contextual and professional Studies
A tattoo apprenticeship is a excellent way to learn and start tattooing, But equally it can be a tough experience, therefore it very important to know what you will be involved in and where to find a establishment work in.
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While conducting researching about tattooing apprenticeships, I found a useful website that details the work that an apprentice will experience. The website informs you of what skill you will develop, equally it informs you of alternative ways to learn tattooing (e.g tattoo schools).
Within a tattoo apprenticeship I will learn:
- Hygiene (both of after care and during the tattoo).
- Techniques of tattooing.
- Needle usage.
- How to make and use stencils.
- How to continue into my own career (e.g booking clients and receiving payments).
- Also experience.
A tattoo apprenticeships last around 2 years, started by watching and developing an understanding for set up and hygiene. During the apprenticeship you will tattoo on both real and synthetic skin under supervision by the experienced tattoo artist.
UK Official Tattoo Academy
Additionally I have also researched the UK Official Tattoo Academy. The academy is a tattoo school that teaches a two weeks course, this course is very intense and develops the artistβs understanding of tattooing quickly. It Costs around Β£2998 to join but eventually it will cost more due to travel or living expenses, as the academy is located in London. They do have a accommodation for Β£34 a night, so in total for a living space it would cost around Β£408 for two week and a weekend.
Tattoo School VS Apprenticeship
| tattoo school | tattoo apprenticeship |
| Has a set curriculum and school time is not flexible. | An apprenticeship is more flexibility and does not have a set curriculum |
| Due to a class setting there will be near to no time one-on-one. | As an apprenticeship is personal there a greater chance for one-on-one development. |
| You will graduate with a degree for tattooing. | You get a qualification and possibly a career if you get in the shop. |
| You are studying along side and building relationships with more developing tattoo artist, But not building a client base during your degree. | You meet less tattoo artists but you build a client base and work off the shops clients.meet less tattoo artists. |
| You have set limit to learn and gain the skills needed to pass, as it is a school the teachers will have gone through training to teach. | you have as much time as you need but the teacher might not be a good teachers so you have to find a good apprenticeship. |
| To Join you need a diploma or a collage qualification of art. | you have to have a good portfolio and a good promise of development for an artist to think itβs good to use their time on you. |
| Getting in to a school is Easier, due to you just needing a qualifications. | Known for being hard to get into. |
Although she is in another country there for there could be differences, i watched this video as it was helpful within a professional sense to hear about other people stories within how they got an apprenticeship, but also their advice as someone who has been through it.
Professionally I will need to be able to develop all different styles within tattooing to be able to have a divers client base, therefor I need to build a good portfolio to show the tattooist to be able to get an apprenticeship. This video was really helpful in order to see a practicing artist portfolio so I can see what they would be looking for within mine.
As I have conducted this research I have made a conclusion on what I would like to pursue in the future for my career, as a preference I would head for a apprenticeship due to its personal connection and flow of a client base. Within 2023 I will be applying for apprenticeships within my home town to start an apprenticeship in summer 2023.