Hi there

I am 27 years old, living in London. I actually have not had any work done yet on myself, but have been fascinated by body art since living in the US (Berkeley, CA).

I am back in London, and have worked in unrelated professions (I needed the money).

I am finally in a position, where I feel I can commit myself to getting an unpaid work experience (or even an apprenticeship - but as I have limited drawing experience, and do not even have a portfolio I’ll take what I can until I can get an idea of what I can do to develop myself).

I am willing to work as hard as needed to learn all I can. I am conscientious, professional and courteous, and want to do this more than anything.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice provided.

-Dhaval Gandhi
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Hi

I am 27 years old, and have always been interested in tattooing, and the variety of work that’s done.  I am not an artist, but am really interested in starting the long path to one day being a competent tattooist. Financial worries have always held me back, but I’m finally at a stage where I am more concerned about developing this skill than paying off debts.

I am looking for any advice on how I can develop myself and take steps towards becoming a tattooist.

I am not really interested in making a lot of money, but am keen on doing something which I can work on for the rest of my life, and believe I would love to do this as a career.

I would like advice on how to develop the necesary skills, what things I should include in a portfolio, and how I might be able to get some unpaid work experience or apprenticeship in London

Is it possible that an artist or studio would take me on, on an unpaid basis, to learn the basics and help around the shop, and just understand more about the work tattooists do for their clients.

Any help or advice from someone who started later in life (or anyone at all!) would be appreciated.

Edit.
Moderators note.
These two posts are similar so merged as one

understand more about the work tattooists do for their clients

this quote makes me ask if you are tattooed or not, heavily tattooed, maybe a couple??? the quote makes perfect sense if you havent had any tattoos done and spent time in a studio, but leads me to ask…... if you havent spent time in a studio and already dont know some of the goings on in a studio, what is it that appeals to you, what else is there that makes you want to tattoo? i only ask because we get soooo many people who want to be tattooers, but dont have the faintest idea of what happens in tattooing or why we do it or anything for that matter, i dont understand how someone can have an interest in something they know nothing about, you know what i mean?

dg20 - 08 April 2010 10:09 PM

I am not an artist, but am really interested in starting the long path to one day being a competent tattooist..

Hello dg,

I am going to assume your post is genuine, as we do get messages like your just as a wind up.

Have you any drawing skills at all?

For any tattooists to take you on, you would have to show a good standard of drawing skills.

For example if a tattooist was to offer the opportunity to come to their studio at the weekend, and to talk to the customers and then draw up a design from their description of what they wanted done, would you be able to draw up the design clear and precise ready for use?

If not, then this would be your first task, to improve your drawing skills.

If you have good drawing skills already, then your best bet is to draw up several sets of tattoo designs on A3 sheets.  If you are able to draw up good commercial tattoo flash that will sell everytime you visit a tattoo studio to sell your designs, you will be well on the way to get yourself recognized.

You have to prove yourself first, the tattooists job is to teach you the discipline of tattooing, not to teach you drawing skills.

thank you both for your reply.

I just wanted to say that my limited experience with tattooing is from when I lived in the US. I have had to take what work I can in recent years to pay bills, debt etc, and am now looking to do this.

I must say that I did not appreciate how naive I must sound in my post. I am familiar with what a tattooist does, and what goes on in a studio, but I assume my experience is not the same as someone who does this everyday.

I also wanted to say thanks for your guidance. I need to spend time working on my drawing skills and see where I get. If anyone has pointers of any formal ways to improve (I have not been to art school or anything), that would be great too.

I have had some really nasty things said to me in my search for some pointer - this was an innocent question from someone who has limited experience. Seriously though, I may never be good enough to do this professionally, or even get any work experience, but I will enjoy trying to improve my drawing, and maybe my skills will persuade someone one day to take me on.

id say your best bet is to get some serious tattooing done, not these 10 hr sleeves everyone seems to be doing, i mean real shit, sit in that chair, pay the dues, see what happens on a regular basis, see what trials and stresses the tattooer goes through, the more you visit, the more youll notice, the more your tattooer will open up to you and trewat you like afriend and complain about the shit he’s been through and the good times he has, all that stuff is valuable if you want to see into the trade, before wasting your time starting up then realising it aint for you, people WILL give you a hard time because theres so many idiot time wasters saying they always wanted to be a tattooer, all 18 yrs of thier life, lol, so let them give you a hard time, take it all in, and ask yourself why they feel like they have to be so defensive and so abrupt, they dont hate you, they dont even know you, they just need to see your integrity, your enthusiasm, all that shit, and see if you just want to be like the tv crowd, miami stink and all that wank! all the best.