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your high school diploma. Most tattoo licenses require that the applicant graduates from high school and is at least 18 years old. Take a variety of art classes while you're in high school, from two-dimensional drawing to graphic design, to improve your versatility as an artist and prepare for your tattooing career. If you can no longer attend high school and never graduated, get your GED instead. Although not required, some tattoo artists complete a degree in fine arts from an art school or university. Art degrees can improve your drawing skills and help you become a well-rounded artist, which may help you find more clients and better-paying jobs.  You can also take art classes from a community college as an alternative if you're not interested in getting a degree. Pair it with a business minor to prepare for working in a tattoo shop and gaining clients. Tattoo artists need to be skilled in drawing, particularly line art. Search for art classes offered by community centers, colleges, or people in your area and take a course from a teacher whose art style you admire.  You can also contact local tattoo artists to see if any of them offer art classes. If you're not as skilled in art when you begin, don't give up hope! Like all skills, art takes years of hard work and practice to perfect. Keep a sketchbook specifically for improving your art skills and draw in it during your free time. Draw anything from simple patterns to popular characters or celebrities to portraits, as the tattoos you draw as a professional may be varied in design.  Get several drawing books to help you learn new techniques and styles.  Draw potential tattoo designs in your sketchbook to develop your own personal style. Search for famous tattoo artists online and look to your favorites as inspiration. Popular tattoo artists include Mirko Sata, Chris Nunez, Miya Bailey, Gerhard Wiesbeck, Frank Carrilho, Rit Kit, and Stanisław Wilczynski.
Finish Earn a post-secondary art degree for better job opportunities. Take drawing classes to improve your artistic skill. Practice drawing on your own.