My15 yr old daughter wants to be a Tattoo artist? Should I encourage this decision?

Question

She wants a tattoo machine for x-mas, to practice on fruit she says. She is an amazing artists and thinks this is the path she wants to take. I took her to the Tattoo show and she fell even more in love with the idea. Just curious if any working artists have any advice for me?

Answer 1

Don't get her a tattoo machine, but do encourage her to put together a nice portfolio of her drawings, and seek out an apprenticeship.

Answer 2

Well, I would encourage any parent to support their child(ren) in artistic expression. Being a tattoo artist is a legitimate and rewarding profession.
However, given her young age, there's no need to start practicing with a machine just yet. There's still years of drawing she can work on. Have her experiment with different mediums. (fruit isn't the best thing to practice on anyway)
When she's old enough (I'd say 18) she should put together a portfolio of her best work and submit it to shops. Applying for an apprenticeship can be hard at times (there's lots of rejection) but if she's as talented as you claim she is, she should have no problem finding a place that will take her. An apprenticeship is something EVERY tattoo artist should do. It's really the only way to get the proper training, not only with tattooing, but with machines and how they work (we had our apprentice practice building them!), sterilization techniques, inks, needles -there's lots to learn!
An artist can guide her in practicing with a machine, which would be way more beneficial than using fruit at home.
She still has some time before really pursuing this path. In the meantime, encourage her to study all forms of art and work on some of her own.

Best wishes and good luck!

Answer 3

I don't see any reason to discourage your daughter's ambition. First, be glad she has some drive. A lot of teenagers have no motivation. However, you have to help her focus her ambition and think it through maturely.

Tattooing is a very complex profession. There are a lot of tattoo artists out there. There are a few great ones, and there are a lot of bad, unsanitary, unprofessional "artists."

Here is the path I suggest if your daughter is truly interested in becoming a tattoo artist:

1. Enroll her in as many drawing classes as possible: figure drawing, 3D drawing, etc. A FIRM drawing foundation is essential for tattoo artists. (Art classes might make a good Christmas present.)

2. Encourage her to select her favorite drawings along the way to start building a portfolio.

3. Make sure she finishes high school.

4. Find a college with a good art department. Encourage her to major in art, graphic design, fine art, etc. (MANY top tattoo artists have much formal art training, including college degrees in art. Not only is this important for gaining respect in the industry, but it also gives her something to fall back on if she loses interest in the possibility of tattooing.)

5. Once she's completed all or part of her college studies, she should start applying for apprenticeships at REPUTABLE shops. This is where her portfolio will come in handy.

Please do not buy her a tattoo machine for Christmas. If she truly wants to be a respected tattoo artist some day, buying her a machine now is not the way to go. She will teach herself poor technique - bad habits that will be hard to undo later; tattooing fruit and the like is NOT like tattooing human flesh. Furthermore, there is a LOT to learn about bloodborne pathogens and other health and safety risks before anyone even owns a machine and has the potential to practice on friends or themselves. Buying her a machine now will only encourage her to become what the industry calls a "scratcher." (In other words, someone without proper training who tattoos their friends in unsterile environments.) It's most important at this point for her to focus on a solid art and drawing foundation, not playing around with a professional tool.

Answer 4

I'm not a tattoo artist but I have a few of 'em. Imho artistic expression should definitely be encouraged especially in our children. As far as the tattoo gun, I would think that if you have to be 18 to get a tattoo you would have to be 18 to own one. An alternative is a henna kit. Henna is a temporary form of tattooing that would allow your daughter to practice her tattooing w/o doing anything permanent. Just google "henna tattoo kits" and you'll find plenty of places to get them. If she is really serious about being a tattoo artist she should find a reputable shop that will take on an apprentice and learn from a professional.

Answer 5

If she is a good artist, there are a couple of points I would like to make. Number one, there is a real shortage of female tattooists in the buisness, and they are in big demand. We have one at our shop, and she's been there fourteen years. Many women are just not comfortable with a male tattooist. Number two, your daughter is young, and it's a good age to get a leg up in the field, before she turns eighteen and starts an apprenticeship. Last point... she can make a very good living in this field, as some places charge $300 an hour, and the pay scale is between 40-60% to 50-50%. If I were you, I would get her what she needs, plus books on the history of the art, as well as a few of the how-to DVD's. She sounds like a good canidate. Last thing and then I'll shut up. Get interested in what she's doing and supervise her closely. Note: they sell practice skins at the suppliers that closley simulate the drag of real skin. Also, there's pork roast to work with. Fruit is okay to start with. She is going to want to work on people. Make it a condition of her supplies that she does not... just a suggestion.

Answer 6

encourage her to excell in art and to take art classes if that's what she wants. theres nothing wrong with the profession and who knows she may be the next kat von d. but i would not buy her a tattoo machine at such a young age. maybe art sets or really nice oil paints and canvases, sketch pad. etc.. besides she is only 15. at 15 i wanted to be a astronaut and then a veterinarian and then a coroner then a paramedic them a forensic investigator, now a architect. but now im stuck working as a dispatcher at a police dept. so dont count on her mind being set yet.

Answer 7

i think you should encourage it but not get her the gun yet. i know that a lot of people who had tattoo guns when i was in high school were covered in really ugly ones that they did them self. not saying your daughters would be ugly or anything. she's only 15. she's too young for a tattoo in my opinion. i would hold off on the gun another year or two but encourage her to draw and maybe take art classes and work on that part of her skill first. a 15 year old usually will change their mind about what they want to be a bunch of times before they're out of high school. she might change her mind. but yes you should encourage her creative side and her to do it.

Answer 8

If she is an amazing artist and wants to become a tattoo artist, i definately think you should encourage it. At least she wants to do something positive and she isn't into drugs or trying to become a nude model or something lol. As for the tattoo machine you should just be care ful with that because she may end up tatooing some of her friends which may lead to angry parents. My boyfriend's best friend got a tatoo gun when he was 14 and he has crappy tattoos all over himself and his friends.

Answer 9

I want to be one, too, and I'm about her age.
My mom totally supports me, and I'm really thankful that she does.
Her encouragement really means a LOT to me.
It's great that you took her to the tattoo convention =], she probably had the time of her life.

Support her as much as she needs it, because chances are, this is what she really wants.

But make sure she knows that it's hard to find work in a really nice, reputable shop, and she'll have to work really hard to get an apprenticeship.

Answer 10

Support her as a young artist, but kindly explain that you can't buy a gift for a career that is at this point, strictly hypothetical. Discuss options like going to art school to explore many different mediums before choosing one as a career. Or, if she is still really passionate about it once she graduates high school and you support the career choice, then go for it.