Aspiring tattoo artists can make a great impression on potential employers and other artists with a great online portfolio. To become a tattoo artist, you’ll need to have strong drawing and people skills, able to connect with a client’s vision and successfully execute it. The tattoo industry is competitive, particularly with the rise of social media and so many emerging tattoo artists showcasing their work online. Stand out from the crowd with an impressive tattoo portfolio that showcases your best artwork and helps you land a coveted apprenticeship at a tattoo studio.
Why Have an Online Portfolio for a Tattoo Apprenticeship?
Emerging tattooists who are still growing in their careers will need to work their way up and gain experience with a tattoo apprenticeship. In fact, it’s hard to become a successful tattoo artist without first apprenticing in a shop, learning the tools of the trade from more experienced artists, and honing your skills. It can also be a great way to find a mentor who can help guide your tattooing career and provide artistic guidance as well as advice on the ins and outs of the tattoo business.
Reputable tattoo shops will want you to show them a tattoo portfolio that highlights your potential to grow and learn as an artist. Getting an apprenticeship at a good shop means you’ll have to compete with many other up-and-coming artists, often from all over the world, who are looking to develop their skills and take their career to the next level with the support of a mentor. Get ready with an awesome tattoo apprentice website that you can submit to shops as opportunities open up, bringing you one step closer to landing an apprenticeship.
characteristics of a strong tattoo apprentice portfolio
Creating a solid portfolio of tattoo art as a tattoo artist takes some thought and intention. you want to stand out and appear professional, talented and ready for any tattoo apprenticeship that comes your way. Here are some key details to include in your tattoo portfolio to make it great:
highlight your creativity and unique conceptual ideas
When a tattoo shop finds you suitable as an apprentice, they will look at the quality of your artwork and your ability to come up with creative ideas that will impress clients. be sure to include work that demonstrates that you can use your imagination to create unique designs, such as intricate lines or playful use of color. You must be able to take a concept or idea from a client and elevate it to have style, creativity, and a point of view.
A potential mentor is looking at your tattoo art portfolio to get a good idea of your perspective as an artist and determine if they can help you grow or refine your work. Don’t be afraid to include drawings that highlight your willingness to take a concept and play with it, putting your own unique spin on popular tattoos or familiar images. bland, boring pieces with little personality won’t help you get an apprenticeship; a creative tattoo style and approach will almost certainly do it.
show your drawing technique
A great creative idea can help you grab the attention of a tattoo studio, but having a great drawing technique can help you land an apprenticeship. Be sure to choose a job that demonstrates that you can successfully draw a variety of different figures, shapes, and perspectives. your portfolio should illustrate that you are capable of taking a client’s request and executing it with the proper technique, combining your creativity with your technical drawing skills.
As an emerging tattoo artist trying to become an apprentice, you don’t need to have perfect drawing technique by any means. but his portfolio should show that he has a basic understanding of the technique and can do it quite well. this will let a potential mentor know that you have more to learn, but that fundamental drawing skills are already present in your work.
include a variety of different tattoo styles
Demonstrate your range and knowledge as a tattoo artist by including examples of some of the most common tattoo styles, including intricate lettering, realistic portraiture, and tribal designs. These types of tattoos are often requested by clients, so make sure you can show that you can do them quite well in your portfolio. If you feel that you are stronger in a particular style, such as portraits or lettering, please include your best artwork in this regard. this will show that you can tackle a variety of different styles and put your own unique spin on them.
showcase 50-100 of your best tattoo designs
While it may be tempting to include a work in progress, try to showcase only the polished and finished tattoo art that you think is the best you’ve done to date. A complete tattoo portfolio will include a minimum of 50 designs in black or color ink to demonstrate your skill set. having 50-100 completed and colored pieces will indicate that you have put in the time and effort to hone your skills and are ready to expand your existing talent with a tattoo apprenticeship. Consider showing off the work in progress of these full tattoos. this way you can show your entire process from brainstorming to execution.
Include artwork in your best media, ideally ink and watercolor work, as these most closely resemble actual tattoo art. The more complete, high-quality examples you have to show, the more likely a mentor will be willing to accept you and help you grow as a tattoo artist.
maintain an online website and a print portfolio
Many emerging tattoo artists will have an online version of their portfolio for easy access, as well as a hard copy that they can show in shops in person. Your online and paper portfolio should be of high quality, with clear, easy-to-see images of your work. Store your binder printout in a hardcover case, often found at art supply stores, so you can properly display your artwork in person during a tattoo apprenticeship interview.
Tips for Organizing Your Tattoo Portfolio for Success
Now that you know what goes into a great portfolio, here are some tips to keep it organized and professional, so you can get the tattoo apprenticeship of your dreams:
create a tattoo gallery page
The main focus of your portfolio should be a gallery of your best tattoos so visitors can get a good idea of your style and perspective. The gallery page should include large, clear images of your work that are all formatted to be the same size and image quality. Depending on the website builder you use to create your portfolio, you should be able to access a variety of different gallery image layouts, such as a grid or full image layout, to showcase your best tattoos.
To create the gallery page, you can scan images from your sketchbook or take well-lit photos of your work. If you have the skills or the means, use photo-editing software to ensure images are free of dust, marks, or surface-level blemishes that could distract from your art.
categorize your tattoos by type
If you have examples of a few different styles or types of tattoos, please separate them into separate tabs or galleries for easy browsing. For example, maybe you have 20-30 examples of color tattoos that you’d like to showcase, so put them in a section labeled “color.” Or maybe you have 20-30 beautifully designed black ink tattoos that you’ve designed, which you place in a section labeled “black ink work.”
Categorizing each piece by type or style can make your portfolio more accessible and give visitors a good idea of your varied skill set. You will also demonstrate that you can present yourself in a professional manner and have the work ethic necessary to grow as a learner.
includes an about page
Add some personality to your tattoo portfolio with an about page that includes a professional-looking portrait and a short bio. In your bio, you can include information such as any art education or artistic training you may have, such as a degree in fine art or illustration. You can also include your current geographic location and note why you are interested in getting tattooed, as well as a brief description of his artistic approach. To tailor his bio for an apprenticeship, you can also list his career goals and write down how you would like to grow your career as a tattoo artist.
create a contact page
Many tattoo artists will also include a contact page on their website, either as part of their about page or as a stand-alone section. Having a contact page will make it easy for visitors to get in touch with you about your work and connect with artists in the tattoo industry. It could also encourage a tattoo studio to contact you for an apprenticeship after seeing your art online. Be sure to include information like your email address on the contact page, as well as your social media handles so visitors can easily get in touch with you.
link your social networks to your portfolio
Many tattoo parlors will look at your professional website as well as your social media accounts when considering you for an apprenticeship. If you have Instagram or Facebook, make sure it links to your website, especially if you update these sites frequently with your latest and greatest tattoos. Instagram can be a great way to supplement your professional content with your latest creations, illustrating your continued growth as an artist.
Most website builders allow you to link your social networks to your website as part of your website template, a simple step that can make a great first impression on a store considering you for an apprenticeship.
ready to create an impressive tattoo portfolio?
Getting a trainee position can be a bit tricky; Get a head start with a portfolio of professional tattoos that will wow potential employers. There are no easy tricks to help you become a tattoo artist, but a good looking professional website can help. To achieve a beautiful and polished look, make sure you are using a reliable website builder to easily create a great looking online portfolio.
format allows users to create and customize their site in a single day, with so many beautiful website templates to choose from. You can even edit your site on the go with the iOS app so you can add new tattoos to your portfolio as needed and access special features like a photo proofing corner, blog, and online store. Get started and build your tattoo art portfolio to land your next tattoo apprenticeship.
more resources to help you boost your career:
how to become a tattoo artist
10 ways artists can get motivated and stay motivated
Totally simple networking tips for artists and creators
