The art of tattooing is coming into mainstream focus with a lot of regular people and celebrities sporting tattoos. This art which originated in the ancient tribes of the pacific and thereafter found popularity with warriors and sailors has today been accepted as form of creative art. Good tattoo artists worldwide are now highly sought after creative professionals, as tattoos become more & more acceptable in our society.

Tattooing is also looked upon a good business opportunity with a potential for high income. However, it has been observed that most aspiring tattoo artists make the mistake of believing that any person with good drawing skills and basic familiarity with the tattoo machine can become a good artist. This, however, is not true. The art of tattooing goes beyond just buying a kit and practicing on their friends.

Here are few tips to keep in mind before you think of starting a tattoo business of own:

Basic skill set €" Creative Talent

Tattooing is a form of body art that involves translating drawings from paper on to a person's skin and this process is non-reversible and permanent. So you need to be able to draw well and understand the fundamentals of drawing. If you have a natural talent to draw, this is a definitely an advantage. However, not all of us have the potential to be Michelangelo. Needless to say, someone who can't draw or colour inside the lines isn't going to be a good candidate for being a tattoo artist.

? So before you start out, invest some time in figuring out whether you have the talent to be a creative artist. Or if will be able to gather the requisite skill sets to be good at drawing, either by taking up drawing classes or training in art.
? Build a portfolio of your artworks, so you can showcase your work.

Then you are ready for the next step.

Formal Training to be an Artist

Now that you have decided to be an artist and are fairly confident of your drawing skills, you need to find a master under whom you can apprentice & learn tattooing. Earlier apprenticeships were unstructured and informal learning & practice sessions. However, given the size of tattoo industry and potential career income, it makes sense to enrol for a professional tattoo training course, either conducted by an artist or a tattoo training academy. Moreover, clients today are well informed and would like only like the best for their skin.

€ Tattoo training under a qualified & respected tattoo artist will provide you with a thorough & professional understanding not only of the fundamentals of drawing, but more importantly should also cover:
o Introduction to Tattoo equipment &tattoo supplies
o Using & cleaning the tattoo machine
o Tattoo design and application
o Tattoo hygiene and so on.
€ Most professional training courses provide you will a flexible time schedule to allow you to learn at a pace you are comfortable with. Make sure that the training course you have enrolled for is well known in the industry and is well structured.
€ As an apprentice, you will also be expected to be observant. Tattoos are usually personal and unique. So learning by observation will help you in your quest to be a professional tattoo artist in the future.
€ Finally, training under a well-known artist will only add to your credentials when you start out in the industry. So make an informed choice about your professional tattoo course as it could make or break your career.

Financing your Training

Tattoo training is expensive if done in the right manner under a formal program with a professional well-known artist. Therefore it is important that you have a steady source of income to finance your training and investment in good tattoo equipment. Moreover, you have to be aware that an apprentice does not get paid during the course of the program.

€ Unless you have been born with a silver spoon or have a handsome inheritance, most tattoo trainees (and most artists as well) initially have regular day jobs with salaries and pursue their creative interests in tattooing alongside.
€ It therefore makes sense to be secure financially, as it takes time to establish yourself in the industry.

While it is important to be a good artist and put your heart and soul into learning well under a good master, tattooing after all is a business and you need to spend time in understanding the industry and should be in a good position to leverage your skill financially. So invest wisely in a good training program for a bright future.

Continuous life-long learning& personality development

Tattooing as an industry and as an art form is continuously evolving. New techniques, new tattoo equipment and new artists are always being introduced in this dynamic industry.

€ As a good tattoo artist, you should always keep learning & improving your skills by observation & study.
€ Clients today respect a genuine well-informed artist who is also impeccably mannered and groomed. No one wants to get a tattoo made from an artist who is not groomed and professional.
€ Learn to be polite and respect your client's outlook and requirements.

It always helps to work on yourself, improve your skill set, improve your personality and keep learning to always be at the forefront of this ever changing and demanding industry.