How to become a tattoo artist: where do I start?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 2 тра 2024
- Hello 👋
My name is Jo (they/them) and I am a professional tattoo artist based in Bournemouth, a beautiful place in the South Coast of the UK. In todays's video I talk about how to become a tattoo artist, particularly focusing on where to start! Before applying for a tattoo apprenticeship, there are things you can do to get ready and develop your tattooing skills. Have a watch and let me know what You think! See you next Friday at 2pm.
Make sure to check out my Tattoo playlist where I share lots of tips and advice on all things tattoos: • Tattoos, tips and advice
Follow my journey on my other social media platforms:
📸 Instagram: / jochastney.tattoo
🐶 Facebook: / jocartist
🎨 Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JOCHASTNEY
✏️ Website: www.jochastney.com
Links to some of the equipment I use:
Ring light: amzn.to/3N2JrRu
Saddle stool: amzn.to/42DSLkt
A3 light drawing board: amzn.to/3WXMv6a
Mic for phone amzn.to/3ClAZbb
iPad Pro keyboard and case amzn.to/43vAaso
Gimbal amzn.to/42uKbEJ
Tripod amzn.to/3NofE76
Iphone 13 amzn.to/3J7s8xt
iPad Pro amzn.to/3N0wk3t
Music by bensound.com - Навчання та стиль
I don’t know if anyone will read this, but here is how i feel. I am 20 years old and was really into drawing ever since I was a kid. I stopped drawing for like a year and recently I keep thinking of getting back into it. I attended an art uni for a year, but I dropped out because i felt like I wasn’t good enough and can’t put the vision in my mind on paper and got REALLY discouraged… felt hopeless. Im a very sensitive person and very self-aware so I always feel like im not good. Today i saw an ad of a local tattoo shop that they are looking for an aprentice, but I won’t apply. I want to get good, I want to be the best, but im not there yet. I feel like my whole life I am the one that always sabotages myself. Im curently uneployed at 21 and looking for work, but I feel very down and lost on what direction my life is going. To anyone who feels the same, we will get through this..
Hi Pepper,
Thanks for leaving your comment and putting yourself out there, it’s a brave thing to do!
I think it is perfectly normal to not feel good enough, especially in this day an age where it seems we are surrounded by talent!
I would really like to encourage you to go for it, easy for me to say I know, but what’s the worst that can happen? They say no and you’ll be in the same position. If they say no, but you should do x, y, z and then we will re consider. Orrrrrr they say yes!!!! You will never know until you put yourself out there. I had a lot of no’s before I got my yes, approximately 10 shops said no to me. Some where helpful, some were rude and some were terrifying! But I found a great fit for me in the end and I’ve made it to where I am, with the BEST job. Sometimes the best things in life are hard, sometimes not, you are brave, try to start to believe in yourself a bit so other people can too!
All of the best of luck with your journey whatever that looks like. You Got this!!
I'm sensing you might have a problem with mental health, which is very common. Been there myself, specially at my 20's. The common advice is, don't put yourself down, but sometimes we don't have the tools for that. Maybe some therapy can help you and you'll get the tools to pick yourself up with confidence and face whatever comes your way. Hope this helps!
I feel the same way sometimes when I graduated at art u i swear I had imposter syndrome to be honest I still do here and there. But just start drawing for yourself and you definitely saw that ad for a reason the fact you were there at that time and saw their ad could be a sign for you to continue with a passion you locked up. Maybe even start giving people henna designs just for funzies. It's not an easy process feeling like you're stuck in a slump but just force yourself even to just go to the park sit down on a blanket, listen to some music, and just draw what you see. Just go doodle random shit you're interested or give yourself a prompt. I believe in you and no one else's opinions matter about how you live your life. It's okay to be feeling this way at 21 it's the most normal thing but at some point you have to really pull yourself to start somewhere as hard as it is you just have to do it eventually. I'll be here sending you love.
I feel the same but I’m 26
I identify so much with this coment, i love drawing but i'm not naturally good at that, used to be good when i was younger, but since i got into uni i stopped drawing. I really wanted to start again, i love tattoos, getting tattoos, the enviroment and all the process. I'm 22 and i'm starting over, and you, younger than me, can do it to. Hope you feel better with your art and cofident enough, cause i know you can as much as I.
Love from brazil.
Took me about almost a year to gain the confidence to tattoo myself. Just did it yesterday finally after practicing drawing and fake skin practice. Can’t wait for what’s ahead!! Awesome vid
How exciting!! Good luck with the future 😊
@@jochastney thank you! No blown lines and it healed Great. I think we’re on to something here lol
Thankyou for this video, ive just turned 40 and thinking of getting my first tattoo like i have for years, booking it soon! Then i suddenly had this inspiration that i could actually do tattooing professionally myself and could see myself doing it, the time is now for ceasing inspirations!
Gosh. Sitting here binging videos.
I’ve been wanting a creative career all my adult life, just had mental health struggles and felt stuck.
I’ve hit a point now and I’m determined to do something I love. Tattooing honestly is the only career I can pursue that ticks all my boxes.
This video had really good points.
I really need to just act and start up pursuing this, gonna get a tattoo I’ve been pondering the design on for ages so I’ll go get that and quiz out the artist for local advice lmao
Hey!
Go for it! And that’s a good idea, when you go to get your next one, have a chat with the artist and see if they can offer any advice.
Just get the ball rolling and hopefully it will all work out :)
Good luck 🤞🏼
Nice tips... Really helpful for anyone who would start their tattooing career journey...
This was a really informative video. I definitely appreciate you posting and sharing tips!
Thank you! I hope you find my other videos helpful 😊
This was actually one of the first videos i found that was helpfull in my situation, thanks allot
Awesome! I’m glad! And good luck 😊
This video is amazing, I'm starting an apprenticeship tomorrow! As I can't currently afford a tablet, I have been digitally drawing on my phone! Some of the options aren't as great as pro-create but it's not too bad as a start off 🖤 thank you for this video x
I’m so excited for you!
The key is to use what you have and build from there. Drawing with pens/ pencils and paper is just as useful as an ipad, and that’s how it all started before ipads were around!
Good luck on your tattoo journey 🥳
Im 16 and im so nervous about my future, i wanna get into tattooing but i dont know where to start, im good at drawing but i just have no experience. Thank you for uploading thisss
I know this is not too helpful, but I didn’t start tattooing until I was 28. You have so much time to experience life, practise your craft of drawing and get into tattooing at some point when the time is right 😊
i think im in love with them
Many thanks!❤
I've been thinking about POSSIBLY trying to become a tattoo artist for a year now, but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with touching random people every day, sometimes in awkward places. I've been drawing my whole life (but don't really have an up-to-date portfolio), I've been studying the different styles, tattoo placement, some history... But still can't decide if I just want to design the tattoos I want on my own body, or if making it into a career makes sense for me.
Hi Kai,
Thank you for your comment :)
I get what you mean, not only with tattooing areas that can be more private, but just meeting new people and starting up the initial conversations can cause anxiety.
This does get easier over time! I kind of go into 'work mode' still me but like I'm playing a role. Something that I have found helps me feel less anxious.
Very occasionally I will have a client that I find it slightly harder to chat with, MOST of the time I meet amazing people, with amazing stories. I have made friends for life from tattooing them!
I have also always had in my mind that I will see a lot of some people's bodies, it is just skin, we all have bodies and they are all beautiful.
One of my key attributes is to make my clients feel relaxed and at ease. So if I make a bit deal out of them showing me some skin then they might feel uneasy. The last thing I want to do is make my client feel awkward. I don't make any comments I tell them what area I need to get to and make suggestions on how to do it. Again, something over time you will get used to.
Most of all, do what feels good for you, if drawing is your passion then stick with that!
If you feel like giving tattooing a go then see how you get on, you could always discuss the position they would like first so you don't have to do that in person.
I hope you found this useful!
Jo
@@jochastney Chatting with people is not a problem for me, I can talk to anyone even if we don't know each other - the worst that can happen is them thinking I'm strange or awkward. But..
When I was little, I always said my worst nightmare is to be a doctor, because I'd have to touch people. I get stiff when someone tries to hug me, I instinctively pull away when anyone gets close to me, and I can barely shake someone's hand without recoiling. I don't know if I'd be capable of completely hiding my aversion to touch, and people would probably take it personally.
This could just be me trying to find a reason why I shouldn't even try. There's an aspect to every job I'd hate, I just have to figure out if my dislike of touching people is greater than whatever else I'd have to do in a different job.
Hi Kai,
I think it is something you can take your time thinking about. There’s no rush!
Keep on drawing and mastering your art and see what happens!
I hope that you find something that you love, I’m sure you will 😊
Hey Kai,
This is a bit random but I thought your comment about aversion to touch was interesting. It would be really cool to know more about your experience. I thought of a couple questions.....
What do you think might be the underlying feeling or belief that is associated with touching others?
Have you felt like this sense you were a little kid?
Are there some people that you feel comfortable embracing with touch?
Whay type of thoughts or feelings might you have if someone that you know hugged you unexpectedly?
I know this is kind of personal but I was curious. Feel free to skip anything that you don't want to answer even if that means not responding.
Cheers,
-Hrt
@@hrtxspc (sorry, I intended to respond earlier but I left the tab open and forgot ;) )
I remember always being like this. I don't have a diagnosis, but I think I'm autistic. It's probably sensory overload mixed with not feeling safe, especially if someone touches my back, or they hold onto me. There are some friends I don't mind touching me, but I still need to be ready for it. I only allowed my parents to hug me when I knew we wouldn't see each other for a year. Just recently a new friend touched me unexpectedly and felt hurt when I automatically moved away. Also, touching someone's skin directly can be a strange sensation, same as touching something sticky, or wet and dirty (though not as bad).
You’re literally gorgeous 😍 love the video!
such a nice video
I loved art in high school, and I stopped when I graduated. Everyone was shoveling college down my throat for a “real career”. I’m now three years into a degree that I no longer wish to pursue. But I find myself wanting to do what I’ve always wanted to do create. I have a great paying job at ups, it’s definitely not my forever career. But I’m gonna work here at least until I find my next thing. I’m gonna do it I’m actually going to buy a tattoo kit start practicing on fake skin. But not sure what to do from there I know classes or an apprenticeship? Any advice on what to do anyone?
I've been tattooing since I was 16 years old, I've always been a bit shy, so I never really did a lot of tattoo's. In the summer of 2022 my shop quit and I had to get a different job. I've been way to insecure to go to a different shop, always way to afraid to get rejected. Today I've finally finished my portfolio and I'm going crazy to send it to a lot of different shops. Hope I can finally fufill my dream about becoming a profesional tattoo artist :) (sorry if my English isn't the best haha not my first language ;)
Hey, it’s great that you are clearly very passionate about it. You care about your work and it is tough to put yourself out there and the possibility of being rejected. However if you don’t you won’t move forward and potentially find a new studio that keeps you going on your tattoo journey.
It is scary but it can lead to great things!!
You got this 💪🏼
@@jochastney sorry for the late reaction, I have been rejected by one shop so far they told me that I was to insecure for about an hour, but they honestly pushed me to show them beter! Thanks for the kind words btw!🥰
Wow, great work!😁🔥
Thank you 😊
I have always idolized my dad's tattoo artists amd ive always wanted to be like them and i started to draw tons and tons of stuff for almost 10 years now but this year i'm trying to actually get into it seriously but i have a lot of confidence issues with the way i do art, because mine doesnt look like most tattoos 😭
That’s amazing that you have been drawing for so long! And exciting that you are really concentrating on it now. Focused energy is a lot more useful.
I don’t think it is so much of a bad thing if you are unique. As long as you are tattooing correctly, people will cone to you for your unique tattoos once the word gets out there. Confidence is always tough when you are putting out work. However, some people will love it and some people will hate whatever work you do!
do you reckon you could be a specialist in calligraphy🤣 i am good at drawing but calligraphy has become a new fave of mine
i’m 18 and super interested in being a professional piercer and tattoo artist, i seem to have a natural talent when it comes to piercing but i’ve always been into makeup and not a paper pen drawerer but i do like tracing and shading but i’ve been worried since i have not practiced freehanding designs and drawings and that i could never make it as a tattoo artist. i wanna start flash tracing and practice that and move onto stencils and fake skin but sometimes i feel it’s hopeless since im not someone who can do outstanding drawings in a notebook with a pen, does anyone else feel this way or have tips ?
I came across this video and it was very useful to me thank you tbh I been thinking a lot about being a tattoo artist and I was so confused what I wanna be ofc because there was a lot of jobs in mind but art has always been my passion, but I have been trying to research the different skin types because Ik skin can be very sensitive and history and jus finding any near me I just struggle with shading, I would want to improve on it ofc have you got any advice on how to shade on skin bc Ik people do it differently or techniques but my biggest fear becoming a tattoo artist is that I mostly enjoy drawing wit pencil or pen and that Doing it with a shaped object especially on skin will feel weird.
Sharp*
Hey Ruby!
Thanks for your comment 😊
Definitely keep up the art and drawing as this helps with tattooing. Basically you are still an artist, it’s working with different materials.
Once you have one nailed it’s easier to transfer. Obviously this still requires time, patience and someone to teach you. Also, starting with pen/ pencil paper is easier and less scary to get good at first.
Tattoo does take time to learn, and I feel I am still learning 10 years in!
Start small and work your way up, practice on yourself (as long as you are old enough and have supervision) practice on willing friends, then expand on e you feel more confident.
Good luck!
I like the accent, ❤️
Appreciate the video! New subscriber here 🥰
Great news! Thank you 😊
i’m 18 and i really want to become a tattoo artist! i’m not the best at drawing so i really want to start, any tips on where to start?
I would be interested to hear your thoughts and ideas on equipment for improving drawing and resources to help improve. I'm drawing daily and identifying what technical areas I need to develop but, as I want to improve specifically for tattooing, is there anything you'd reccomend I specifically do? Outside of practicing the various main styles.
Hi Samuell, thanks for your comment and feedback.
I will definitely do a video in the future about how to improve with drawing techniques and things to consider when designing tattoos.
The main tip is practise!
@@jochastney That sounds great! Thank you, Jo :)
i’m in the same boat. what i try to practice on when i draw is straight lines. lines. like just fill notebooks with straight lines really really practice on those. and try to come up with my own ideas without looking at a reference picture or the least amount of reference pictures possible. i feel like those are important. draw stuff in pen to work on contrast and shading
I'm trying to found a apprenticeship job, but I did tattoos before (are nice tatttoos) I make shit my chance to find something?
Pretty confident that they’re not gonna respond but here we go
My names saydi and I’m 12 years old and I really like drawing skulls (not realistic ones) and scary stuff only in black in white sometimes. Using colors just make me cringe for some reason. I don’t draw on iPad mostly because I don’t have one and mostly because I don’t have a pen. I really do like drawing on paper and myself because why not lol. My family members have lots of tattoos and one of my uncles like doing them but won’t show me the basics, I came here to see if you would help with that and this video already made me confident about this. Thanks!
Hi Saydi,
Thanks for your comment!
I prefer drawing just with black too, when it comes to tattooing I feel more out of my comfort zone with colours 😳
My advice for now is to keep drawing, tattooing isn’t going anywhere. You can tattoo once you’ve developed your skills further.
As soon as you can tattoo you’ll be smashing it and super glad you waited 😊
@@jochastney thank you so much I didn’t think you would respond😅I was literally in English class when I read that lol
I’ve been drawing since I was young but have recently stopped due to other potential career interests. However I always come back to drawing on my free time. The issue relies on using needles and ink, I’ve never done anything of that sort so it scares me.. specially because there can be mistakes made in a tattoo. And I get anxious just thinking about how I could possibly mess up as I’m not very confident in my own ability. I can draw really good, it’s just the confidence gets lost when I think about doing art on skin..
I’ve had this idea that I could potentially just draw tattoo designs and ideas and sell them on the internet for cheap.. but nothing comes to mind on how to get started. Any tips or suggestions on what I could do to be able to move forward with these ideas and passion that I have for art & tattoos? Help lol..
I find this comment very relatable, in fact it feels like I've wrote it myself, haha! I'm also afraid of messing things up and been thinking about selling the tattoo designs and ideas only, but I'm kind of insecure that I won't succeed in that, as there are people with probably much better ideas and drawing skills.
Hey! Thanks for reaching out.
I’m so pleased you have found drawing and you have that forever now. It is tricky to convert that to tattooing and can seem quite daunting. You have to do what feels right for you, if it makes you anxious and feeling sacred then perhaps you need a bit more time. But it does take a bit of courage to try something new and go for it.
Believing in yourself and your skills is a great help, don’t expect to be great at tattooing straight away. It does take time, but that’s why you start small and work up to the bigger, more detailed pieces. We are humans, not robots, so not matter how good/ bad you are, there will be little “mistakes” to me, that’s what makes a tattoo. It’s unique and created by someone. As long as it looks good and you are being safe, then does it really matter?
I hope that you can move forward with tattooing, however sometimes it’s just not right. Your idea for designs is great, you can sell your designs on a website, creating a website is reasonably easy, especially with Wix or Squarespace. You can start an Etsy shop or use social media to share your work. I would suggest not selling your designs on the internet for cheap, how are you going to make any money?! Value your time and skill, see how the pricing goes, but sell your work for what you think it is worth!!
Good luck :)
Not expecting a response (kind of hoping tho ahaha) because I'm late! But! I have just decided I want to at least give this a try. I'm nearly 21, I'm a digital art (on procreate!), i have a consistent art style and I'm definitely happy with what I can do, but I've had bad experience with the social media management side of things as a digital artist and I dont even this will be much different. I know this is going to be very different, and frankly I probably have to relearn compositions and such, but this feels like a very secure path to have if I make it, considering I don't see AI tattooing people any time soon :p. I can't say I'm not nervous about delving into a whole new culture (I am currently not tattooed at all either, so, but I want to get my first soon and inquire the artist about it), I've also heard tales about sexism in the industry which, hmMMm.
I suppose I'm just nervous to get started, very nervous to get on instagram again and even more nervous about reaching out to tattoo artists and asking questions 😅.
Did you ever hear about uk tattoo academy? Is it worth it?
would you recommend attending a tattooing school?
As a beginner should I use grid method for sketching or free hand before getting into a tattoo artist course.. ??
Hey! I would try both techniques whilst starting out and see which one you prefer :)
@@jochastney tq😊
Should I go for an apprenticeship before I actually do my first tattoo? I love art and I would love to be a tattoo artist but there’s very minimal shops around where I live and I’m not sure if they would consider me with no work to show?
Hey!
I would definitely advise getting an apprenticeship before touching anyone with a tattoo machine.
This can be tricky, I have a lot of studios where I live and I still struggled. It’s a tough industry to get into, but that makes it all the more sweeter when you make it!
To get an apprenticeship you don’t need a portfolio of tattoos, they will be looking at your drawing skill, so make sure you keep on at that :)
Good luck 🤞🏼
I like to draw but my drawing is not good so I can't be a tattoo artist 😅I have to practice so much and I want to start drawing on a ipad what app should I use?
It just takes practise and patience. I’m sure you could be a tattoo artist in time!
I use pro create on my ipad, it takes a bit of time to get used to but it’s really good!
@@jochastney thank you so much for helping 😊❤
Is there any college program about this?
if you practice proper hygiene AND actually care about others & how you set things up, then there’s no problem with starting on your own… especially if you’re good at drawing! Start with some fake skin & work your way up. Just keep you station and equipment clean 25/8.
Rn I’m a commission’s art get payed a small amount for tattoo design, character designs and more. But I really wanna be a tattoo artist I have for years now. But where I’m at and in time I’m have a huge problem finding people actually wanting or willing to take apprenticeships, I have a digital and all in paper portfolio of all kinds of art. Just need to find a shop willing to take apprenticeships. Any good times for that?
You don't need an apprenticeship to be a tattoo artist. That's just to work in a shop. You just need BBP certification and you can legally do tattoos.
Are there any places in Bournemouth you recommend? Moved down here a year ago and want to pop in to a few places and see if they are taking apprentices!
Try all the shops on the high street. Just go and introduce yourself. Have a chat and ask for any tips. It can be a bit intimidating, however if they are a good studio that you would potentially want to work then it should be a friendly welcoming atmosphere.
Love u from iran
Had to recently give up a great apprenticeship because I have a baby. feels like I gave up my dream and won’t ever get it back ):
It’s never too late! A baby is an amazing gift, tattooing can wait 😊
Does anyone know if it’s worth it being a tattoo artist. It’s been something that I’ve been thinking about a lot and I think I would love doing it, but I don’t know if it’s a hard thing to get into
Well I think it’s worth it and I really didn’t know what else to do, so there was no other choice for me.
It was hard but that’s what kept me going, not settling for anything else.
Not saying it still doesn’t have it’s ups and downs. But as long as there are more ups, I think you are on the right tracks.
Can I paint instead? I genuinely despise drawing but I'm actually really talented at painting. Got hired to teach classes until the place shut down
Haha you can do whatever makes you happy 😃
It would be cool to transfer your skills though!
I'm just curious, when you say start drawing and practice, does this mean i need to draw literally anything and everything?
I would advise this yes. You may believe you want to do a specific style but might find that something else is more natural to you.
Hi can i get a tattoo kit to just practice on fake skins and fruits. Am 16 so am trying to convince my parents. They said to wait until I have finished school but I thought it would be cool to practice in my free time
Oh that’s tricky!
If your parents say wait until you’ve finished school, then maybe wait…
Or try to have a conversation with them and say it would be good to practise. I think they might be worried about you tattooing people, which I would definitely say DO NOT DO!
You can always keep practicing drawing in the meantime!!
@@jochastney yeh I wasn’t at all going to tattoo people. I have had the conversation with one I just gotta convince the other. I’m too lazy to wait 🤣.
@@jochastney I will keep practicing thank you for the advice
I don’t know how to come up with ideas to make a portfolio for an apprenticeship
I would advise googling/ Pinterest flash sheets.
Or just study the things that interest you and as many different styles as possible:)
Any Licences and regulations for tattoo artists in UK?? Can I learn more about in college?
Hey!
I don’t think there are college courses specifically targeted for tattooing, in the UK anyway.
I would strongly advise for tattoo artist/ studio insurance and you must check with your local council about the requirements and to get a licence.
I will be doing a video with some advice on being self employed, with more of an aim on tattooing.
Thanks!
Can anyone help me ? I really like to become a tattoo artist and im passionate about it but im so bad at drawing and paiting and have no experience in it , can i be successful ? can i become good by practicing or should i just forget it
I think if you are very passionate and patient you can become a tattoo artist. The more you practise anything the better you will become. Try lots of different styles. Some may be easier than others. Good luck 😊
@@jochastney thanks a lot for your reply
I'm a teenager now and i want to become a Tattoo artist... Sadly it's not a recognised profession here..
Keep drawing and exploring as you never know! It might become a profession or you might find drawing useful for something else 😊
is it possible to becoming a tattoo artist in my late 30s? or is it just too late?
I've literally been into tattoo shops where the artist is in their 60's/ 70's. As long as you have a steady hand, you can pretty much work in tattooing until you're in the grave. 30 is still young. A lot of famous artists (in general) didn't start their careers or even doing art until their 30's/40's.
It’s never too late!
I didn’t start until I was 28. But you can start at any age!
Don't need qn apprenticeship I built my own studio with no experience and with research bought all the "right equipment" and taught myself and everything worked out great. Never infected anybody. An apprenticeship is a waste of time, you do everything but tattoo for a long period of time, then when you finally do tattoo you don't have any practical knowledge the same if you just picked up a tattoo gun and started practicing. Use reel skin, practice then move on. Don't waste time with a so called apprenticeship
i agree on being able to build yourself, but whats another way of getting into the profession if you cant set up your own studio?
I agree, I’m gonna start practicing on fake skin
You are very privileged to have the money and resources to do that! Most people aren’t as well off as you. Good on you, and that’s great you were able to do that, but it’s just not something that is widely available for the vast majority. Not everybody is that rich lmao
hii idk if anyone will see this but im 14 years old and i love art and my dream is to become a tattoo artist. my dad got me a tattoo kit so im trying to learn more about tattooing rn. i made a few tattoo art im practicing on like some fruit and vegetables rn 😭 but yaaa.
Great idea to start on fruit and vegetables 😊
JESUS LOVES YOU ALL ❤
U talk about ur experience not about how to start