By Brittany Drysdale
IF you love drawing, design, and artful permanent body modification then a career in tattooing might be the right job for you!
The history of tattooing dates back thousands of years, with the earliest evidence of tattoo art coming from 5000 BCE when Japanese clay figurines were discovered to have their faces painted or engraved to represent tattoo marks.
Since then, the art of tattooing has developed into a widespread contemporary phenomenon with highly developed means of execution as well as multitudes of different styles and techniques.
To start out as a tattoo artist, one must begin an apprenticeship with a qualified artist. Beginning with hands-off learning, an apprentice will train on safety, proper sanitisation, building a tattoo machine, shop maintenance, and station setup.
Lasting anywhere from one to three years, an apprenticeship involves long hours learning the ropes and building up a portfolio until finally being able to put needle to skin.
Talented tattooist Kerryanne Grembecki has been an apprentice with Black Crown Tattoo since February 2022, where she is able to challenge her creative side and satisfy her love of drawing.
“Tattooing was something I had wanted to do for a long time,” said Kerryanne. “It’s really rewarding being able to grow and see your work on happy clients.”
As an experienced apprentice, Kerryanne has some great advice to pass on to aspiring tattoo artists, emphasising that there is a lot more to learn and do than you might think.
“One piece of advice I would offer is to build a portfolio and have it ready when you start looking for an apprenticeship.
“When you start, it will be challenging but very stimulating.”
