How to Practice Tattooing
Have you ever thought about the differences between drawing on paper and drawing on skin?
Have you wondered what you can do to become a professional tattoo artist?
Then let’s begin with how to practice tattooing.
Pencil to Pen to Skin
Tattooing is permanent, so it’s good to get into a certain mindset.
It’s fine to sketch with pencils to practice your art. But as you plan to become a tattoo artist, it’s time to use pens and markers more often.
With ink, you can’t just erase a mistake. You have to go back and find a way to fix it creatively.
Get used to working with ink, even if it’s on paper. Trace designs and create your own.
Then transition from paper to more difficult media.
How to Get Used to Drawing on Skin
Drawing on paper is easy compared to drawing on a contoured surface. That’s why artists practice on fruit.
Grab a Sharpie, and an apple then try to reproduce something you like to draw.
How hard is it to keep the perspective and the proportions accurate on the apple?
Don’t worry; you’ll get used to it. Just keep drawing.
Practicing on People
Now it’s time to draw on your friends and family and yourself. And I do mean literally draw on them.
Put down the Sharpie and pick up a non-toxic marker, preferably the washable kind.
Now, doodle away on hands, arms, legs, and so forth.
Get used to how it feels to have a client who might have trouble sitting still.
Up the ante by adding weights to the marker. This will help simulate what it feels like to hold a tattoo iron.
Weigh out about three ounces of metal washers or nuts and slip them over the pen. Secure them with rubber bands.
How does the extra weight affect your control? How fast does it tire out your hand?
In time, you’ll become stronger.
Upgrading Tools
Are you still enthusiastic about becoming a tattoo artist? Then you need the proper tools.
Take a look at the best tattoo machine brands to become familiar with what’s available.
As you shop for tattoo machines, you’ll see that there are two main kinds. But you don’t need to make a decision now between coil or rotary machines.
