Your portfolio should be both attention-grabbing and professional looking. Don’t use an old binder you found lying around or a single manila folder for all your art. Instead, use a new three-ring binder with sheet protectors, or have the pages matted. The outside of your portfolio should look sleek, uniform, and inviting.

Include the Right Work

Put 25 to 100 completed drawings and tattoo designs in your portfolio; these can be either copies or original works. Make sure that the pieces you choose to include do an excellent job of showcasing your versatility as an artist. Include a few examples of work you have completed in black and grey, even if your strongest work is typically composed of colorful illustrations. Even if the piece may not necessarily translate well into a tattoo, it will demonstrate that you have strong technique and have the talent for designing tattoos.

Avoid Common Mistakes When Creating Your Portfolio

While it may seem obvious, it’s important to mention that there are a few things you want to steer clear of when building your portfolio, including:

Copying the Work of Other Artists

This is plagiarism and could result in legal action depending on the laws in your area. At best, the tattoo shop will know that you’ve submitted plagiarized art and won’t accept your application. At worst, you could be declined and your reputation ruined before you even get started.

Submitting Photos of Tattoos You’ve Done

If you’re not already a professional tattoo artist, don’t include photographs of tattoos you’ve given no matter how good you believe they are. First, tattooing without a license is illegal. Second, it shows that you’re not willing to take the health of your clients and the art of tattooing seriously. It also tips them off that you may have some bad “scratcher” habits that need to be ironed out, making it more challenging to mentor you.

Create an Engaging Portfolio

Be sure to create a portfolio potential mentors want to look at by:

Writing a Cover Letter and Including Your Resume

Your resume highlights relevant education and experience, and a cover letter addresses your potential mentor by name. Including these gives your portfolio an instant feel of professionalism.

Including Only Completed Work

If you have a lot of sketches but few finished pieces of art, wait to create your portfolio until you have more to put in it. Use finished work only for your portfolio, but feel free to include some copies of what the piece looked like at various stages during the drawing phase.

Memorize a Few Talking Points About Each Piece

You’ll likely be asked a few questions about your art. Get comfortable talking about a few main points for each piece included in your portfolio, so you’re prepared no matter which piece your prospective mentor wants to discuss.

Leaving Your Business Card

Unless you have an appointment at the tattoo shop, the artist may not be able to review your portfolio right away. Leave a business card with your name, contact information, and a link to an online portfolio where your artwork can be viewed at their convenience.

Step Five

5. Work with an Established Tattoo Artist

Once you’re confident about your drawing skills and ability to design attractive tattoos, it’s time to gain hands-on experience and to start applying the techniques you’ve learned in a real-world environment. Tattooing isn’t something you can learn from a book; it’s critical to work with a mentor who has been tattooing ideally for many years and who is willing and able to take you under their wing. Here’s what to keep in mind when finding a tattoo artist to work with:

What to Look for In a Mentor

It’s important to do your due diligence when searching for a tattoo artist to apprentice under. Look for an artist who:

Works at a Reputable Tattoo Shop

Make sure they abide by basic hygiene guidelines and have plenty of clients. Avoid tattoo shops that seem to be empty, who can’t tell you about their hygiene practices, or that you just get a bad vibe in.

Has Mentored an Apprentice Before

Mentoring is difficult even for the most seasoned tattoo artist. Look for someone who has taken an apprentice before, so they have a better idea of what works and what doesn’t.

Who Can Challenge You

The artist you choose to mentor you should be able to challenge you, hold you accountable, and push you past your limits. Don’t choose a mentor who seems too easy-to-please; a laissez-faire approach won’t help you in the long run.

How to Approach a Shop About an Apprenticeship

When you approach a tattoo shop about an apprenticeship, the impression you make matters. You should:

Do Your Homework

Learn as much as you can about the shop you want to apprentice at. Familiarize yourself with each artist’s bio and portfolio, as well as any other key details about the business.

Make Face-To-Face Contact

Don’t just call the tattoo shop and talk to someone on the phone. Get your face in their minds by showing up and saying hello. Drop by in the afternoon on a weekday when it’s least likely to be busy.

Treat Everyone You Meet With Respect

The person you see working the front desk may be an artist covering for the receptionist while they’re out to lunch, or they may be tight with all the artists there. Treating everyone you meet like their opinion of you can make or break your apprenticeship; chances are, it can.

Step Six

6. Complete an Apprenticeship and Learn the Trade

Before you can begin tattooing professionally, you’ll need to complete an apprenticeship to learn the trade. This can be done with your mentor, or you can look for a tattoo shop that is advertising an opening for an apprentice. When starting a tattoo apprenticeship, you can expect:

A Large Upfront Investment

Beyond the cost of your apprenticeship, you’ll also need a number of basic supplies to work with, including tattoo guns, sterile equipment, art supplies, and more. Be prepared for a significant upfront investment to become a tattoo artist.

The Cost of a Tattoo Apprenticeship

Very few tattoo apprenticeships pay; rather, the reverse is usually true. There are some free apprenticeships, but most have a cost. Free apprenticeships at reputable tattoo shops are the most competitive and difficult to get, and most cost around $5,000. In rare cases, they may be as high as $10,000 depending on the skill and reputation of the artist you’re apprenticing under. Most artists who begin a tattoo apprenticeship need to have a side job to sustain themselves financially while they complete their tattoo training.

Understanding Tattoo Apprentice Contracts

Typically, you’ll be required to sign a contract with the tattoo shop you have an apprenticeship with. A contract is a legal document that sets forth the responsibilities and expectations of both parties and provides protection for either party if one does not meet their contractual obligations. The contract outlines how long your apprenticeship will last (usually a year), how much you will pay, what your daily and weekly responsibilities are, what you should expect to learn from your mentor, and if you’ll be required to work at the shop for any length of time after your apprenticeship is complete. Consider having an attorney review your contract prior to signing to ensure your interests remain protected.

To Learn How to Design Tattoos

While tattoos are art, not all art can be a tattoo. You’ll need to learn how to design tattoos so they look nice on the body and last for as long as possible without the need for a touch-up. Where on the body the tattoo is placed, how large the tattoo is, and how detailed it is all impact what it will look like over time. Poorly placed tattoos with too much detail for the size will heal unevenly, causing the ink to spread and lines to become blurred.

To Learn How to Operate a Tattoo Machine and How to Work with Ink

Ink and flesh as an artistic medium can be quite challenging to work with, and no two bodies are exactly the same. As you apprentice, you’ll learn how tattooing differs from other mediums, how to operate a tattoo machine, and how to work with ink to create art that looks good on the skin.

To Learn Hygienic Work Practices

Because tattooing is a body modification that punctures the skin and draws blood, there’s a certain standard of hygiene that must be met for both the artist and client’s safety. You’ll learn how to create a sterile work field, how to keep your tattoo machine clean, when to change gloves, and more. Remember that reputable artists take hygiene very seriously; ask to review an artist’s hygiene practices before agreeing to apprentice under them. In fact, it’s an excellent idea to get a tattoo by the artist you want to apprentice under when possible.

To Learn Professional Business Skills and Customer Service

Most tattoo artists need to learn at least some professional skills like how to balance a ledger, process payments, and interact with clients. Apprenticeships that offer training on more than just tattooing and teach the essential skills needed to operate and/or manage a tattoo shop are ideal. This is especially true if you want to start your own tattoo shop at any point in your career.

To Work for Free for at Least a Year

It’s common for an apprenticeship program to be unpaid and you should expect to do a lot of free tattoos, so it’s important to have enough savings set aside or to have another source of income so you can make ends meet. You can plan for a year, but in some cases, your apprenticeship may be longer.

Step Seven

7. Obtain Additional Pre-License Certification and Training

A Blood Borne Pathogen Certification

Since the canvas of a tattoo artist is human skin it is essential that they follow strict health and safety guidelines. Preventing blood borne pathogens from being spread and working to preserve the health of the client and the artist will be a focal point of your training. You will be required at some point during, or after your apprenticeship program, to become certified in how to prevent the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other infections while creating a tattoo, and you’ll need to be able to show proof of blood borne pathogen certification upon request.

Training on Skin Diseases, Communicable Diseases, and Disease Prevention