Creative profession: tattoo artist
Show your individuality, capture a memorable moment in life, disguise scars – there are many reasons why people get tattoos. Tattoos have long since turned from taboo into a form of art. How much do tattoo artists earn, where do they learn this, and what talents a beginner tattoo artist should have, we tell you in this article.
Who can take training to become a tattoo artist?
Anyone can complete tattoo artist courses from scratch and start a career in a new profession. Some believe that it is impossible to become a professional “body painter” without an art or medical education. But this is not true: all you need is a strong desire to master a new profession and a little perseverance.
For example, artistic talent will certainly help to create masterpieces on the skin, but you can learn to draw in parallel with training in tattoo art in drawing courses. Everything else is developed through practice. In addition, clients often order small and simple tattoos, the sketch of which is possible even for beginner tattoo artists.
Some tattoos, even from very famous artists, look more like children’s drawings or just words.
Much more important than talent for a tattoo artist are personal qualities such as responsibility, patience, and attention to detail.
What else might be useful?
Knowledge of psychology and communication skills. When working with clients, it is important to be able to listen carefully, ask questions, and build trust. In this case, there is a greater chance that the client’s wishes will be taken into account and that he will like the picture.
Perseverance and endurance. One session can last 7-8 hours, and the tattoo artist spends all this time sitting motionless, doing painstaking work. And of course, he gets very tired.
Attention and coordination. Unlike a drawing on paper, a drawing on the skin is more difficult to correct if the tattoo artist’s hand trembles. It is very important not to lose concentration during monotonous work.
How much does a tattoo artist earn?
Even a beginner tattoo artist earns about 50-60 thousand rubles a month, working for himself or as an apprentice in a salon. And the income of famous artists can exceed 500,000 rubles a month.
The cost of the simplest tattoo (or an hour of work by the artist) is from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles. And then everything depends on the hard work of the tattoo artist and his ability to attract new clients through word of mouth, active social media, and a quality portfolio. Experience, skill, and the personal brand of a tattoo artist are his most important capital and the key to a successful career and high income.
How long do the courses last and how to start working for yourself
The good news is that to get a new, in-demand, and creative profession, you don’t need to spend several years getting an art or medical education. Of course, both will be a great help in starting, but to start practicing as a master of body drawings, it is enough to complete basic tattoo artist courses in Moscow, for example, the course “ Master of Artistic Tattoo ” at the House of Russian Cosmetics. This is basic training, it lasts 288 hours, of which 126 hours are practice.
During theoretical classes, future masters study the anatomy and structure of the skin, and the basics of safety, become familiar with indications and contraindications, learn how to organize their workplace ergonomically, and begin to understand the tattoo artist’s tools and pigments they will work with.
Practice is practicing the technique and correct hand positioning under the supervision of experienced masters. During practice, you can try different tattoo styles.
In the future, tattoo artists regularly undergo additional training. These can be master classes and internships with famous artists, or advanced training courses where you can learn new styles and techniques.
If a tattoo artist already has a basic education in tattooing or permanent makeup, he can take a course in dotwork and mandala tattooing or a course in mini-tattoos. These are short-term courses, from 10 hours, that allow you to quickly start working.
How much do tattoo artist courses cost?
It depends on the duration and intensity of training. Participation in a master class will cost about 5,000 rubles, and small 10-hour tattoo artist courses in Moscow, during which one technique will be studied, cost 8,000 rubles in our Institute. The cost of a basic course is several times higher, but this is a practical investment in your future in-demand and highly paid profession.
What documents does a tattoo artist need?
When applying for a job, a tattoo artist will need a diploma of professional retraining (it proves that you have received a new profession) and a medical record.
After completing the basic course “Master of Artistic Tattoo” at our institute, you will receive a diploma of professional retraining of the established form.
This diploma is received by all future tattoo artists who have completed the basic course in tattooing DRC
Pitfalls of the profession
A flexible schedule, an informal environment, and the opportunity to express your creative potential are the unconditional advantages of the tattoo artist profession. However, there are also disadvantages.
Professional diseases. Weak spots are the back, neck, and arm joints. They start to hurt due to sedentary work, especially if the body position is incorrect.
Additional education. A tattoo artist is a freelance artist. But unlike working for hire, he must take care of attracting clients himself, and for this, you need to know and be able to do a lot: be knowledgeable in marketing, promotion in social networks, be able to work in graphic editors to create sketches and constantly master new programs.
Stress. Like any profession that involves working with people, the profession of a tattoo artist can be difficult. Clients can be capricious, and neglect recommendations for healing. To this can be added a high degree of responsibility for the client’s health and the inevitable worries that the client will not like the work done.
Vision problems. It will be difficult to draw in the style of microrealism if you have pronounced myopia or hyperopia.
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Tattoo artist profession: frequently asked questions
What education do you need to work as a tattoo artist?
There are no special requirements on this account. The master can be both 18 and 80 years old. He can undergo training as a tattoo artist in Moscow immediately after receiving a certificate of secondary school education or having a doctorate.
Is it possible to take tattoo artist training online? Theoretical knowledge can be obtained remotely, but nothing can replace practice on artificial skin and models if you want to become a respected and sought-after specialist. So if you are offered tattoo artist courses online without practical training, be prepared for the fact that this will be money wasted.
Does a tattoo artist need a license?
It is not needed, either by the artist or by the salon where he works. Despite the fact that tattoos are associated with skin punctures, anesthesia, and sterilization of equipment, artistic tattooing and permanent makeup still belong to the sphere of household cosmetic services.
Does a tattoo artist need an art education?
Many famous tattoo artists are self-taught. You can create masterpieces on canvas, but be afraid to tattoo a living person, and no diploma will fix that.
The profession of a tattoo artist requires drawing skills, good color perception, and eye, developed fine motor skills, and creativity. This is especially important if you like complex styles, such as 3D tattoos or Japanese tattoos.
Artistic experience and a trained hand will help you not only to work well using ready-made samples but also to create sketches of future works yourself.
Is it possible to get tattoos without a medical education?
Yes, as long as tattooing is considered a household service, not a medical one. This means that the artist does not need to graduate from a medical school or college.
An important point: when tattooing, topical anesthesia is used since injections are already a medical procedure, which means that they cannot be performed without a medical diploma.
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How to choose a good tattoo course?
Give preference to official educational organizations with certified courses. It is important that the course lasts several months and ends with the issuance of a diploma or certificate. It is equally important that the teachers are practitioners, and the students themselves have the opportunity to practice all the skills on volunteer models.
The most popular tattoo styles in Russia are dotwork, watercolor, geometry, 3D, and microrealism. Some of them, such as dotwork, are available for beginner tattoo artists.
What equipment will be needed and how much will it cost?
During the training on our courses, equipment, and consumables are provided to students free of charge. Further, a beginner tattoo specialist will need the following devices and consumables.
Tattoo machine with power supply, pedal, and set of wires. Masters do not recommend cheap Chinese machines, preferring equipment from well-known companies (Cheyenne, InkJecta, Bishop Rotary, Spektra Xion, and InkMachines). The cost fluctuates around 100,000 rubles, Polish machines are half as cheap.
Needles — have different sharpening and diameter. The final result depends on the quality of the needles. You shouldn’t skimp on them either. A pack of needles can cost from 1,500 to 5,000 rubles.
Pigment – tattoo ink, the better the quality, the more beautiful, durable, and long-lasting the result will be.
For a durable design,
the best inks are considered to be American World Famous Tattoo and Eternal.
You will also need a lot of small items – holders, tips, sealing rings, pigment containers, and dispensers.
Consumables are no less important. This is transfer paper and a marker for transferring the sketch to the skin or finishing the drawing. This is disposable protection for the master and machine parts: aprons, gloves, and covers that ensure sterility. And of course, disinfectants – liquid soap and antiseptic, which must be used during work.
Tattoo parlor equipment will be needed if the artist decides to organize it. But a good lamp, chair, and couch will greatly facilitate the work and affect the result.
To become a sought-after tattoo artist, you need a good education from real professionals, many hours of practice, inspiration, perseverance, and feedback from grateful clients. If you start training now, then in a year you will be able to proudly say about yourself: ” Yes, I am an excellent tattoo artist .”
