Tattoo Artists
What should I look for in a tattoo artist?
When you are looking for a tattoo artist, go into their shop and have a look around. Look at their portfolios to make sure that they do the style of work that you are most looking for. Take a minute to talk to them, and hopefully you can set up an appointment with them, so that you have the proper amount of time to get the design that you were looking for.
Are tattoo artists licensed?
Tattoo artists have a number of guidelines that we follow at our shop. We are all OSHA certified, and you need to register with the county that you are working in. Different states have different laws, so it is always good to make sure that everybody at the shop you go to is up to speed with the current county and state regulations.
How do I find a good tattoo artist?
Word of mouth is probably one the best ways to find a good tattoo artist. If you see somebody that has tattoos that you like, go up and ask them who did their work. Going into shops and doing your own research is also useful - look at the tattoo artists portfolios. The internet is also a great way to find people. Most people will have their work online, so you can look at their portfolios online. But feel free to go on into the tattoo shops and take some time to talk to the tattoo artist themselves.
How can I see the work of a tattoo artist?
The work of a tattoo artist can be seen in many places. You can go right into the tattoo shop, look at their portfolios, possibly see something that they are working on right then and there. Most tattoo artists will have their work on their shop's website, or they might even have their own website up. A good tattoo artist will be more than willing to show you their work, so that they can show off what they do and what they have accomplished during their career.
How can I tell if a tattoo artist is operating safely?
To ensure that a tattoo artist is operating safely, make sure that all their packages and all their instruments are packaged in auto-clave bags, and that they have new barriers put down on all surfaces. Also, be sure to look for hand washing, wearing of gloves, and to look for obvious signs of cross-contamination. Make sure that people are not touching things, answering the phones with gloves on, and then coming right back to work on you. A lot of it is common sense, but make sure nobody is touching things that they shouldn't be touching and then returning to work on you without re-gloving or washing their hands.
Why do some artists refuse to tattoo the feet or hands?
Tattoo artists will often refuse to tattoo hands and feet because of healing issues. After you tattoo your feet, you'll be walking around and you might have a hard time healing the tattoo. Tattoos on hands will often create a difficulty for you to become employable. You might have a hard time getting a job after you've had your hand tattooed. Usually, we'll wait until the majority of your body is tattooed before we tattoo your hands.
Why do some artists refuse to tattoo my face?
Tattoo artists will often refuse to tattoo people's faces because of moral issues. We don't want to make you look like somebody that would be the subject of ridicule, and possibly create difficulty for you to get a job.
How do I become a tattoo artist?
A good way of becoming a tattoo artist is to start getting tattooed at one of your local tattoo shops, and then talking to them about doing an apprenticeship. A couple of years of apprenticeship is a good way of learning how to tattoo - that way you don't have to learn from your own mistakes, and you learn the right way from experienced tattoo artists.
