Apprenticeships
To become a tattoo artist a person must first have a passion for art and for drawing and also be able to draw. A strong skill set in other visual media also will help in creating art on skin. The first step is to gain an apprenticeship from a person that is already skilled in the art of tattooing.
A tattoo apprenticeship traditionally lasts two years. For the first six months to a year, traditionally the apprentice is not allowed to tattoo but is trained in sanitation and proper safety techniques. The apprentice will be expected to clean and maintain the shop, as well as watch and continue to grow as an artist. This first year most apprentices quit and don't ever achieve full completion. The cost of apprenticing can range from free labor around the shop to tens of thousands of dollars. However, completing an apprenticeship is only the beginning of the education. A tattoo artist will always learn and perfect new techniques and skills from others throughout his or her career.
Read more about this topic: Tattoo Artist