Advantages of developing your own style
The tattoo profession is a path of constant evolution. It is a progressive process in which you discover yourself as an artist. There is a lot to learn and everything you absorb from the experience of others will be essential to train you, but it won't be long before the time comes when you want to differentiate yourself, tattoo what you like and grow as a professional.
And by then, developing your personal artistic stamp will be key.
Creating it is not an easy task. But it rewards you so much on a personal and professional level, that it is worth all the effort and dedication you put into creating your own style. Stay tuned as we reveal some of its benefits.
Benefits of creating your own style
Self-realize yourself as an artist
Tattooing is an art, and as such, it serves as a means to develop your creativity and express what interests you. It is a space to communicate just like any other, with the difference that it is practiced on the skin.
Starting with small and simple designs is very useful to practice and gain experience, but eventually that container becomes small and the need to tattoo more elaborate and personalized pieces emerges. In the long run, it is not enough to tattoo whatever you have on hand, nor is it enough to feel like a human printer.
Create something from what your client asks for, play with your creativity and give your personal touch to your designs will be the key to differentiate yourself and feel more artistic fulfillment.
Position yourself in the market
There is a lot of talent out there and the art of tattooing is more latent than ever. We are living in the era of personalization, and original designs are increasingly in demand.
Working on your differential value will help you stand out from the competition.
Your own stamp will make you identifiable and will position you as a reference. It will not happen overnight by magic, but the time will come when your art will be recognizable, even out of context.
Gaining visibility and recognition
People like what is special, exclusive, different... When we come across something we haven't seen before, it catches our attention. When you manage to capture your personal stamp on your tattoos and what you offer is different from what others do, you capture the interest of those people who connect with your style.
And that generates new client opportunities, because they know you can give them the kind of tattoo they like.
Focusing on your personal style may sound like you'll lose out on potential commissions, but in reality you'll be establishing how you want your art to be, and that will inertia bring you people who are willing not only to wear it on their skin, but also to recommend it, because it's unique.
Pro tip: Spreading your work with a consistent recognizable aesthetic will help them become familiar with your brand. Keep this in mind when setting up your portfolio on Ink on Sky, and don't forget to choose the tattoos that best represent you as an artist. Invest less and charge more
Invest less and charge more
Choosing a style influences both the technique and the materials you use, since inks, needles, and machines differ from one to another. If you are a generalist tattooist, you will need to have more equipment. But, by specializing in a specific style, you will have the possibility of minimizing what you need to tattoo.
In addition, exclusivity has an economic bonus. Creating something standard is not the same as creating something special, unique and unrepeatable. Therefore, making original designs can mean an increase in your fee.
This can be very advantageous in the future, since your art will be better valued, which will give you more time flexibility to continue training and strengthen your skills.
Perfecting your skills
Having general knowledge is very useful and necessary both to start in this profession and to know how to do the job well, but specializing in a specific style will help you to go deeper, master this art and become a true expert in the field. Since, by filtering the type of pieces you make, you will have a better margin to perfect them.
It is not the same to be able to perform in several styles on a regular basis, as it is to know how to do one style with excellence.
In addition, with practice you will also improve your speed, you will become more confident and secure, and you will even create your own methodologies. So, you will get better pieces in less time... and we know how valuable time is.
As you may have noticed, developing your own style has many advantages, but now, the big dilemma is...
How to find your own style?
The reality is that there is no single way, everything will depend on your starting point, on what you know how to do and the virtues you can take advantage of to apply it to tattooing. Just keep in mind that personal style is not defined overnight, it is a process that needs a lot of research, trial and error.
Anyway, there are a number of actions you can take to get you on your way to tattooing what you like. Don't go away, now comes the best part.
Start with generalist designs
Finding your own style may sound like a panacea for professional tattooers, but to get the most out of this profession, it's best to start by getting the basics down.
At the beginning you will tattoo a little bit of everything, to get practice, gain confidence, and test your skills, to eventually find out how to do it differently, in your own way..
It is normal to start with unambitious designs, which are simple and involve as little risk as possible. A good option to practice with your original designs are tattoos flashor tattoo workshops called Walk In. These are ideal occasions to explore techniques, build up your portfolio, make yourself known as an artist, attract new clients and, above all, gain experience.
Know the rules to break them
Understanding the different tattoo styles out there is crucial not only to discover which one suits you best, but also to eventually deconstruct it as you please.
Currently, among the traditional tattoo styles and their derivatives, there are more than 40. You don't need to know them all, but you should have a minimum notion of their characteristics and techniques, especially because a Realism is not executed in the same way as a Neo-traditional one.
So, first of all, immerse yourself in the world of tattooing, explore trends, methods, and follow the lead of other artists. It will give you inspiration, creativity and new ideas.
Pro tip: In 10 Masters you learn all the necessary theory, technique and methodology from the experience of a master. It is a good starting point to learn how to tattoo, with what to do it and in what ways.
What if I'm not sure what style I like?
Don't worry! When you're just starting out and you're aiming to get jobs, but you're not clear on what style you prefer, it's very helpful to be versatile and perform in more than one, as it widens your client funnel. Then, with time and practice, you will gradually refine your style until you naturally settle on the one that suits you best.
Inquire into your personal preferences
Once you are exploring different styles, techniques and ways, you will need to do some observation work. That is, analyze all your designs in order to find that characteristic feature of yours, that detail that you always repeat intentionally. It can be a shape, a stroke, a color range, a motif, a brush stroke, a texture, an element, a type of shading or filling... whatever it is you feel identifies your pieces, and makes them yours.
Creating your personal stamp has a lot to do with connecting with you and discovering what characterizes you, what you like, what you feel comfortable with and what you stand out in.
It’s a very introspective path. Sometimes it can be a mania, and in others, a virtue that you bring with you from before, or a baggage of studies that is complemented by the tattoo, either because you come from design, architecture, fine arts, or illustration.
In short, the grace of finding your style is that you enjoy it because it comes out of you, naturally, and not forced, or derived from someone else.
Practice and try to find it
A lot of people think that style is something you’re looking for, but it actually ends up finding you.
It takes time, patience, analysis and a lot of practice. If you focus your attention on perfecting your technique and trying different ways to execute your art, you will eventually hit the key, and then you will have no doubt what your hallmark is. So, don’t rush and try anything that appeals to you.
But above all, it stimulates your artistic side and do not stop practicing on paper, is where ideas are born, and is the ideal place to experiment with your creativity.
Drawing will be an indispensable skill to highlight your art, as it gives you tools and freedom of creation. If you do not know, it is best to train in both traditional and digital drawing techniques.
Pro tip: Knowing how to draw adds points as an artist, facilitates your work and leads you to tattoo what you like. Draw as much as you can, then analyze the common factor of your designs.
Have fun and keep evolving
This series of steps is a mere suggestion, but remember that there is no one way to find your own style. It all depends entirely on you and what you want to get as a tattoo professional.
If you have simply embarked on this profession to tattoo other people’s designs, hardly find your personal style. But, if you are excited that your art stands out among others and that your customers choose you not because you know how to tattoo, but by how you do it, then you already have half a game won.
In short, your motivation will be your best engine. If you work with passion, dedication and ambition, you will see that it will be a matter of time until you find your special place as a professional tattoo artist.
In the end, your own style will go as far as you want.
Once you have it well polished, you will still be free to try new methods, explore alternatives and even create a new course from that if you want. Because your personal development does not culminate in finding your hallmark, there will always be room to continue evolving as an artist.
It’s the beauty of tattoo art, it’s constant learning and it’s never too late to double down.
Only if you allow it, the tattoo profession can be a double-edged sword. So much dedication, that if you don’t make the right decisions, working your talent can become a bad experience. So, work hard, yes, but above all, don’t forget to enjoy it! That’s the real key to turning your passion into a profitable and rewarding livelihood.
And as a final tip, finding your style doesn’t take your sleep away. If you try hard, sooner or later it will come to you.
And you, are you already developing your personal seal? what actions are you doing to get it? We read you!
About the author
10 Masters is a platform for online learning about professional tattoo. It helps artists hone and level up through intensive courses taught by experienced teachers. Its educational offer encompasses theory and practice alike. Is its objective? , share tricks, tips and methods through practical, accessible and modern solutions, to boost the new generation of tattoo artists.
