The Tattoo Artist
by Al Ratcliffe
CBS 42 News
2007-11-28 17:26:16.0
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This particular job isn't really dirty or nasty, but it has overcome a lot stigmas and stereotypes in recent history. This time Al Ratcliffe goes to tattoo school.
"I think the biggest misconception about tattoo artists is that anybody with a tattoo machine can do a tattoo."
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But how do people looking to become tattoo artists realize their dream? First it takes a real love of drawing. That's how Kele Idol got into it more than a decade ago. He got tired of his art causing problems for him.
"So much that I would get in trouble in school for drawing too much, and getting fired from other jobs for drawing too much when i should have been working," said Idol.
But it takes more than just the love of ink and skin. You've have to seriously learn the trade first. Idol and Aerochild Tattoo Studio owner Justin Kontzen both started at the bottom as apprentices, something they don't have in their shop right now. So they do their own set up and clean up.
That's where i come in.
For several good reasons, mainly my lack of artistic ability, the fellas wouldn't let me touch a tattoo needle until they were done with it. So I had to wait and watch.
"Well, we just got through doing the tattoo and now it's time to clean up, first the gloves. Not real easy for big hands."
“What do we do first?"
"You just need to take the bags off of here. Off these two machines right here and throw that away. And now for the ink.”
Then Justin shows me how to dismantle the tattoo machines.
With the help of some soft scrub and some little brushes we're ready for the next step in the clean up process.
Then we lock the door and in 40 minutes the tubes are ready to ink somebody up again.
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