I know there's at least a couple of you guys that tattoo for a living. Got some questions for ya:

What's the toughest thing to learn with regards to tattooing? I know your ability to draw is super important - but it seems like a lot of people get into tattooing without knowing how to draw. I use to draw quite well, but am very out of practice. When someone teaches you how to tattoo do you also learn tricks and tips for drawing? How much of your work (or if not you, your peers) is done by tracing as opposed to freehand?

Is it really hard on your hands and/or back/neck?
Is it too late to be thinking about this at age 30?

A few years back I was looking into it and apparently Oregon is the toughest state. Basically the person teaching must be licensed to teach, not just licensed to tattoo - and most artists don't get licensed to teach. The easiest/quickest/cheapest place seems like a tattoo mill - and is impossible to go to while holding down a 8-4 M-F job. If you were to teach someone would you be able to do it evenings/weekends? Or do I pretty much have to give up my job?

I'm incredibly bored by my job right now and am having a tough time thinking of what I'd rather be doing...

most people i have asked about this won't teach unless your gonna devote yourself to it. I have a few friends and they all told me to just buy a machine and practice on turkeys from the grocery store.

Ha ha! Really?
Yeah, I can't exactly quit my job and devote my life to learning a new trade - not with a mortgage to pay.

The guy that's done most of my work had an apprentice for a couple of years that was in his late 20s/early 30s, married with kids and was holding down a full time job. He came in after work and learned, and when he was ready to tattoo full time he quit his day job. He tattoos 5 or 6 days a week and has no regrets.

Drawing ability is good, and can get your foot in the door, but it's not the most important thing. You should have a strong portfolio that is a good representation of your art to show the people you would like to learn from. That's a key thing, find someone you want to learn from. Don't settle for anyone that is willing to teach you. Especially if they want you to pay for an apprenticeship. You will already be doing their dirty work for free, why should you give them money?

NT, just do what I did. Get yourself all seven issues of machinegun magazine.

http://www.machinegunmagazine.com/ Go buy yourself a machine that includes everything from fake skin to the gloves on ebay. I think I paid $240 for mine and it had a decent power source too. Practice on your leg and or legs and you're good to go. Seriously, start out this way first and find a good person to apprentice under. Machine Gun Magazine will definitely get you through alot of technical stuff.
Good luck.

Thanks for the advice, guys! I'll have to pick up those Machinegun issues! How far does it take you? Say if all I did was follow the instructions in it and practice, practice, practice - would that theoretically be enough to be good? (Not that I'd rely solely on a magazine.) Or is it just enough to get you to the point where someone is willing to teach you the finer points? I'm just curious about the scope/breadth that's doled out in Machinegun. Regardless, it sounds like an awesome value. Does fake skin act/react similarly to live skin?

I've seen several great artists in the city - just found a new shop today! I think the real trick is going to be getting licensed on my own - if I'm able to do that then I think people might be more willing to teach me. I had heard that you shouldn't pay for an apprenticeship, but so far it seems that's the only way for someone that's unlicensed to learn, due to Oregon law: "...education and training in the field of
tattooing shall be conducted by a school of tattooing, licensed by the Oregon Department of Education, Private Career Schools, and provided by instructors
approved by the Department..."

Anyway, thanks again guys! Hopefully I'll slowly get my ass moving in this direction (I've got a lot of inertia keeping me immobile at the moment!).

(And LS - painting, sculpting, tattooing, glass etching. What DON'T you do? I nominate you as the most creative, artistic, talented person on Skullbrain!)

Thats awesome NT. I hope you the best. I love tattoos and I sometimes think of how it would be like to be a tattoo artist. hmmmmmm.....who knows:)

I'll let you practice on me if it's for free!

hmmmmm....

maybe NT can give me that "Crying Freeman" full body Dragon tattoo i've always wanted.......

I actually drew that dragon in High School for a friend to get a tattoo of it. He proudly has it on his back. I haven't read that dragon in a long time

dude...that would be awesome, free....of course...thats if I do get in that road some day.

Okay, I can't offer a ton of advice here but a little. I worked in a tattoo shop for a year. I was the shop boy, cleaned tubes, took down stations, trash, etc. For a while I had the idea, "I want to be a tattoo artist!" It's for sure a lot more complicated than I thought. I'm sure that magazine has a lot of info but I can tell you right now it's no substitute for working with a real person. So many things you have to consider when doing a tattoo. Length of needles when tattooing, don't want to scar someone. Order in which colors are put into skin, trust me on this one. Position on the body, does the art look weird or does it flow with the body? How fast should your machine go, if you go to fast you'll scar. Correct way to sanitize tubes, proper way to dispose of needles. Good inks, shitty inks. I know all this seems silly and maybe common sense but I got tattooed by some dude who had been doing it for YEARS, he fucked up my leg, chest and majority of my left arm. I was 18 and didn't know any better but later in life I learned how this guy had no idea what he was doing. Such as life of course, but I'd say look into many different aspects of it to get a full rounded view. Also, practice makes perfect so you've got the right idea there! Truly good luck!

Yes. Great advice Hank. My post was really just to get NT an introduction into it. There's millions of things to know before you actually start tattooing someone. Luckily, I have advice from different skilled artists that I can always consult with. Experience is truly the only real method of learning this craft.

I also worked in tattoo shop for about 3 1/2-4 years
and what hank said is correct, More importantly if you CANNOT draw well than please don't try and start tattooing. Not speaking to you specifically NT but in general. Theres enough bad/awful tattooers in this world. Read up on the classics of american traditional and japanese. Put together a portfolio and find a shop with a good reputation to try and apprentice in. This is important. Now of course grime nor horiyoshi are going to take you on. But make an attempt to find a shop you feel is good. The apprentice we had got tattooed at our shop for 3 years before he had the nerve to ask. We respected that too. Most tattooers say that the first 10 years they worked they were horrible. Most will continue to say that until they die because its a very humble and self criticizing profession.

I know plenty of amazing artists who never made it as tattooers because they simply could not do well in the actual application of the tattoo. They failed and went back to "regular" life. I also know a few tattooers could can put in a clean solid tattoo but cant draw to save their lives. They are destined to work in a flash shop for the rest of their lives. Thats cool if thats what you're into but I dont think most aspiring tattooers are.

I think what Im really trying to say is its very very tough to start and succeed. All the best of luck to you and if you have any questions please feel free to PM me. Soon you will know what a 7 mag tube is and why it sucks to scrub a 5 liner. You will get used to the smell of green soap, hate mopping, know that sailor jerry was a innovator and not just a clothing line, realize that what you THINK is a good tattoo probably isnt and more importantly maybe start a new trade you love.

maybe jessie o will have some good insight because I think she mentioned that she is an apprentice.