The Importance Of Art Training In Tattooing

Far be it from me to decry the many talented and worthwhile artists currently working in the tattoo industry that have no formal training

, but having said that, shouldn't anyone working in a specialist field have some sort of specialist training?

Many of my clients ask if there are any 'qualifications' needed to become a tattoo artist - most of them are shocked when I reply that no, anyone can buy equipment one day and call themselves a tattooist the next! Of course if someone wants to set themselves up in a studio open to the public then there are laws and guidelines that govern the cleanliness and therefore the health and safety of anyone choosing to go there to get tattooed. These rules get followed and aren't really that difficult comply with and away the new tattooist goes.

That there are standards at all is a good thing of course, but I'm not discussing the 'home tattooist' versus 'studio tattooist' debate, that's for another day, I'm talking primarily about art training and whether or not it's relevant or important when it comes to the Art of tattooing.

I often say that customers get the tattoo that they deserve - by which I mean that if having decided to get tattooed the customers cares enough to research several artist and knows enough about quality to see whether or not any of these tattooists have talent or not then surely they will inevitably chose someone they feel is good enough to put something permanent on their skin?

If, as is often the case, someone decides on a whim to get tattooed and simply wanders into their nearest studio regardless of the quality of the work then they will probably end up getting a piece of a lower quality than they would having done the research and possibly travelled or joined a queue to get work from an artist that can really create something beautiful.

Training can take many forms.

For those that come to tattooing later on in life, it might be difficult to decide to pursue something as formal as an Art degree or college course, but that doesn't mean that training or being trained should be ignored - far from it in fact. To become a tattoo 'Artist' means that Art needs to be a part of what we do. Rather than simply tattooing by numbers and being happy with the 'tattooist' moniker. I feel that most clients feel happier in the hands of a tattoo Artist and are reassured if they think that the person putting images on them for life has had some form of art training. To have had formal Art training has to be of more benefit that not having had any formal training what so ever, but if not, then an apprenticeship ought to be the way to go.

Most people that are lucky enough to get an apprenticeship should be looking at not only getting the basics around cleanliness and the technical side of tattooing but also undergoing some sort of structured development around their art ability (their drawing at least). Obviously when these guys grow into working tattooists and get asked the question about background, experience and art training they can be pleased and proud to say that they have indeed received some 'training' and feel qualified to do the job well. That said, once they are working it's these artists that have responsibility to continue to develop and improve their technical art skills base.

To sum up; I feel that training in the tattoo industry is very important. That this can either be through a formal art background or through an apprenticeship with a skilled and experienced tattoo artist. If the tattooist has no formal training see their work first. Then decide if they are talented enough to work on you.

Many are. There are great tattooists out there who had no training beyond school art classes but they have probably spent years 'getting it wrong' before they became great and most will probably be self training still and developing their skills and growing as artists.

by: Bryan Pilkington

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