that's an awesome ambition. I've always thought tatoo artists were freaking awesome (the good ones anyway). I know how hard it is to stick one needle into someone (IVs, injections, etc), and to be able to do it multiple times, and make artwork out of it... very very cool in my book.
myself, I am a huge pansy when it comes to tattoos. not sure why, I let all my nursing friends practice IVs and shots on me, but am terrified to get a tattoo... figure that one out, haha.
I've been a tattoo artist for 21 years. I hate needles to! But the needles you are talking about and what we use are night and day. You use hypodermic needles, we use needles like acupuncture needles in a since. They are just grouped into different layouts to do line work or shading. Our needles have different tapers to the ends of them as well, Long, Short, BugPin, ect.....
I have noting against people wanting to get into our industry but I think to many artist hand out apprenticeships now. They see it as free help in the shop, someone to do the bitch work so to say. This is why there are so many "Hacks" as you call them "Scratchers" as we call them out there.
I can teach a monkey to tattoo, but to be good at it is a different story. Hopefully Chris he will be a good teacher to you and you will put 150% into it.
We tattoo because we love it, breath it, and live it. And the $ is good:mrgreen: Don't do it because you want to get rid of the hackers out there, they will always be around.....Do it because you love art, because you want to make people happy with a mark that will last longer than they will, because you want to better this industry and yourself.
Expect to drop $3K+ just on equipment. If you need advice on what is and isn't good stuff to get hit me up. I'm sure your teacher will tell you one thing but in this industry we listen to each other. We watch what is working for the big guys. In tattooing you are as good as your equipment! A good machine will run $300+ and most of us have 10+ machines. (I have 18) A good power supply is a must! (And they are not the same kind we use for chargers!) And the ink you use will make or break your work!
If I can help you out Chris let me know. I have contacts all over the US. And I have accounts with every big supplier for equipment. (Most will not sell to you unless you own a shop or can prove you have been working at a shop) I have extra everything if you wana do some trading at some point;-)
Also Chris, I surprised that your artist doesn't have his machine wrapped! That's not very sterile! You should sign up for classes through the CDC and the APT (Alliance of Professional Tattooist) and Red Cross for cross contamination and blood born pathogens, first aid and CPR."thumbsup" We are at high risk with the blood we deal with everyday!
