Many who enter in the field of tattooing do so because they have artistic talent and feel tattooing is the easiest way to turn that talent into a successful career. The problem with that line of thinking is that tattooing is like no other art form in existence. The canvases being used are inconsistent, the instruments specialized and the principles behind the mechanics of tattooing are different from drawing or painting. In other words, tattooing isn’t making sketches, working with watercolors or doodling. It’s serious business that requires serious practice.

Practice tattoo skins are the best way to gain proficiency and skill without the use of cadavers, which by all accounts are hard to come by. Practice tattoo skins do an effective job of simulating normal working conditions, though they don’t account for the movement that can be experienced when tattooing on areas with heavy underlying fat. It’s best to practice with the skins on both flat, convex (curved outward) and concave (curved inward) surfaces to get a feel for working at odd angles over a three dimensional area. Always check your depth as well, especially when working in this manner.

One mistake that beginners make all too often is thinking they have to fill every square millimeter with ink. In tattooing, less is often more. Before going crazy with your own designs, try some sparse designs created by other artists. Note how bare skin can be a better choice than adding another color in some instances.

Beginners often like to work with black tattoo ink, and try to do it all with lines. Unless you plan on only working in black and causing your customers unnecessary pain, it’s best to get comfortable with a full palate of colors and work on your fill-in and shading techniques with bigger tattoo needles.

Speaking of needles, you can’t offer your clients the best results possible with a substandard selection of needles. Be prepared by not only having multiple needles ready, but by having experience working with each kind

And finally, know your tattoo gun. Of course, work with it enough to be able to perform confidently, but also take a look at the inner workings of the gun. Find out which parts of your particular brand often fail and be ready with tattoo gun replacement parts. Better yet, have more than one gun on hand.