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Gossip Eddie Charlton -
The Goss
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Tattooing is traditionally an apprenticeship based art.
Apprenticeships last approximately three years before they are considered professional artists. You are making permanent, often visible changes to another human being and if proper procedure isn't followed, you could be jeopardizing that client's health and emotional well-being. By taking advantage of the knowledge of experienced, professional artists, you will avoid many costly mistakes. Unfortunately it is very hard to get one because very few proffesional tattoo artists wil give away their "Sectrets" to anybody.
Still, there is a chance of getting into one of those apprenticeships and here are a couple of tips what to do:
First of all you should put together a kick ass portfolio, anything reflecting your skills with composition, color and line work. Take your time with creating the flash and have at least two sets of flash ready when you walk into a studio. One set, about 5 pages, in black & white and another set, another 5 pages, in color. The sheets should not be smaller than 14x11 inches. As i said take your time with drawing the flash and be as creative as you can be. Tattoo artists always like to check out new flashes and if you did a good job and impressed him you might have a better chance of getting the apprenticeship. A good artist will see right away if you have the potential to become an artist yourself.
After you're done drawing the flashes start visiting local studios and talk to the shopowners. Here is a little tip for what to say and what to do, too.
Make sure you check out the studio a couple of days before you walk in there asking for an apprenticeship. Check out if the artists are friendly, if the shop is a professional one, if they have any pics hanging on the walls of recently done work so you can get an idea of how the quality of the studio all together is. If somebody asks you if you need some help just say you are looking around. When walking into the shop asking for the apprenticeship make sure the shop is not to crowded. If it is just wait and go there another day cause they might say "We don't need anybody" to you, just because they are to busy at the moment and don't have time to talk to you.
Make a bunch of copies of your flashes and walk into the studio of your choice. Ask for the person in charge and let them know you have some tattoo flash for sale. As I said above, atrists always like to check out new flash so make sure they accidently see them already when you walk into the studio. Don't throw the sheets on the counter or right into his face, just carry them around in your hand, not covered by anything like an envelope so everybody in the shop can see it. But remember, you are there to get an apprenticeship not to make money of tattoo flash, so if they are interested in the flash, keep the price low. If you already got into talking about your flash, mention that you are looking for an apprenticeship and if they are looking for somebody to work in the studio. Your attidude is also important when talking to the artist. Don't be a smart ass and tell him "You Know" when he is talking to you because you don't know, otherwise you wouldn't be there asking for an apprenticeship. Just be friendly, confident and show interest. The rest is up to the artist and your work.
Don't be dissapointed if it doesen't work in the first studio you walk into. Make sure you leave your name and number at the studio and tell them to give you a call if they ever needed somebody.
As I said above it will not be easy to get an apprenticeship at a tattoo parlor but it's not impossible. Still, you will get a lot of "no's" but keep trying and be persistent. The hardest part is to get the artist looking at your artwork and the tips above might help you out. But the most important part is your work, so make sure you do the best you can |
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Gossip Eddie Charlton -
The Goss
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There are several different methods for tattoo removal nowadays. In the late 1980's laser treatments have become the most popular and it is still the best method to remove tattoos without any scars. Before laser treatment was used, one or more of the below explained removal methods had to be used for removal which were often painful and scar including surgeries.
Dermabrasion
This is a method where the skin is being "sanded" with a wire brush or diamond fraise, a type of sanding disc, to remove the surface layer (Epidermis) and also parts of the Dermis, the layer where the tattoo is imbedded. This process may leave scars.
Salabrasion
A salt solution is used to remove the pigment. It is sometimes used in conjunction with dermabrasion, but has become less common.
Cryosurgery
In this method the area the tattoo was placed is frozen prior to it's removal.
Excision
This was the most common method prior to laser surgery. A dermatologist removes the tattoo with a scalpel and closes the wound again with stitches. If larger tattoos had been involved, a skin graft had to be taken from another part of the body to cover up the removed area.
Scarification
Involves removing the tattoo with an acid solution and creating a scar in its place.
Camouflaging
Injections with new pigments either to form a new pattern or cover a tattoo with skin-toned pigments are used to cover the tattoo. Please note that injected pigments tend not to look natural because they lack the skin's natural translucence.
This methods above are still used today in certain cases but laser surgery has become the standard treatment for tattoo removal. Laser treatments offer a bloodless, low risk, effective alternative with minimal side effects. |
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Gossip Eddie Charlton -
The Goss
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This is a list of the primary complications that could result from tattooing:
Infection
Infectious diseases such as hepatitis could be transmitted when using unsterile tattooing equipment and needles. It is extremely important that all the tattooing equipment is sterilized properly. Proper sterilization will always be the case when choosing a professional tattoo parlor. In addition it also very important that the person who receives the tattoo must take proper care of the tattooed area for the first two weeks to avoid any complications.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to tattoo ink and tattoo pigments are really rare. If they happen though, it could be particularly troublesome because the pigments can hardly be removed. Even if the person who developed an allergic reaction to the pigments undergoes laser surgery, he or she could have them for months. The reason why this takes so long is the immune system, which "flushes" the rest of the pigments out of the body after the laser surgery, takes several months to finish this process.
Removal Problems
Regardless of the advances in modern laser technology, tattoo removal is still a painstaking process. It usually take several treatments and involves considerable expenses. Still, complete removal is possible without leaving any scars due to the always enhancing laser techniques.
Keloid Formation
In case you don't know, keloids are scars that grow beyond normal boundaries. If you are prone to developing keloids you are at risk of developing keloids when getting a tattoo. Keloids can form anytime you injure or traumatize your skin. According to the Office of Cosmetics and Colors (OCAC), tattooing or micropigmentation is a form of trauma, but in recent studies dermatologists state that keloids occur more frequently as a consequence of tattoo removal.
Granulomas
Granulomas are nodules that form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment.
MRI Complications
There have been some reports of people with tattoos and permanent makeup having problems involving swelling or burning in the tattooed areas when undergoing MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). This occurs very rarely and without any lasting effects.
The cause of this complications is still uncertain but some dermatologists say this could be the result of an interaction with the metallic components of some pigments. However, the risk of avoiding an MRI is much higher than the possible risk of complications from an interaction between the MRI and tattoo or permanent makeup. Inform the radiologist or technician of the fact that you have a tattoo in order to avoid complications, and assure the best results. |
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Gossip Eddie Charlton -
The Goss
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There are just few regulations covering tattooing other than the laws requiring that minors are not to be tattooed or in same states only with parental permission. However, every professional tattoo parlor must be licensed. This happens when all the artists in the studio qualify by completing a health department course on infectious disease transmission and pass an exam. Unfortunately businesses aren't inspected regularly and the law allows anyone to acquire a tattoo machine, get a license and start tattooing whether they have to ability to do it or not. Most reputable tattoo artists object to this situation too.
Here are just a few tips you can remember to ensure choosing a save tattoo studio:
* Take a look around in the studio. See if the studio is clean, artists wear gloves, and the studio looks professional. That says a lot already!
* Ask the artists questions. Ask if they have an autoclave, if the needles and other materials they are using are single use, if they are using EPA approved disinfectants and so on. If it is a legitimate parlor they will not mind answering those questions.
* Watch the artist when applying a tattoo to be sure safety procedures are being followed.
* Memberships in professional organizations are voluntarily but most artists do participate in one anyway. Those who participate are always better informed about safety issues and innovations.
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The Goss
