Everything I need,,,help plz

Hello everyone, I am wanting to learn how to tattoo. I thought I would get a tattoo kit and start from there... but I need to now all the equipment I will need. That way I can make sure I buy a kit that has everything :o) If anyone could help me that would be great! Also, if you could recommend any books too that would be awesome. Thank you ~ Katie

OMFG....LOL....I am awaiting the shitstorm.

You have to start somewhere, right?

I know, but a kit is not that somewhere. Get an apprenticeship.

Lets see some of your artwork, thats where to start. And until you have someone to teach you you have no business owning any tattoo equipment.You can develop very bad habits that are VERY hard to break later. I am NOT discouraging you from your dreams, I just hope you try to be realistic and do things the proper way. No dvd can teach you to tattoo and you simply cannot learn to tattoo on the internet. Are you trained and certified in BBPs, Cross contamination and all that goes along with being a safe tattoo artist?

So your telling me that every single tattoo artist started out with an apprenticeship? Doubt that. And by the way, did I ever say I wasn't going to try for an apprenticeship one day? Nope. Or say I even wanted to make a career out of it? Nope again. I'm just wanting to practice a bit and see if its something I might be good at. I'm asking for a list of equipment needed. Not a fucking lecture. Your an ass by the way.

I'm a mature adult, not a 12 year old child with dreams of being Kat Von D. I have tattoos, and I think I have enough common sense not to tattoo actual people. I'm talking practice skin here people.

I'm a mature adult, not a 12 year old child with dreams of being Kat Von D. I have tattoos, and I think I have enough common sense not to tattoo actual people. I'm talking practice skin here people.

I tattooed before I should have even picked up a tattoo machine, and now after much needed research I Stopped. There is alot of risk in just "diving right in", not only to inocent people but yourself too. No one here is saying you can't, just wait till you can answer any question about tattooing (technical and medical) before you get your gear, and buy then you won't have to ask, by then you will know. I would say work on your art, gain a style for yourself and be patient. Show your work to shops and hope for the best. Best of luck to you on reaching your goal.

shoot me a e mail to discuss this venture further thanks don

Like most of them, this poster seems to think anyone trying to encourage her to do things the right way is an asshole. Of course we are all assholes and would just hate to see you get into tattooing. Do you realize just how stupid that sounds? We were trying to help you not be assholes. I suggested you get a mentor, I said NOTHING about an apprenticeship dear. And if we could see some of your art and it was apparent that you had worked for your skills we probably would have given you the info that you asked for. Now since you have been a pissy little self entitled brat I wouldn't tell you a damned thing.

"And if we could see some of your art and it was apparent that you had worked for your skills we probably would have given you the info that you asked for"- Oh ok, I wasn't aware I had to prove myself to you before I can get some info? Do you know how stupid THAT sounds? "Hi, I'm Tim..I'm the ink police around these here parts" Get over yourself, and stop giving people shit. I was nice in my first posting, until I got bashed. What's the difference between buying some paint and a canvas, and buying a machine and some practice skin? Not a damn thing. It's all art isn't it? Stop acting like you hold the fucking secerts to the lost ark or something. As long as a person is aware of the health issues,takes the proper precautions,has sterilizing equipment, whats the big deal? You've never given your friend a shitty tat so you could practice? Once again GET OVER YOURSELF.

Holy moses lady, that attitude mixed with a limited knowledge of the art of tattooing is a very bad mix, and it wont get you far at all. If your not patient, listen well, and take the time to first figure out whether your art deserves to be on someones body for the rest of their lives, then your probably in for a hard ride that wont get you very far. If you want to learn to tattoo, then you should ask the advice of the best artists you can. buying equipment is like jumping forward a million steps. Ok, your points. "Not every artist had an apprenticeship." TRUE BUT those artists put out many bad tattoos on the publics skin that they didnt have to. And they know it, and for the most part you will not find a single tattoo artist on this website that would recommend earning to tattoo by trial and error over finding a very talented mentor (probably the artist who has tattooed you the most). When you learn from someone who knows what they are doing the health and artistic quality of the tattoo are guaranteed (by the mentor). Learning by trail and error is not very responsible. And being the flaming liberal progressive I am, I am hyper-aware of responsibility. short of it is, if you learn by yourself like many of the masters, then you will pay for it and be sending lots of coverups out into the world. We will fix them, and if your smart and talented and actually work your way to the top you will understand the gravity of your errors. Obviously the best way to learn is by being surrounded by artists who can give you tips and tricks and critique... "Just practice to see if you'll be good at it." Thats fine and dandy as long as your artwork kicks ass. In my opinion, if your not a kick ass artist then you have no business putting artwork in peoples skin. We know you asked for a list, but we're not #$^ing robots or here to do your bidding. There is a heavy heavy responsibility to tattooing, when we give you(and every other stupid kid on the planet researching tattoos) lists of equipment your actions, and theirs, weigh on our Karma. Nevermind if you need to ask us for a list on the internet you are too lazy to tattoo. If you cant get a list from the talented tattoo artist who is teaching you, then keep your eyes open while you are getting your tattoos. Why do you think you should be able to just hop on a public forum and get all the info you desire? "proving yourself". Yes, the artists who care about the art of tattooing will almost always require you have good art before showing you the path. Its natures way of protecting the publics skin from shitty artists. Lets see your portfolio, you want to put it on peoples bodies, lets see it! The difference between buying paints and canvas and tattoo machines and fake skins is that the paints and canvases will get you a lot closer to becoming a tattoo artist and the publics skin has no chance of being trashed. As I said, theres nothing of value to learn from buying equipment and trying it out by yourself at home with fake skins. Its a waste, buy those paints and sketchbooks and draw your ass off until its good. Then you deserve a shot at seeing whether you would like to put your art in peoples skin. In short, if you cant do it on paper and canvas, then you cant do it on skin. So lets see it. In short, there is nothing useful to learn buy buying equipment and hacking up grapefruit in your own home. Spend that same time and money kicking out bad ass paintings and drawings and getting your name out there and getting tattooed by the best artists you can travel to. I know the list in my head and I dont tattoo. But Ive been getting tattooed for a very long time and have learned everything I can about the art. Who are your favorite tattoo artists and inspirations? Who in the fine/lobro/art world?

Katie, nowhere in my post did I ever insult you or flame you, in fact I tried to keep that from happening. I gave you the best advice I could in a polite and reasonable manner but you apperently took offense because it was not what you wanted to hear. I'm sorry that you took offense to my reasonable reply, but that doesn't change the facts. You are so obviously immature by the attitude you presented when you read my post wherein I tried to HELP you. I even made a point to say that I was nor trying to discourage you. You apperenlty didn't read that part didja? Read Gabes post. He is right on the money. If you won't take the advice of people with many years of experience in the art of tattoo, then you are lost before you ever even draw blood. Damn shame you couldn't just try to listen to the voice of experience. We could have helped you.

This is enough, I don't want to fight with anyone on here. I appreciate what you guys were trying to tell me and I understand. I was frustrated because all I wanted was 'the list". I understand how you don't want to give information to "protect people from getting shitty tattoos" but in fairness, you guys did kind of jump on my ass. I was asking for something small. And maybe you shouldn't presume everyone on here is from the trailer park, dumb as dirt and ready to give dirty kitchen tats. I was simply asking a small question, and if you didn't want to answer you could have just not posted anything. And Tim I didn't call you an ass, I called Abel a ass, for his "OMFG....LOL....I am awaiting the shitstorm.". To answer Gabes question, I have been into art for a long time. Painting, and drawing with charcoal is what I'm best at. For tattoo artists my favorite right now are Paul Booth and Nick Baxter. As far as artists go, I'm not too picky. I'm into impressionism art right now, like Edgar Degas and Monet. But I also really like Diego Rivera. I don't have any art that I can show you right now, because up until recently I didn't even know there where sites like this where you could share art. Guess I just didn't think about it. Well anyways guys, sorry I flipped. Truce??? :o)

I think a lot of people jumped on you because you're jumping ahead about a bazillon steps. Tons of tattoo artists spent months, and sometimes over a year JUST drawing, tracing, picking shit up, being the bitch and EARNING the right to pick up that tattoo gun. So as much as you have good intentions, it's really not that easy. It's not like a sport where you just pick up the given equipment and jump right in. There's much to learn. I would suggest research. Lots and lots of research. Start from the bottom up. Maybe even try to talk to someone in an apprenticeship, or just out of one that can tell you what to expect. Tattooing certainly isn't a trade that you can skip over steps to get into, so take your time and good luck :)

MACHINE not gun MACHINE HEE HEE HEE

my deepest appologies ;)

We are just givin ya some guff!!!

if you want a kick ass career with all its benefits be ready to take some shit and pay some dues if you don't like it fuck you

Tim is such a LAMO, have you seen his crackish looking MUG on "THE ANGEL WEBSITE". Go pierce Taz's CLIT and fuck-off!!