I have all equipment I need to learn how to tattoo...I NEED...

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Answer by PAIN AND PLEASURE TATTOO
Submitted on 8/20/2005
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MY AKA IS CHINO, I am glad that you have all your equipment to start tattooing now your equipment can take you so far if you need some book or video check out Spalding and Rogers from A to Z tattoo book I have it and is the Bible in my shop for all my apprentice guys I have ever had. Then try to shop around for a good artist that is willing to train you please check how clean he or she is and check their portfolio b/c bad habit are very hard to get rid off and if you learn something wrong you like do it wrong. Please accept criticism if it come in a educational manner and remember even do the client is always right sometime you can guide them to a better work the book I told you to get will show you some sample and trust me they don't pay me to recommend the book but you must get it here in Florida the Dept of Health was impressed with my shop b/c it looked like a clinic please take pride on your work and remember you can't erase on skin so if you need to correct your work a lot of time before you put it on ink do so your best source of advertisement is word by mouth of your clients and repetitive business is a plus, God bless you and if you need any help or advice my e-mail is gilbersnt@aol.com take care and welcome to the trilling world of tattoo you will have fun and if a job feels like a job is not fun I have been doing tattoo for 22 years and I am a School teacher by education but by heart a tattoo artist and will die being a tattoo artist I hate to work and doing tattoo is not a job for me is living and remember find a good tattoo artist that is willing to help you buy some fake skin or some friends that want some work or tattoo your legs I started with my self and friends and family.

Answer by Angel
Submitted on 11/14/2005
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I'm in the same boat.. long ago, when I sat and watched my first tattoo, I loved everything about it... walking, living art -- not just something that would hang on a wall and get dusty.... when I did my frist tat I was in love ...so, after being out-of-the-loop for so long, I've recently re-equipped myself, and already have a growing client list... ...but tatt'ing has changed so much, the style, the technique.. where things are NOW is just amazing! I'm doing average-sized pieces for the most part, and looking EVERywhere for ANYthing on actual, professional, tatt' style development.... I wish there was a school...... If there is any one out there that has more info let me know........

Answer by Rolls
Submitted on 2/28/2006
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Pig Skin! Go to your local butcher and see if they have any pig skin you can have. You can also check with your market as well. They sometimes will have pieces of skin already wrapped and in the meat counter. Pig skin is very much like a human being's skin and is often used by such people as Crime Scene investigators for such things as "Gun shot distance determination tests". They will mount the skin on a board and fire a similar weapon as used in a crime at the pig skin from different distances until they come up with a distance that matches the victim's wound(s). Also, if you don't have the cash for an autoclave, you can buy needles and disposable tubes that come in a sterile package. You don't open the packages until your customer is there and ready to go. This also gives your customers piece of mind knowing it is all new and sterile.

Answer by texas
Submitted on 5/9/2006
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first, apply the stencil on the skin. then make sure your machine has a 1/16 inch needle poking out of the tube. then start at the left side on top preferably if right handed or at the right side if left handed. when you insert the needle into the clients skin make sure you are tugging at the skin to prevent the needle or ink from cloggin or snuggin on the skin. after you make a certain amount of line be sure to wipe it off to see the result of your line. make sure that you are deep enough to actually get some ink into the epidermis (under the skin). YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET THE LINE IN RIGHT. if you need to , then redo the line extremely carefully. good lighting is a must. do not have the machine going when getting ink from the ink cups... it will ruin the needle tips since they are a fine point. repeat the process until you are done. for shading try to work in a circular motion to shade in. do super small half circles to apply shading. this is the fun part of tattooing. go extremely careful and not too slow and not too fast. it will take some time before you really get a hang of it. never use the same needle twice. alcohol and burning is not a great way to sterilize your needles. just throw them away after you are done. NEVER REUSE THEM. wear gloves. wipe your tattoo on the client to see if you actually got ink on them or if not you might think they have ink but in fact you may just have a stain on them making you believe that they are actually tattooed. forgive my grammar but I'm in a hurry. Laterz!

Answer by BT
Submitted on 12/21/2006
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There's not much in free library sources, I've checked. There is plenty of commercialized crap for sale in search engines online, but the idea is to obtain free info on methods and techniques, right? Right. There were some good offerings in that area here previous. Some shops will actually have a viewing area where customers can watch other clients being tattooed. I like the prior suggestion about practicing on fruit. Grapefruits are a good choice. Then yourself, then free tatts for willing friends or family; and of course always use hygenic safegaurds as recommended by the industry since there are definite risks with blood borne pathogens that must be avoided. New needles for each client and procedure are a must. All equipment must be properly sanitized between individual operations. Have fun, good luck.

Answer by tat2printer
Submitted on 3/22/2007
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I've apprenticed and tattoo as an extra income hobby, the best way to do it. For tax purposes. Don't quit your day job. practice on citrus fruit like oranges, grapefruits, etc. or you can buy fake practice skin from many suppliers there are two types, pretty much the same. you can try books or videos for training but the only way that worked for me is practice. start off simple. solid colors, lettering, tribal, kanji, totems, etc. the most important thing is that you must know your equipment. coils, tips and needle combo. stroke speed of your hand compared to the needle speed. all these variables, plus others, yield different results. again you must practice to see what and how it works best for you. I recomend that you practice on the fruit mentioned, or a few friends who don't mind being test rats. as long as you dont go too deep or run the needle over the same area too much(they will cause scaring or blown lines)than you can let the tat heal(min.30 days) and try it again. you can do this many times. but be careful not to scar the skin. l

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Question by RaeLee
Submitted on 2/4/2004
Related FAQ: rec.arts.bodyart: Tattoo FAQ 9/9--Bibliography
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I have all equipment I need to learn how to tattoo...I NEED to know , WHAT do I practice on? And where can I find information on HOW to do it the RIGHT way? I need knowledge in general on how to do this. I can draw very well since I was small and I have a steady hand as well. I am very interested in this and would like to make a career out of it if possible and I'd like to know how about to go , getting a license in Massachusettes to get my own shop? Sincerely, Raelee :)

Answer by Shants
Submitted on 3/13/2004
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The website www.piercings.net offers plenty of tattoo advice, from proper management of tattooing and how to attain an "apprenticeship" at a tattoo parlor.

Answer by Hermit
Submitted on 4/1/2004
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There are some fake skins you can buy to practice on (http://www.spaulding-rogers.com/ or http://www.superiortattoo.com/ , and of course you can tattoo fruit. Then do what most of us did, start tattooing yourself. Upper leg is a good area as you have good access and can use both hands. Then do your lower legs and forearms. Once those are coming along nicely, find a relative or friend who would like a free tattoo. There's an ebook on the subject of beginning tattooing at http://www.tmbamall.com/hermitware/tattooing.htm .

Answer by mark
Submitted on 5/7/2004
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don't go to the shop and ask how to do it, they won't tell you. Ask them for an apprenticeship. They'll tell you no. Show them your artwork, create a flash set, and show them that and ask again. Repeat that for a couple of months. It may take several months before they say yes. Also do as much research on cross contamination, and blood borne pathogens as you can. And if you still want to learn after they've told you no for 6 months, buy an autoclave and ultrasonic so you don't spread any damn diseases, like hep c or anything. But here's your first tip, Never reuse needles.

Answer by c
Submitted on 9/21/2004
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a great surface for "practicing" on is: washed unpeeled potatoes. keep practicing until you can feel that very thin layer of the potato skin being punctured by the needle. the fruits: lemons, oranges, grapefruit. and soft vinyl skinned baby dolls.

Answer by TattooCori
Submitted on 10/9/2004
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When I first started and since it is illegal in TX to tattoo or even own equipment w/o a permit I used my own skin. I now have some great looking tattoos on both my inner calves. I have several types of tats but yes you can always use the fake skins that are out on the market.

Answer by irish freek
Submitted on 3/15/2005
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i started out with a home made tattoo gun that i made using a rc motor and a teethbrush(more than one tooth) haha i did some pretty crapy work on some of my friend before i saw a market on it so i bought a kit from inksmith.com i works pretty good and my art has improved to answere youre question... just find some good frind draw it out on stnecil paper if you feel confident an go at it do it on places that arent in the "spot light" anckle foot

Answer by Salem
Submitted on 5/7/2005
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Hello. My husband and brother in law do amature tattooing. I am wanting to practice and I've heard that you can use fruit. What type of fruit can you use?

Answer by teddy
Submitted on 11/16/2005
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if you have all the equipment you need save it, go to a parlor and ask for a job. if they give you the job they will teach you what you need or whant to know if you have true skill it wont matter.

Answer by SaJii
Submitted on 2/22/2006
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I heard you could also practice on leather.

Answer by Hokel
Submitted on 4/21/2006
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Yeah, that ebook is the best. I used it to get me started. Tells you the useful stuff like making and using stencils, and mistakes to avoid. http://www.tmbamall.com/hermitware/tattooing.htm Forget asking for apprenticeships, there aren't any.

Answer by buttonink
Submitted on 8/15/2006
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Start with a grapefruit and practice depth control, steadiness and also make sure you don't overdo your coloring\ shading or your customers will be hamburger. Then go get a pigs leg or a chicken and practice more.

Answer by el lokiyo
Submitted on 10/10/2006
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i well try to learn

Answer by scuff
Submitted on 11/18/2006
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forrest gump

Answer by rahul
Submitted on 12/3/2006
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i want to learn tatoos so please tell me how can i learn

Answer by Andre
Submitted on 12/3/2006
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I found a cool blog where you can pick up some pointers at http://www.ink-trails.com

Answer by justapr1ck
Submitted on 12/7/2006
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If you are serious about starting a career out of tattooing I would suggest buying a kit. www.inkcraft.biz has a kit called the Pro 1 plus which I think is an excellent beginners kit. It runs about 679.00 before S+H but it has everything you need to start(except an ultra sonic cleaner,which is cheaper out of a jewelry store anyways)and ive been tattooing for 18 years now so maybe I can give you a little advice or answer any questions you have. feel free to email me at justapr1ck@aol.com

Answer by Mad DOgg
Submitted on 12/31/2006
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I agree with Mark, Go to different tattoo shops and keep asking around if you can get an apprenticeship, make a set of flash or two, create a portfolio of your art work to take with you.

Answer by pirate
Submitted on 1/5/2007
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good luck. most info will come at a price good info that is. you can practice on oranges or grapefruit but very difficult to stencil. huck spaulding sells how to videos to help u get started. if u have tattoos you should have a little knowledge get more tattoos and pay attention to your artist. after all if u want to tattoo u should love them and have some .i wouldn't let anyone w/out tattoos tattoo me..

Answer by ema davies
Submitted on 1/12/2007
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you can practice on pigs skin its very cheap an u can buy it from the supermarket

Answer by leighwales
Submitted on 1/31/2007
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practice on grapefruits to start. do it for a few months. you will think this is easy but its different to skin because u will not be able to shade. heres a tip: the tattooing and drawing is the easy part, the hard part is MACHINE SETUP. with the grapefruit machine setup wil not be an issue because it will absorbe the ink no matter what, but skin will NOT. practice machine set up make sure the it sounds sweet (the gun when running) and the needle should only be pointing out of the tube about 1 mm before you run the gun. the rest is up 2 u!

Answer by dep
Submitted on 2/6/2007
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There's a reason that you aren't tattooing in a shop yet: you're trying to learn from a bunch of people on the internet while tattooing out of your kitchen

Answer by D-Mick
Submitted on 2/19/2007
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I started with just a needle, tattooing at partys. After about 30 "prison tats" I went to a parlor and showed a guy some pics. He said I had alot of potential and gave me a free tattoo gun. I now practice on myself and friends for free like I did before. But tattoo gun tats heal differant try not to go over the same spot too much or it will scab bad and fall out leaving a crumy scar.

Answer by sincere 1
Submitted on 4/5/2007
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i have what i need to tattoo but i want to take my skills to another level before i start so i dont mess up something that some one will have for the rest of their lives

Answer by Murph
Submitted on 4/7/2007
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I am in Mass. Not easy here. depends where you go because every town sets it's own regs. I have a 70 page book that will get you started. If anyone found out I gave it to anyone not in a shop I would have some trouble. $100 and it can be e-mailed or sent usps for $2 more. It took me 3 years to find an apprenticeship and cost me $4000.

Answer by ONIX
Submitted on 4/18/2007
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PRACTICE ON FAKE SKIN AND ORANGES

Answer by THE ONE EYED BANDIT
Submitted on 4/30/2007
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a love,passion and respect for the art. the determination and perseverance to never give up!it doesnt hurt to ask questions at the shop.they just might throw tips at u.get down in there and watch and learn.try different things out on yourself or someone else.the best teacher is your mistakes and experience, so never give up. HEMET CA

Answer by Spanky
Submitted on 5/9/2007
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learabout atatoos

Answer by josh
Submitted on 5/16/2007
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What is the autoclave and ultrasonic designed to clean???

Answer by johnny
Submitted on 5/30/2007
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i agree with mark. read up on your transmitable diseases and do your best to get an apprenticeship. remember that its better to be safe than sorry

Answer by missi
Submitted on 6/11/2007
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or just go to hollywood.. you'll be accepted as an apprentice immediately.. shops out here accept anyone, even if you're a bloody hack.

Answer by J Moat
Submitted on 7/16/2007
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get an apprenticeship it is the only real way of becoming a good tattoo artist.even those who have made it in this craft without one often state they wished they did.It makes life a lot easyer to learn from someone that knows how.If you dont get an apprenticeship then i sujest you try your hand at something else.Tattooing is not as easy as it looks and you will doubtless make a mess of yourself and others for a long time untill you finaly learn from your own mistakes.Remember tattooing is not a business or industry,it is a craft and should be respected as such. Good luck finding a mentor.

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