Comments on: How to become a tattoo artist, by Chris Moniz http://integraltemple.com/index.php/2009/11/how-to-become-a-tattoo-artist-by-chris-moniz/ Re-uniting Body, Mind & Spirit Through Artistic Expression Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:20:45 +0000 hourly 1 By: Francine http://integraltemple.com/index.php/2009/11/how-to-become-a-tattoo-artist-by-chris-moniz/#comment-61 Francine Tue, 22 Jun 2010 03:48:40 +0000 http://integraltemple.com/?p=57#comment-61 I am an art student at a local college in my area i am in my second year and im just figuring out what i want to make of myself. I have 2 more years then i am going to get my masters in visual arts. I have always had an interest in tattoos it is one of my greatest fascinations. I have a portfolio put together. I only have one tattoo but does the fact that i dont have alot of tattoos effect if i get an apprenticeship. I am a very dedicated person and i believe i am skilled but how can i show other than my portfolio that i am worth taking the time to work with. I also want to be a college art teacher. Is it responsible to want to have both jobs??? Is it possible??? i know there completely opposite other than the fact that there both art but thats the kinda person i am. I am versatile I think this is what i really want! and how do i know when a place is right and will teach me well ... is there anything i should look out for to stay away from??? thanks! Francine, I am an art student at a local college in my area i am in my second year and im just figuring out what i want to make of myself. I have 2 more years then i am going to get my masters in visual arts. I have always had an interest in tattoos it is one of my greatest fascinations. I have a portfolio put together. I only have one tattoo but does the fact that i dont have alot of tattoos effect if i get an apprenticeship. I am a very dedicated person and i believe i am skilled but how can i show other than my portfolio that i am worth taking the time to work with. I also want to be a college art teacher. Is it responsible to want to have both jobs??? Is it possible??? i know there completely opposite other than the fact that there both art but thats the kinda person i am. I am versatile I think this is what i really want! and how do i know when a place is right and will teach me well … is there anything i should look out for to stay away from??? thanks!
Francine,

]]> By: admin http://integraltemple.com/index.php/2009/11/how-to-become-a-tattoo-artist-by-chris-moniz/#comment-17 admin Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:50:25 +0000 http://integraltemple.com/?p=57#comment-17 Hi Darian... I think for some, drawing does come naturally. It can be a learned thing as well. Even those who are just naturally able to draw have to spend a lot of time honing thier skills. Dedicating one hour each day to drawing/art will improve anyone's skill. Improvements will show as early as within a week's time. I'd recommend that you keep your artwork, file it away, so that you compare what you do today to what you have done and you should see progression. I'd don't feel that being a tattoo artist should be treated as a hobby. To me, it should be considered a trade like being an electrician. It's not a weekend thing to do. Electricians have safety guidelines to follow as do Tattoo Artists. To be a tattoo artist is not to just dedicate yourself to the art but to also dedicate yourself to the safety of clients. True Tattoo Artists obsess themselves with their art portfolios. The portfolio is a tattooer's representation of themselves. In your situation, I would build my art portfolio and gear it towards tattoo art. As a record of where you are at artistically, the portfolio will help you see where you need to improve.. it allows others to critique your work so that you can take in advice and work on it. After some time, you will eventually feel that your portfolio is built up to the point where you might be ready to delve into the world of tattooing. When this point in time occurs, you will already have an art portfolio to present to someone who may mentor you. In a final note... Don't let drawing be your end all be all. Try using other forms of art as well.. oil, acrylic, watercolour, prismacolour, pastels, charcoal. etc. All other art forms are strong influences to what is possible in a tattoo. ... Mo Hi Darian…
I think for some, drawing does come naturally. It can be a learned thing as well. Even those who are just naturally able to draw have to spend a lot of time honing thier skills. Dedicating one hour each day to drawing/art will improve anyone’s skill. Improvements will show as early as within a week’s time. I’d recommend that you keep your artwork, file it away, so that you compare what you do today to what you have done and you should see progression.
I’d don’t feel that being a tattoo artist should be treated as a hobby. To me, it should be considered a trade like being an electrician. It’s not a weekend thing to do. Electricians have safety guidelines to follow as do Tattoo Artists. To be a tattoo artist is not to just dedicate yourself to the art but to also dedicate yourself to the safety of clients.
True Tattoo Artists obsess themselves with their art portfolios. The portfolio is a tattooer’s representation of themselves. In your situation, I would build my art portfolio and gear it towards tattoo art. As a record of where you are at artistically, the portfolio will help you see where you need to improve.. it allows others to critique your work so that you can take in advice and work on it.
After some time, you will eventually feel that your portfolio is built up to the point where you might be ready to delve into the world of tattooing. When this point in time occurs, you will already have an art portfolio to present to someone who may mentor you.
In a final note… Don’t let drawing be your end all be all. Try using other forms of art as well.. oil, acrylic, watercolour, prismacolour, pastels, charcoal. etc. All other art forms are strong influences to what is possible in a tattoo.
… Mo

]]> By: Darian http://integraltemple.com/index.php/2009/11/how-to-become-a-tattoo-artist-by-chris-moniz/#comment-2 Darian Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:40:41 +0000 http://integraltemple.com/?p=57#comment-2 Ever since i can remember i was into tattoos & over the years I have gotten 3. The 1st 1 was messed up pretty bad leaving scar tissue by some backalley artist when I was a kid, however I still wasnt put off tats and can still spend hours in a tat shop & the net just looking at designs and fantasizing about becoming an artist. The problem is im just an average drawer and when i put pencil to paper, 9/10 times it doesnt come out right and the 1 time that it does its only after alot of erasing. having said that all my drawings/designs come without reference and is purely original from my mind and they are pretty ok i think coz other people like it. I just dont have the technical ability to make them stunning or realistic with shading. I can trace well though but is this enough to tattoo? I am a computer graphic designer by trade and am very creative when it comes to that, I just think as a kid I havent spent alot of time honing my drawing skills, do you think a person learns how to draw or is it a god given talent? Also do you think I have any shot at being a tattoo artist (even if its just as a hobby as long as i dont damage my clients) given my background? Be brutally honest please. Thanks Ever since i can remember i was into tattoos & over the years I have gotten 3. The 1st 1 was messed up pretty bad leaving scar tissue by some backalley artist when I was a kid, however I still wasnt put off tats and can still spend hours in a tat shop & the net just looking at designs and fantasizing about becoming an artist.

The problem is im just an average drawer and when i put pencil to paper, 9/10 times it doesnt come out right and the 1 time that it does its only after alot of erasing. having said that all my drawings/designs come without reference and is purely original from my mind and they are pretty ok i think coz other people like it. I just dont have the technical ability to make them stunning or realistic with shading. I can trace well though but is this enough to tattoo?

I am a computer graphic designer by trade and am very creative when it comes to that, I just think as a kid I havent spent alot of time honing my drawing skills, do you think a person learns how to draw or is it a god given talent? Also do you think I have any shot at being a tattoo artist (even if its just as a hobby as long as i dont damage my clients) given my background? Be brutally honest please.

Thanks

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