The Tattoo

Artist

History of Tatto
Prehistorc Tattoos
It has been speculated that the first
tattoos were merely accidental, the
result of rubbing a wound with a hand
dirty with colorful clay or black soot
from the fire pit. The techniques
became more refined over time, and
archaeologists have found neolithic
clay discs and bone needles used for
the creation of ancient tattoos like the
ones decorating "Otzi the Iceman".
Otzi, discovered in a mountain
between Austria and Italy, lived circa
3300 BC, and his skin bears 57
Tattooing in Antiquity
tattoos.
The use of tattoos was common to many
ancient cultures. For a long time, the earliest
known examples of tattoos were found on
the bodies of Egyptian mummies, all of them
female, dated to c. 2000 B.C. Initially they
were described as “dancing
girls,” but later translations of their
funerary inscriptions reveal that at least one
of them was a high-status priestess.
Tattooing was also popular among many
ethnic minorities of ancient China, among
the tribes of the islands of the Pacific and

Tattoos in Pre-Christian Europe

In Europe, pre-Christian tribes of
Germanic and Celtic origin were often
heavily tattooed, according to Roman
reports. The celtic clan of the Picts was
actually named after this practice, with
the word "pictus" meaning "painted
ones". Roman legionnaires returning
home from the campaigns brought tattoos
back into the empire. However, after the
emergence of Christianity, tattoos were
felt to "disfigure that made in Gods
image," and were banned by Emperor
Constantine.
The Modern Tattoo: Deviance and
Exoticism
Following Constantines decree, tattoos
were outlawed and were not seen in Europe
for almost 1500 years. They were
reintroduced around 1769, following James
Cooks British expedition to Tahiti. The term
"tattoo" was coined after the Tahitian word
"tatau," used to describe the striking
technique used by the islanders. As the
sailors and seamen that reintroduced the
practice were often seen as unsavory

Tattoos Today
Tattoos, like many other forms of body
modification, gradually gained the tolerance
of society, followed by acceptance. Finally,
they achieved mainstream popularity after
the counter-cultural movements of the latter
half of the 20th century became enmeshed
with the mainstream culture. For some,
tattoos are a form of self-expression, a
fashion or (anti-fashion) statement. For
others, they are part of a body project, a step
in the construction of a viable self-identity
through body modification.For some, tattoos
are a link to the past, a way to replicate
rituals and traditions of other eras, while for
others they are a step into the future, a
transgression of current ideals about the
body and a rejection of classical beauty.

Whos The Tattoo

artist?
The Tatto artist is an individual who applies
permanent decorativetattoos, often in an
established business called a "tattoo shop,"
"tattoo studio"

How to become The

Tattoo
artist?
It seems
that with the
popularity of
tattoos and the potential for high
income, a lot of people want to become
a tattoo artist. Many of them make the
mistake of buying a kit and practicing
on their friends, which is very
dangerous. Many of these people never
become truly successful at tattooing
anyway, and never acquire the skills
necessary to compete in this highly
competitive business.
Difficulty:Hard
Time Required:1-5 Years
Lets see how in 10 steps

Step One
The first thing you need is raw
talent. Someone who can't
draw or color inside the lines
isn't going to be a good
candidate for being a tattoo

artist.

Step three
Once you're a
competent artist on
paper, you'll need to
build a portfolio. A
portfolio is a case or
binder containing
examples of your art, to

Step Two
Then you need to hone your
raw talent to develop talent
into skill. Skill can come
from fine art classes,
working with a fellow artist,
learning technique from
books, or all of the above.
On top of that, you need to
practice, practice, practice.

Step Four
The next thing you need is an
apprenticeship. An apprentice
is someone who learns a skill
from someone else already
skilled in the trade. Sometimes
an apprenticeship can be free,
but many times they cost
thousands of dollars. You will
Step Five
need to find a way to save or
acquire the money needed for Then you need to find an
apprenticeship - but not just any
your training.

apprenticeship - you need to find

the right one for you. One with a
master you feel you can truly
learn from - not someone just
offering apprenticeships to make
money. Getting an apprenticeship
can be a challenge, so I
recommend you readHow to Get

Step Six
In addition to needing money for
your apprenticeship, you will also
need to be able to sustain yourself
during training. Unless you are
independently wealthy, you'll need
to hold down a regular job at the
same time you are serving your
apprenticeship. You will not be
earning money in the shop during
Step Eight
your training.
During your time as an apprentice,
you will continue to practice and
hone your drawing skills. You are
not limited to only gaining
knowledge from your teacher - you
may also have the opportunity to
spend time learning from other
artists as well. Getting tattooed is
a good way to watch and learn the

Step Seven
Once you are an
apprentice, you will
learn many skills from
your teacher, most of
them having nothing to
do with actual drawing.
You will learn how to
safely clean your
equipment, how to
operate a tattoo
machine, how to adjust
your power supply, how
to protect yourself and
your clients from
disease, and last but not
least - how to correctly
apply a tattoo. This can
take many months to
learn completely.

Step Nine
There's no formal graduation from an
apprenticeship. Generally, the teacher
decides when the student is ready to
venture off on their own. Sometimes a
contract was signed at the beginning of
the apprenticeship, and the terms will
vary. But as long as you are not under
contract to continue for a certain length
of time or prevented from working for a
competing shop, you can decide to
stretch your wings when you feel you
have learned all you can from your
teacher

Step Ten
No matter how long you
apprentice or how long
you tattoo, you never
know it all. There is
always more to learn,
new techniques to adopt,
new ways to enhance
what has already been
done. Never be satisfied
with mediocrity, and

Things which need The

Tatto Artist
Sterilization and
Sanitation
Every tattoo artist must have an
auto clave to sterilize their
equipment such as their
machines, tubes, tips, ink trays,
and any other equipment parts.
An auto clave will heat the items
to extremely high temperatures
killing off any bacteria that
Machines
could have come into contact
No tattoo artist can tattoo without a
with the equipment.
tattoo machine. There are two ways to set
tattoo machines so that they can perform
different functions. Most beginning tattoo
artists will need at least two tattoo
machines-a liner and a shader. The liner
will be used to outline tattoos and the
shade will be used for filling them in.
Some artists choose to have more than
two machines in case one breaks or
malfunctions, but at least two is the

Needles
Although as a beginning artist the amount
and sizes of needles that you need will be
minimal as you should only be attempting
small size artwork to get started, as time
goes on your needle preference and size
requirements per tattoo will change. Either
way you will need quite a few needles of
varied sizes and types such as round liners,
round shaders, flat liners and flat shaders,
and some mags. Using all of the different
needles will allow you the chance to begin
having a preference over the types of
needles and how each works on
the skin.Supply
A Power
A tattoo machine is not battery operated! A good power supply needs
to be hooked up to the unit for it to function. If affordable, seek out a
power supply that offers control from a pedal switch that can be
operated by stepping on them with your feet. This leaves the artists
hands free to focus and guide the actual tattoo work being done
without needing to be concerned about supplying power to their unit.
There are othertattoo suppliesof interest, such as ink caps, gloves,
and other smaller items, but the 4 aforementioned supplies will get
you started. The only supply left that's relevant to mention is the use
of fake skin to practice on. It sounds gross, but it's something you'd
definitely want to use before trying to tattoo anyone's actual skin,
including your own. At the same time, it goes without saying that

Opening The Tattoo Shop

StepOne
Furnish and decorate your work, reception and
office areas. Buy and install all necessary
furnishings to accommodate your artists and
clients. Work areas will include several
reclining chairs --- similar to dentist's chairs --tables, lighted tracing tables, supply carts and
large sized mirrors. The reception areas need a
counter or desk, chairs, couches shelves to
display "Flash" --- basic art designs --- and
display cases if you are offering body jewelry.
The office area generally requires a desk, chair
and file cabinets.
StepThree
Hire professional tattooists to sufficiently
staff your studio. Depending on how big
your shop is and how much clientele you
expect to generate, you'll probably need at
least one or two professionally trained
tattooists. Before your grand opening,
evaluate your potential amount of clients
and be prepared by hiring a sufficient
amount of professionally trained tattoo

StepTwo
Purchase all required
equipment and
supplies. Before
opening the shop, make
sure you are well
stocked with all the
supplies, materials and
equipment needed to
properly and efficiently
function. Tattooing
equipments and
supplies typically
include an autoclave for
sanitizing instruments,
tattooing machines,
needles, ink paper
towels, plastic
spraybottles and plastic
or latex gloves. Office
equipment might
include a computer,
adding machine,
telephones and
printers.

And choose your studio

See You In
My Future
TATTOO
STUDIO