Ocean Blue Tattoo is conducting, on an ongoing basis, open interviews with skilled and talented artists passionate about tattooing. The applicant must be a professional, clean, drug and drama-free artist with good customer service skills. We have established a respectable and loyal clientele and are seeking artists who can match the quality and expertise that our shop has become known for.   We provide everything but a tattoo machine and power supply.  We also support your health insurance. The artist must be willing to adopt our strict cleanliness standards and techniques to prevent cross-contamination and must understand and abide by Blood Borne Pathogens Standards.

Please send us an email with your portfolio so we can discuss your options.  Keep in mind that this application process is on an ongoing basis, so even if we don't have any openings at this moment, we will contact you when the next opportunity becomes available.

 

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We are featured in "Creative Side of Minneapolis Art Scene (#15)" by Redfin. 

https://www.redfin.com/blog/minneapolis-mn-art-scene/

 

Becoming a tattoo apprentice to be a professional tattoo artist.

We receive a lot of inquiries from people who want to become tattoo artists. Our studio is always open to talking to apprentice candidates. At the very least, we offer them guidance about the process. First and foremost, to become a professional tattoo artist, you will need to be under the supervision of an experienced tattoo artist. You will need
to understand the art of tattooing. That requires learning things such as history, operation of the tattoo equipment, knowledge of ink, and safety protocols for the entire process. Most importantly, you will need to sharpen your drawing skills as they are instrumental in designing your tattoos.


The ideal candidates will have the following qualities:

1. A person with artistic skill.  A person with a high level of artistic skill can translate their imagination to the canvas. Our shop is a custom studio, so you must be comfortable drawing freely. We will evaluate your abilities in order to determine your potential as a candidate,

2,  A person with an art-centered education.  A candidate who has already invested their time and money into becoming a serious artist will have a more dedicated mindset. These people will enjoy the daily work of creating art.

3, A person who has an understanding of the critical work of tattooing, which deals with open skin and maintaining the safety of the client and the artist.

4. A person who has not done at-home tattooing.  It is very difficult to fix a person's habits that they have become accustomed to. In a professional studio, you must follow stringent health and safety guidelines for the entire tattooing process, from beginning to end. Once a person is in the habit of using certain techniques and methods to do tattooing, it is really hard to correct those behaviors. A prime example of this is the tendency of at-home artists to touch the ink bottle and skin at the same time. This is not allowed in a professional tattoo studio, also correcting that habit is not easy. 

5. A person must not use drugs or engage in any form of substance abuse.  We are dealing with a workplace that requires an intense focus on detailed work as well as the safety of the client. It is important to have a clear mind at all times.  We do random drug testing for that reason.


If you think you qualify and would like to meet us in person, you can contact us for an appointment through the email form on our website. You should attach some examples of your artwork so we can see what level of skill we can expect to see from you, and we will look over your submission and schedule a meeting. Again, there are a lot of inquiries about becoming a tattoo artist, but even if we don't accept your application now, we will contact you when the next opportunity opens. Absent that, we can give you advice or direction to assist you in becoming a tattoo artist.


 
Getting a new tattoo?
 
Choosing a tattoo is a critical and exciting process. There are many things to consider before deciding on your final tattoo design. Size, color, style, and placement are all factors to consider. You also have to find the right artist who can execute a good tattoo in your chosen style.  Take your time and check out artists’ portfolios. Each artist has a specialty, it’s very important to make sure to choose one whose style fits your tattoo. 
 
Choosing a tattoo style
 
Which tattoo style appeals to you? Everyone has their own taste and opinion. Find a couple of tattoo examples or designs that catch your eye. Giving your artists examples of what they like will help them bring your design to life in a unique way that can be influenced by your reference pictures. If you have a design picked out, the artist you choose can also apply their own unique touch to add an extra flourish to the tattoo. 

Choosing a unique design
 
Your goal should be to create a piece as unique as you are. As you work on creating an original piece, do not expect to find exact examples of the design. Instead, concentrate on trying to find samples that convey the overall style or contain certain elements you wish to incorporate. If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for online, don’t worry. There are custom shops that will draw up your idea from scratch.
 
Choosing an artist
 
Once you have a good idea, it’s time to find a skilled tattoo artist who can complete your vision. The artist you choose may tweak the design to apply better as a tattoo, their expert opinions can help your tattoo exponentially.  Some artists offer free consultations by appointment, so don't be afraid to ask for help designing your tattoo after you’ve found your artist. Each studio and artist have their own specialty, as there are many different styles of tattooing.