With the popularity of tattoos as an art form, many are attracted to it. There are hundreds, even thousands, of people who want to become tattoo artists. Unfortunately, not everyone ends up with their dream.
Many start their career by trying their hand with a basic tattoo kit and practicing on their friends. Others learn about their inherent skill by accident, while a few enroll in formal art classes for the purposes of learning to tattoo. Whichever way you come to learn about the art of tattooing, you have to devote your time and commit yourself to this lifestyle if you want to succeed. As any experienced tattoo artist would always say, there is no shortcut to success. Here are some of the best tips for anyone who wants to become a tattoo designer.
TIP #1: Sketch it out!
All tattoo designs, however simple they may be, start with a great sketch. Sketching is one thing that tattoo artists must learn. By sketching out your design, you will be able to foresee the final result; this way you can determine what colors would be best. At the same time, you will also see how the design will fit the body contours of the client. You can make necessary changes to your design before finally tattooing it on your canvas. Basically, your sketch stands as the planning phase. It is at this stage where excellent tattoo designs are made.
TIP #2: Never allow your hands to be idle.
Just like any other skill, practice is essential if you want to grow as a tattoo artist. You need to practice your artistic skill by trying out as many different mediums as possible. The more you use your hands, the better you become and the faster you develop your tattoo skills. Take the time to draw tattoo designs on paper and try them out on artificial skin. Over time, you will find your skill levels will increase.
TIP #3: Build your own niche.
Every tattoo artist has their own forte. Tattoos can be categorized in virtually thousands of ways. As you begin making your own custom tattoo designs, you will find a category that appeals to you most. If you are good at tribal designs, you can work your way to the top with those. However, you must not stop there. You should continuously try to broaden your library. The purpose is to start with one niche and eventually covering all kinds of tattoo art. By having one niche, you will find that mastering the art of tattooing is easy.
TIP #4: Play with colors and styles.
As mentioned earlier, you should not confine yourself to one tattoo style. Always try to broaden your skills by combining different designs, colors and styles. There are unlimited resources online available to you; you simply have to do your own research.
TIP #5: Deal with your weaknesses.
This is probably the most important tip you need to constantly be mindful of. To become an exceptional tattoo artist, you need to know your weaknesses, and confront them. This is the most difficult aspect that every tattoo artist must deal with, but once you overcome your weaknesses, you can do virtually anything.
Hopefully, these five simple tips will help you find your place in the industry. Kristen Sauerzopf
