How do I get started as a tattoo artist?

I'd say that people who are looking to get tattooed care more about the artist's abilities and less about their degrees and credentials. Instead of a piece of paper certifying that you're a credentialed tattoo artist, you want to have a strong portfolio that will make people go "Whoa, I want to get a tattoo from that person!" However, a degree can still be valuable if it will give you lots of practice. That practice and time spent developing your drawing and tattooing skills is what's really important. But you can also get that practice from outside of a degree. Some of the best tattoo artists I know don't have a degree, so don't feel like you need to get one.

I think learning to draw is where you should start when it comes to becoming a tattoo artist! It'll be really helpful to have a strong foundation in drawing and design before you start tattooing, because tattooing requires a whole nother skillset that goes on top of your drawing skillset. You'll have to learn how to safely and sanitarily handle your equipment, how to work with needles to create even lines and gradients, etc. So I'd recommend working on mastering and developing your own art style before tackling tattooing.

Getting tattoos is a great way to 1. learn what you like and don't like in a tattoo artist, 2. get exposed to a variety of art styles that you can draw inspiration from as you develop your own style, and 3. create connections in your local tattoo community that you can tap into when you seek out an apprenticeship. If you build a relationship with a tattoo artist that you really like, you might end up being able to reach out to them and ask to be their apprentice!