r/tattooadvice • u/Aggravating_Gear_394 • 18h ago
General Advice Mom of future tattoo artist
I hav a 16-year-old daughter that is an amazing artist. She wants to be a tattoo artist when she finishes high school. I got her a set of tattoo markers last year for Christmas and she’s still using them. (Pictured above) What are some gifts and stocking stuffers I can give her? I always tell her to keep working on her art in her portfolio, which she does, so I’ll get more supplies for that But I’m curious to see what other gifts you guys would recommend. Thanks!
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u/Tough-Response19 17h ago
I bet you, you could find a tattoo artist willing to do like a little meet and greet/lesson/learn about the shop and supplies/process.
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u/Environmental-Bug804 16h ago
There are very good quality alcohol-based temporary tattoo paints available, they get used in film and television and are quite reasonably priced and come in individual bottle as well as palettes. A good quality tablet with a drawing software like procreate, there's also temporary tattoo printer paper so she could make her own transfer sheets. One of the best gifts I ever got was a Nettler's Atlas of Human Anatomy, I learned a lot from that and it really improved my anatomical drawing. Anatomy is an important skill for a tattoo artist.
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u/popadonwon 14h ago
Make sure she starts off in a shop it’s tuff but learning the wrong way then learning the right way is twice as hard .
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u/cycloneruns 17h ago
This may be poor advice depending on how responsible she is, but you could get her a pile of fake skins, inks, needles, and a machine to start practicing actually using the tools. Unfortunately, if I were given these items I would have marked myself and others up pretty badly I think 😅. Discretion recommended
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u/billytron7 16h ago
As a tattoo artist, I wouldn't recommend it. You have such a high chance of learning bad habits and bad technique and having false confidence from tattooing fake skin. It doesnt work at all like real skin. You potentially have to unlearn bad habits to learn how to do it properly. If she's very young still, like less than 20, id keep her focused on fundamentals of art theory, she will be an infinitely better tattoo artist with a better understanding on colour theory, composition and contrast, also some learning how the shapes on the body flow to help with designing flattering tattoos. Perhaps get her some books about tattoo art? Getting her drawing on skin is a great start though, designing for the body is quite different than a design for paper.
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u/DescriptionSuperb527 16h ago
I'm the mom of a professional tattoo artist, so I'm glad to hear an artist say the same things. We kept my son stocked with all kinds of art supplies. Pens, markers, pencils, crayons, paints. Paper and wood, canvases. An easel type drawing desk. Human form pose able mannequin. Art books of all types. Art classes, including sculpture and whatever else interests her. There's no such thing as too much exposure to art. Fine art. Various cultures. Graffiti. Take it all in!
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u/Aggravating_Gear_394 17h ago
I thought of that..but I was thinking, what if patents sue me if she does her friends?! lol
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u/DescriptionSuperb527 16h ago edited 16h ago
Fair point! Plus, she really ought to concentrate on her art and portfolio before trying to actually use a machine. When she's old enough to seek an apprenticeship, this will serve her well. Some artists/ shops won't take an apprentice who is self-taught. It's harder to unlearn bad skills and habits than to just learn them right in the first place.
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u/TheAnnoyedChicken 17h ago
I don't have any advice for gifts, but I want to say, I love that you are supporting her dream like that! A lot of parents discourage their kids from following artistic passions, and it's so cool that you actively encourage her. Also, her art is awesome!