Tattoos are becoming more and more popular around the United States. At the moment, approximately 20% of all Americans have at least one tattoo. Around the country, there are at least 21,000 tattoo studios. The number of American women with tattoos is also on the rise. As of 2012, nearly 60% of people with a tattoo are women. Some popular designs for tattoos for women are hearts and angels. This is according to Oxygen Media. If you are thinking about a career in this area, one way to do that is to pursue a tattoo education.

1. Work on your art. There is a reason people who design and do tattoos are called “tattoo artists.” Teh first thing you need to do when you decide you want to design and draw tattoos is work on your art. You need to be a great artist to be a decent tattoo artist. Your tattoo education should therefore begin with your art education. Practice your drawing skills as much as you can. Like any other skill, drawing will get better with practice.
2. Work on your people skills. If you do not like dealing with people, going into tattooing may not be the best idea for you. Sure, when you get to be an accomplished and well known tattoo artist, you maybe can afford to be quirky but drawing great tattoos is just part of what it means to be a great tattoo artist. Your customers and clients are your best calling card and you want them to be happy with your work. You will also have to be adept at turning some people away. If your would be client has been drinking, for instance, or if they are under age. Being diplomatic in these circumstances will help you and your business more than not.
3. Take tattoo classes. You will be able to learn most of what you need to know to be a great tattoo artist from working in a shop but there are some parts of the country that make classroom time a requirement for getting the right license to start tattooing people. Taking good classes at a tattoo school can be a very valuable part of your tattoo education and can serve you well even if your area does not specifically require you to take them.
4. Get an apprenticeship. This is the best way to really get a good tattoo education. Because there are so many people out there looking to get into tattooing, it may be harder than you expect to find a tattoo apprenticeship in your city. Talk to local tattoo studios and tattoo schools. When you do find a tattoo apprenticeship, do all the grunt work you can and do it with a smile. You need to become a valued member of the tattoo studio team. If you see something that need to be done or cleaned, just do it before anyone asks you. Be gracious and nice to everyone. This is not the time to be a prima donna or expect them to cater to your needs.
5. Get your license. Check your city and state to find out what the legal requirements are for people to become tattoo artists in your area. Most places do require people who are working as tattoo artists to get a license and the last thing you want to do is try to work in this business without one. In the first place, you do not need to start your life as a tattoo artist by breaking the law and in the second place, you will look sketchy to any potential clients who ask about it.

It takes a lot of work and determination to become a tattoo artist but it can be a very rewarding and fun career. The art you work to create will not adorn a wall or be shown in a museum but will be worn by the people who come to you for your expertise. For most, this is a very personal experience, the act of getting a tattoo and they will take you with them everywhere they go for a very long time. Some people feel very connected to their tattoos and the artists who drew them.