I'm interested in becoming a tattoo artist for a while when I'm a little bit older.

However I'm not the greatest artist.

But I have been trying to get better and practicing.

I absolutely love tattoos and the art of it all and I wanna be able to do it.


Anyone have any advice on how to get better at it, get into the business, etc?


My boyfriend was thinking of buying me a tattoo gun to practice and get better with but to be honest I don't know the first thing to do.


Also - Can you get apprenticeships even if your under 18?



Ahh sorry for all the questions.

Replies would be greatly appreciated :].

When applying for an apprenticeship, you will need to provide a portfolio of your work. The work will obviously not be tattoos, but your artistic line drawings, original ideas, and so on.

So unless you are a natural talent (which you said you aren't) you will need to go to school to learn about art and how to apply it in its various forms on various canvases.

Tattooing is WAY more than just tracing lines. You have to be able to understand how colours work together, how to apply proper shading and so on. If you have no artistic ability, you should never be picking up a gun and tattooing.

I know some people who have done that and it worked out, but they were awesome artists to begin with.

And with the popularity of tattoos, everyone and their uncle wants to be an artists. TV shows like this really glamorise tattoos. You won't be making any money for many years. You will have to relocate to learn from various artists.

Apprenticeships are not usually paid. You learn tattoos and you clean the shop, clean the tubes. Its not the glitz and glamour like on Miami Ink. Those guys have worked for nothing for years to get where they are.

And today, you can barely spit without hitting a tattoo shop. They are everywhere. So to get noticed and to actually make it in the bizz, you will have to be so much better than so many other people.

If this is truly your dream, then follow it.

I would highly suggest going to art school and learning how to be an artist. Once you are an artist, then you can decide if you want to use the human body as your canvas. Not the other way around.

Oh, and I doubt you can get an apprenticeship if you are under 18.

Sure, in the 1930s, Sailor Jerry was hanging around a tattoo shop and the owner asked him to do a tattoo when he was 14.

Today, a reputable shop will never even tattoo someone under 18. One shop in my area doesn't even let anyone under 18 in the shop as some of the imagery is not for kids, and seeing people walking around half naked is not a thing for an 8 year old.

So I doubt you can get an apprenticeship under 18, and in your case, without any artistic talent.

Your best bet is becoming a shop person. One guy would clean tubes, get lunch, sweep the floor and book appointments just because he wanted to hang in the shop.

Thankss for all the help.

Yeah I'm gonna be taking art classes soon because I really wanna get better at.
& I didn't wanna get into it for the money cuz I honestly don't even know how much they make.

& I wouldn't mind doing any of that, I just wanna be around it and see how everything is done and learn.

- Go to art school.
- Build an awesome portfolio (tip, make a bunch of tattoo and tattoo inspired drawings in your portfolio)
- Get a job as a shop hand in a shop that is professional and reputable
- Save up as much cash as you can because you will learn where the term starving artist comes

The first thing is practice your art take some art classes as far as getting a tattoo machine and going for it their are a lot of successful artists who have taken that road but I don't advise it you could be putting someones health at risk most tattoo artists are certified and have to have a extensive knowledge on bloodborn pathogens.Find an apprenticeship or go to tattoo school, check out this website. http://www.tattoo-school.com/