Non-Artists That Want To Tattoo

This is more for the tattooists and artists that frequent these pages: I see a lot of people on this board and many that come into our shops who want to learn how to tattoo because it really interests them and they believe that it would be a cool career to get into. Which it is! Unfortunately, so many who are looking to get into this dont have an artistic bone in their bodies and cant draw worth beans. I'm by no means the greatest artist out there nor am i bragging about what i do. But like lots of tattooists out there, i've been drawing my entire life and it helps a great deal when i'm tattooing someone or trying to design someones piece. To make a long story short, do you artists out there in tattooland believe that someone who cannot draw ( and i mean cant even trace worth a damn! ) should be tattooing?

God no! I guess I believe that no one who isnt working their ass off every day to be a better artist should be tattooing. In my utopia tattooing is an artform only practiced by the most accomplished artists, after all artwork that is placed on something as sacred as skin should be treated with the ut-most respect and only be attempted by the best of the best. Of course not everyone is a Guy Atchison or Paul Booth but there is a style and art in everyone and artists should be working hard to find out what theirs is and push it. When gathering advice about hiring tattoo artists someone told me that not everyone was a rock star artist and it was good to have street shop kinda artists who dont mind banging out the crosses and names again and again. By now I wholeheartedly disagree. I think every single tattoo should be done by an artist who is inspired and shooting for the very best and stopping at nothing to get there. These artists will tattoo the @%#@ out of a cross or celtic piece and build a cliental based on quality while learning and practicing tricks that help them on large custom pieces. In short, an artist who isnt challenging their clients imagination isnt nearly as valuable as the artistic one constantly making the same old tattoos stand out in a unique way. As the artist types build a custom cleintel there are the new artists who need to work and practice and should be hammering out the small stuff. But I think every tattoo should have an excellent artist behind it. Fact is if you arent trying to get better at your *artwork* and *technical* ability every tattoo you do then you will have much lower ceiling, there are too many great artists who are working hard to learn and practice and in the long run will build a cliental of educated customers based on quality. In this business the artists will win I believe....

I strongly agree, if ya can't draw, you can never be a Tattoo Artist. I've had my own studio for over 24 years and I too am frequently asked by people who cannot draw if I'd apprentice them or could tell them how to get into Tattooing. I too have been drawing since I was a kid (which was a long time ago)and can't for the life of me figure how anyone how can't draw could even think they could become a tattoo artist. Some, of course, say it's only tracing but (aside from disagreeing with that)I tell them that even IF they could trace the outline, how do you 'trace' the detail that brings the picture alive? In theory ANYONE can DO a 'tattoo' but it takes an artist to do one you can be proud of. The anology I've used fpr years is that ANYONE can cut hair, but that doesn't mean they are a hair stylist and at least a crappy haircut will grow back. Some say the amatures bring us alot of cover-up work, which is unfortunely true enough but personally, the idea that they're only coming to me to fix/cover some crap some asshole did, more often than not in a basement,bedroom, etc. where they aren't bothered by rent/overhead, rules, etc., never does set right with me. But, I'm seeing more and more of it and I certainly don't think these supply companies who will sell to anyone (not just the pros) are a big part of the problem. Personally, I won't do ANY business with any suppliers who say they will sell to anyone (and I try to make sure they really don't

NO!

Doctor John you and I are in total agreement on this subject.There are far too many "stencil jockeys" that do nothing BUT trace and throw in a bit of substandard shading in and call it a tattoo. A friend owns a shop in a medium sized city in Minnesota...when we spoke the other day he complained that he has had to cut prices to the bone because of the local kitchen magicians and amateurs doing $10 & $20 tattoos...hell we both know that if a tattoo is to be done right, that is safely, it costs that much just to set up!...Well I think ny friend is taking the wrong approach...here in my town we have an overabundance of kitchen magicians and guys operating "professional" shops with their E-bay kits and cheap pigments trying their best to undercut us everyday...how do we compete?...its simple...WE DON"T!!!! Like the sign on our wall says..."we know others do it cheaper...they know what their work is worth!" We refuse to lower ourselves to compete with this type of artist if you do...they win....to do good tattoos you simply cannot let yourself be involved in price wars with the local morons...the people who know good work won't go to them anyway no matter HOW cheap their prices and those who do, well we wouldn't really want their business anyway. ALL we can do is continue to educate and we will dominate!!...TAz