Video:How to Find a Tattoo Apprenticeship

Transcript:How to Find a Tattoo Apprenticeship

This is Matt Victor, tattooist at Tribal Rites Tattoo & Piercing in Westminster, Colorado. I am here for About.com today to discuss how to find a tattoo apprenticeship.

Find a Tattoo Artist to Work For

If you are looking to become a tattooist, first off you should be looking for a tattoo apprenticeship. There is a few ways to go about that. Start by finding a tattooist that you are interested in. The best way to find a quality tattooist is by doing your research. Looking at websites, calling tattoo shops, checking out portfolios. Finding a tattooist that is not only talented but seems competent to tech you exactly what you need.

Bring Artistic Talent to Apprenticeships

Once you have found a competent, talented tattooist, you're gonna want to approach them from a humble point of view. You may have to show quite an extensive portfolio of drawings, or experience with getting tattooed or watching other tattooists. You should come to a tattooist with a great deal of drawing talent, otherwise they may not be interested in starting with that.

Their job is to teach you to tattoo, not to teach you to be an artist; we mostly suggest that you come as an artist first. Being a talented drawer, painter, sculptor, that all helps, because you are going to be learning an absolutely new facet of artistic talent, and that is up to a tattoo expert to teach you.

Tattoo Apprenticeships Take Time and Resources

The reality of tattooing is it is a serious endeavor, much like going to school for any other trade. You may be looking to spend a lot of money doing it. You are going to be devoting a lot of time to it. You'll be doing work that has nothing to do seemingly with tattooing, such as basics, sterile practices, how to clean and maintain your equipment, how to maintain your tattoo machines.

Tattoo Apprenticeships are a Learning Experience

In my experience, I apprenticed for two and a half years and stayed with the shop that I learned from. Learn everyday. Ask whatever you can. Look online and look at other peoples tattoos; learn anything you can from another artist;continue to get tattooed; whatever you can do to continue to learn.

Thank you very much for tuning in. If you need any more information, look us up at About.com.