, but at the same time, you will be responsible for someone else’s opinion of your work. What’s not to love?
While the above statement may be true for anyone who chooses to be a tattoo artist, it takes on a different complexion for those who pursue this career path. In order to truly succeed as a tattoo artist, you must dedicate yourself to becoming the best possible version of yourself. This means that not only will you need to constantly strive to learn and develop your craft, but you will also need to be honest with yourself about your abilities and work hard to overcome any personal barriers that may keep you from reaching your full potential. In this article, we will discuss some of the things that you need to consider before you begin your journey as a professional tattoo artist.
The Desire To Become A Tattoo Artist
If you’ve ever considered how life-changing and exciting it would be to have a career that you love, you may be driven to pursuing tattooing as a career. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend their days painting or sculpting on interesting bodies instead of the same old boring canvas or clay?
Tattooing is a form of art that spans many centuries and has always been a popular choice among those who love to express themselves creatively. Not only does it allow for a great deal of artistic freedom, but it is a form of self-expression that one can share with the world. If you’ve ever felt that you don’t fully express yourself through conventional means, then tattooing is the perfect outlet for your creative spirit. You will never be limited by what you can and cannot paint, sculpt, or draw, and you can enjoy the benefits of a creative medium without the pressure of having to be the best at what you do.
Tattooing As A Career
Tattooing is a form of art that can be both functional and non-functional. While the former refers to the fact that you may get a design on a body part that will help the person that you are tattooing, the latter refers to the fact that you can get a tattoo for any occasion or reason. This includes, but is not limited to, celebrating special occasions such as birthday, anniversary, and graduation, as well as making a statement about the kind of person that you are or aren’t.
As mentioned above, the field of tattooing has always been a popular choice among those who love to express their creativity through art. In recent years, however, the appeal of tattooing has grown beyond traditional art circles and today, many people see it as a viable career choice. There are a number of registered apprenticeships and traineeships that you can pursue, both in- and out-of-state, to become a professional tattoo artist. You should consider pursuing one of these options to better understand what it takes to become a registered tattoo artist in your state. Not only will this allow you to take advantage of any on-the-job training opportunities, but it will also establish you as an expert in your field. You don’t want to become registered as a tattoo artist in your state, yet be unprepared for the demands of the job. This could potentially lead to legal issues down the line if you aren’t properly qualified to do the job. Make sure to learn as much as possible before you begin your journey, so that you can have the best possible chance of success.
Licensing And Registration in Canada and U.S.
In Canada, tattoo artists don’t require a license as they do elsewhere in the world, but studios adhere to strict health and safety requirements that prospective tattoo artists learn during apprenticeships.
Every state in the U.S. requires that registered contractors (or artists) be licensed by the state. Each state has its own licensing requirements and procedures, and it’s important to find out what these are before you begin your registration process. Many states require you to take a test, have a mentor, or both in order to be registered as a contractor. You must also pay a fee to be registered in most states (ranging from $20 to $100), and the process of becoming licensed or registered can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Make sure to plan accordingly so that you don’t have to rush and find a way to pay for the registration until after it’s been completed.
As a prospective tattoo artist, one of your biggest concerns will be finding enough work to sustain your lifestyle. Believe it or not, registering as a contractor does not ensure you will be able to obtain work. Your reputation will actually be the key to your success as a tattoo artist; make sure to build a portfolio of recent work that you can show prospective clients, as well as maintain a professional demeanor at all times, even when negotiating a pricing structure or reviewing a client proposal. Being licensed or registered in any way does not guarantee you will be able to charge what you are worth, but it certainly does improve your chances. Just remember that while this may be good for your business, it doesn’t mean that you will automatically become wealthy or successful as a tattoo artist. You must earn this success yourself, by being the best in your field, not by following the latest trends or using the most up-to-date software.
Education And Training
In most cases, you will need a four-year college degree in order to be considered for registration as a
professional tattoo artist. This is because, in most situations, the states that you will apply to for registration will require that you have a minimum of an undergraduate degree, or a comparable amount of experience. Many states require that you have completed an apprenticeship, or some combination of the two in order to be considered for registration. Once you are registered, you may take advantage of any on-the-job training opportunities that you can find, both in- and out-of-state. Many states also provide additional training and certifications for registered contractors, which can be a great way to build upon your existing skillset. If you are pursuing an on-the-job training opportunity, make sure that you are aware of the requirements and deadlines associated with this program. Without a formal education in design, it can be difficult to find the right job, and even more difficult to find the time to study and train for your registration, as well as pursue your career. A good rule of thumb is to try to get as much on-the-job training as you can, before you begin studying, so that you don’t have to worry about finding the time to fit your education into your schedule.
Money
Every artist, to some degree, goes through a stage where they think that money is no object. You will have to learn to prioritize your expenses and spend more on what is essential. One good rule of thumb is to spend what you can, but don’t spend what you don’t have. For example, if you have a ton of student loan debt, it might be best to take a step back and consider what is most important to you. Are you willing to put in the time and effort to learn the craft? Do you want to be able to charge what you are worth? These are all key considerations, and without them, none of the others matter. The only way that you can get to the point where you can think about money is if you are consistently putting in the time and effort to make your own.
Personal
Just because you’re a licensed contractor or registered artist doesn’t mean that you can’t have personal lives outside of work. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. You will need to make sure that your personal lives don’t get in the way of your professional lives. This is why it’s important to consider what is important to you and make decisions based upon personal values. You don’t have to like everything about your job, but you must be able to put in the time and effort to complete the tasks at hand. If you can’t, then there’s no reason to pursue this career path, as there will always be work for someone who can.
Being a professional tattoo artist can be both rewarding and challenging at the same time. On one hand, you will be driven by powerful creative impulses and experience extreme aesthetic fulfillment, but at the same time, you will be responsible for someone else’s opinion of your work. What’s not to love?
