So You Want To Be A Tattoo Artist?

In 2011 I became a Tattoo Artist at Dead Girlz Tattoo and Piercing down in Ringgold, GA. I have recently had some friends ask what they need to do in order to become a Professional Tattoo Artis. Any Google Search for "Tattoo Apprenticeship" or "How to become a Tattoo Artist" or anything similar will get you THOUSANDS of results. Most of them seem to be written by people who know what they are talking about, but they also leave out some things that I found to be true while working through my apprenticeship. Therefore, here is my own list of "Tips for the Aspiring Tattoo Artist."
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Tips for the Aspiring Tattoo Artist

- Put together a portfolio of your BEST artwork. Try to keep is to about 20 drawings.
--> Just because you are amazing at drawing, Tattooing will not necessarily come easy, it is an ENTIRELY new medium with new tools that work quite differently from ANYTHING you have ever worked with before.

- Always keep your portfolio handy; you never know when you're going to run into someone worth showing it off too (this is also true for once you ARE a tattoo artist, and have a Tattoo portfolio--Smart phones are great for this IF you can create a folder dedicated to just your portfolio so you aren't having to dig through your personal pics...)

- IF you have been "scratching" (a term used to describe ANYONE tattooing without professional training--sometime also used to refer to anyone without a license), 1) STOP now. 2) DO NOT Volunteer that information to a potential Mentor. If they ask you directly, DO NOT lie about it... but do not volunteer that information. Many Artists will not take on an Apprentice who has been scratching--> too many bad habits to try and break. Once you ARE an Apprentice, DEFINITELY Do NOT tattoo ANYONE without your Mentor's approval. This is a surefire way to get asked to leave, and never come back, and good luck getting anyone else to pick you up as an Apprentice...

- Don't be afraid to shop around. Find an artist who you like. Not just their artwork, but also their personality. If you can't tolerate them now, you sure as hell won't be able to stand them when they are telling you what to do... Look at their portfolio, make sure they have a good grasp of linework (do they have a steady hand? can they "draw" a straight/consistent/even line?) Also inspect their color and their black and white/shading work. They may not be perfect, but if it doesn't look good, chances are they won't be able to teach you how to do it well either...
--> When looking at Artists, also look at their shop. Did they get a 100 on their health inspection. It really isn't that hard to do, and most of the items that will cause a shop to not score perfectly are easily managed that there is no good reason to not please the inspector. A shop that gets less than an A (90-100) are probably not going to teach you how to keep your shop/space up to par.
--> Does the shop you are going to learn at use disposable tubes? Or do they reuse their tubes? IF they use reusable tubes, do they have enough sterilized to be able to take care of their clients with a new/sterile tube each time before they get a chance to Clean AND Sterilize their tubes? Remember Clean does not mean Sterile, and Sterile does not necessarily mean Clean (I have seen many STERILE tubes taht still had ink caked inside them, they were definitely sterile, but they certainly were not clean.)
-- Does the shop you are going to learn at dispose of their needles after each use. Most Health Departments REQUIRE shops to use single use, disposable needles. Not doing this (even with an autoclave) is an almost GUARANTEED way of transmitting diseases. If the shop does not use disposable needles (and actively disposes of them after their first use) RUN (don't walk) away!

- Go ahead and get your CPR/First Aid certification, as well as your Blood Borne Pathogen's certification. http://www.probloodborne.com/ Has BOTH certifications you need, and they are legitimate venues for getting your certifications. (This is where I got my certifications)

- Start studying your Health Department's rules and regulations concerning Body Artists. They may list other certifications that Tattoo artists must have. (For example, South Carolina has a separate Tattoo Pathogens test/certification that must be acquired before you can get your license.) Study these rules and regulations until you can recite them in your sleep. THIS is what your licensing test will cover. The Health Department isn't concerned whether you know how to tattoo or not, but can you do it within their guidelines, can you follow the rules to prevent the spread of disease? The test is pretty easy if you have read and studied the Rules and regulations, if you didn't... Also, pay attention to the numbers and codes listed in the Rules and Regulations, things that you think are pointless... Those are probably going to take up the majority of your test...

- Go ahead and start drawing straight lines, circles, and stars. Your Artist Mentor may not set this homework assignment for you, but trust me it will help you be a better tattoo artist.
--> "Drawing" these three seemingly simple objects will be a million times harder once you have a vibrating machine in your hand.
--> Continue drawing circles, stars, and straight lines until you can do them PERFECTLY, with your eyes closed, like you were a computer that has no Human Error. You will probably never achieve this greatness, but if you do, please tell me how, cause my circles still look like eggs, my straight lines could be mistaken for the symbol for a curvy road, and my stars... well... let's just say I am still practicing.

- MOST (not all) Tattoo Artists will charge you for your Apprenticeship. An Apprenticeship can cost you anywhere from 0-$15,000. Honestly, I think the upper range of that is ridiculous (I have personally never come across an artist that charges that much... but... they are apparently out there.) I know paying for an Apprenticeship sounds ridiculous at first, but it is honestly no different than paying a college tuition (and you will spend as much time here, as you would there, and possibly get more useful/pertinent information.)
--> Find out what your Apprenticeship fee will include, some artists will include your machines, needles, tubes, chair, space, EVERYTHING with their fee. These are the ones that are worth paying a little more, because you aren't having to get these things in addition to your Apprenticeship. If, however, you are going to have to buy your own equipment, ink, etc, then negotiate a lower price for your apprenticeship.
==>Be prepared, if you have to buy your own equipment, you will be out almost a thousand dollars in your first set-up. You will continue to spend $50 or more every month or so to keep yourself stocked with needles, tubes, and inks...
==> Whatever your fee is, GET IN WRITING what it will cover.

- Be prepared, most Apprenticeships will last 1-2 years. Get in writing how long your Artist Mentor intends your Apprenticeship to last. Also understand that this time frame is subject to change, based on your skills, and how quickly (or slowly) you learn

- Once you have your apprenticeship, you WILL be the shop B***H for quite a while. At first you will only sweep, clean, MAYBE set up your artist's station. Most of this is done, NOT because your artist is lazy, but because he/she is actually wanting to get you familiar with the shop, and what it takes to keep the shop clean (according to health codes, not just what you were taught to do at home). Once your artist has you setting up (and tearing down) their station, they are training you to know how to set up your own station. They will have you doing their "grunt work" until you can do it without blinking. They want this to be muscle memory for you. If you can do this every time without hesitation, then when it comes time for you to do it for your own station, your artist can be confident that you won't make any mistakes or forget something vital.

- It will be a while before you ever pick up a machine. Your artist may even tell you not to buy any equipment until they are ready for you to hold a machine. This could be a month or ten months after you start your apprenticeship. That's up to your Artist Mentor.

- Before you get to touch a machine, your Artist Mentor will probably have you spend countless hours tracing tattoos onto stencils. This is not to demean your skills as an artist, but is to teach you to look at a design, and know what lines are VITAL for a stencil, and what lines will simply get lost in translation.

- When your tattoo artist is with a client, if you are not assigned to do something else, be their shadow. Listen to everything that gets said; watch EVERYTHING that gets done. Make sure either you or your Artist Mentor gets permission from the client before you "sit in" on the tattooing. (Some clients don't want to be used as demonstrations, it's not what they are paying for)
--> If you DO get to sit in while your Mentor is working, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS. You are paying for this experience, you are paying for their Knowledge. ASK every question that comes into your head, as soon as it comes into your head. If you are unable to ask it right then, write it down before you forget, because, trust me, you will forget what you were going to ask, until you see it again...
--> If your artist is unable to answer your question, do not hesitate to check out you tube, or Google. Your Artist Mentor is not  a God, they may not have ever asked that question themselves, they may not have ever been taught the How or Why of a particular technique; don't loose faith in your Mentor just because they can't answer your question. Also, make sure to try and find your answer

- Do not pester your artist about when you will get to start "Slinging Ink". Many will wait longer if you do. (By the same token, don't let them forget that you are paying them to teach you, not keep you as free shop labor.)
==>Which brings up another point: When you are an apprentice, you will NOT be earning ANYTHING. According to most state laws, even once you start practicing tattooing, until you have your license, you CANNOT receive money.

- When you do get to begin "Slinging Ink" your first canvases will probably be grapefruits and pig skins. I know it sounds silly, but they have SOME of the same characteristics of human skin, so you will get a feel for how your live canvas will respond. (This is not a perfect "test subject", but it's the best practice surface available)

- When your artist feels you are ready, you will begin tattooing real folks (no more grapefruits for you... well... okay, unless your artist wants you to continue practicing in between clients)

I'm sure that there are plenty more tips to give, and when I think of them, I will add them here...

Until Next Time!

Just thinking out-loud...

(Written Yesterday)
So, here I sit on this grey, drizzly day. My mind is all over the place. I have discovered "Earthships," and much of my thought process is consumed by these 100% self-sufficient/sustainable homes. I am also contemplating my place in the world (aside from at my wife's side), and how to make ends meet for the next 5-6 months. I really want to get our stuff transferred into those Ruff Totes (or given to Goodwill). I have to make some amount of payment to Knoxville Court system no later than this coming Thursday (the 19th). We have to pay Kays for a total of 5 months. January will be month 3... By the end of March we will be out from under that card. Then I will need to make some form of arrangement with Wal-Mart (unless some other option comes up between now and then). I will be happy once those two bills are gone. We'll still have doctors and school and the car to worry about, but I will feel a million times better about our finances once we are free from the shadow of Sterling Inc. and G.E. Capital...

Double Dipping or "Cock up your beaver"

Mk... SO, If you have been following my blogging at all, you will know that I have a secondary Blog through this account that is dedicated to following Raven and my fitness progression. We have been working out for almost two whole months now... Almost... we're still about 15/20 days out from the 2 month mark. And based on both of our goals... we still have a good ways to go... Especially considering we haven't done a super lot to change our eating habits (we've cut back a little on portions, but lately the quality of what we've been eating hasn't been super amazing--not horrible, mind you, just not "super--I chalk that up to needing to accommodate for the sensitivities of multiple bellies...)

For whatever insane reason I have decided that I am going to participate in an event that is going to test my physical fitness and endurance. The event: GoRuck (http://goruck.com/en/). It is an event designed by former Military Spec. Op. "Teams" members. There is absolutely no reason to do this series of challenges, the only reason to do them is to prove to myself that I can. The gentlemen who created the event wanted to create an event that would 1) Test the product they were making (a new line of Ruck Sacks) and 2) Provide civilians a SMALL taste of the challenges they went through in training to become Spec. Ops.

That number 2 reason is probably the biggest reason that I want to do all of the events that they offer. I want to start with their "Light" event and slowly work my way up to their "Selection" event. Somewhere in my brain, if I can complete their courses, then I have earned my self proclaimed "Chieftain" status.

I know that my tribe looks to me a Chief for reasons other than my "toughness," but in the end, I still want that feather in my hat... as said by Adrian of Tartanic "Hey brave Johnny lad! COCK UP YOUR BEAVER!!!"

This blog is where I will probably keep the running tally of my thoughts in getting ready for completing these challenges, while the fitness blog will contain my Training progress (as well as continue to house the posts about Raven's and My Joint Journey)

Musings...

The more I learn about others, the more i seem to learn about myself...

Seek and ye shall find; Ask and it is given; Knock and it shall be opened unto you...

Call me crazy. Hi how ya doin'? Nice ta meet ya.
     But it seems to me, that Religious knowledge should be freely accessed. Maybe not all bits --Remember: the Kabbalah was only intended to be known about and studied by the VERY Learn'ed Rabbis, ONLY-- But the information that would (or SHOULOD) be known by the "lay-person" should be as readily available as oxygen... Sure Odin gave his right eye for knowledge, but then he distributed that knowledge among the AEsir, Vanir and Midgard (not indiscriminately, but freely).
     I am willing to wage a similar campaign. I am willing to take on the cost of gaining the information from the various sources, and then (putting said information into my own words so as to avoid plagiarism concerns) redistributing to the people. Of course there are plenty of people who already know, who are content with the way things are; with the status-quo. I AM NOT one of those people. I have long considered myself a self-proclaimed Medjai; a warrior of the Gods; a defender of all Faiths. I have always thought maybe I would simply be one who defends "your" right to believe what you will, so that I may enjoy the same luxury. Now, I see a different Wyrd lay itself before me. I still have the ability to chose my own path... but maybe. Just maybe, life has always been directing me towards this course...
     I am NOT necessarily concerned with starting my own church, leading a "Spiritual Revolution," or DRASTICALLY changing the world. However, I do apparently have a strong sense of duty, and feel like this is my charge. Maybe I am no more than a pesky fly, buzzing at the tail of a great bull. But then again, maybe I am the one little Ant who had "High, Apple Pie in the Sky hopes..." (Oops! There goes another rubber tree plant) [my thanks and apologies to Frank Sinatra].
     Of course The Glittermonster brought up a sound point the other day: A good missionary is not one who shoves the Gospel down others' throat, but rather LIVES in such a way as to be a shining example that others will want to follow...

~Keeper

Diversity without Unity...

So far in my search for better understanding of Asatru (the Belief in the "old" Gods--specifically the North Germanic/Nordic Gods) I have come across some major groups:

The Asatru Folk Assembly
The Asatru Alliance
The Troth

There are many other groups, but these three seem to be the "prominent ones" at this point in time. I find it interesting that while they are all promoting the same agenda, they continue to not be unified. All three groups discuss wanting to bring Asatru to a point in the world where it is recognized as a faith as legitimate as any other. I sit here as a couch potato quarterback, thinking that if these groups REALLY want to achieve that end, they should coordinate. Unify. Come together for one common goal.

I am not saying that Asatru should follow the path of The Church, but maybe to come together and put forth a unified  thought. So that new seekers, aren't quite so overwhelmed... Even while respecting the various "Denominations" (This kindred hails Odin, while another hails Thor, and still yet another Tyr, or even Freya, etc. so on and so forth...).

I don't know. Maybe I am cracked and look at things to... Optimistically? (Some days I think it goes beyond Optimism... beyond Even rose tinted glasses... To downright Naïveté...)

Bibliophiles Unite!

So today we went to the Library here in downtown Chattanooga. We got our Library cards. We then asked the librarian how many books we could check out on our first visit... (Most libraries we have been familiar with let you check 6 out on the first time, and then you have a limit of 10-20) We were told we could (each) check out a maximum of 100 books. So we asked, "Next time, right? Since this is our first visit, how many can we check out today?" To which he responded, "I told you, 100. And as long as there isn't a hold (someone else wanting the same book), you are free to renew each of those books up to 99 times...

TROUBLE!!!

So my wonderful wife and I went and RAIDED the library... While we could have left with 200 books... we kept it conservative and only ran away with 55 books...

As I continue to read through the books we got, I realize the majority of the books are better for someone wishing to reenact Viking life... Most of them only briefly mention the spiritual elements... So far I am still finding more pertinent information in the Poetic Edda. I still want to find a copy of the Prose Edda...

One day I will take Raven to Egypt. Also to Teotihuacan. And together we will go see the ruins of Cuzco, Machu Pichu and Ankorwatt...

Sorry... random ramblings... I'm thinking it may be nearing bedtime... It IS 10pm after all...