Learn the art of Tattooing - Become a Tattoo artist. Dennis Nowakowski
keep at it, with arguments incomprehensible for me. It's just more traditional, old school, better, or whatever, they say. These are the same people who ignore or ridicule Rotary machines or pens because it allegedly has nothing to do with traditional tattooing. Boys and girls who take this view by hook or crook - Traditional tattooing was done without any use of machines. You have a right to your own opinion. If you need the loud clacking to do a decent job, use your beloved coil machines. But stop condemning the progress of newer machines, some of which are truly magnificent. I can only give the same advice to the more modern artists. ...that is, those who only use Rotary or Pens... Be happy with your machines, use them wisely to fill empty skin areas or make cover ups. But don’t try to force these things on other people. One this way, the other that way.
So far this hasn't been very helpful, has it? It's not supposed to be, because everybody has a different preference. I will also take care not to throw brand names around here, to classify this or that machine as the Non plus Ultra. This judgement is not at all mine, because I have inked with more than twenty different machines from all camps. All of them were good and fulfilled the requirements I have for a tattoo machine. So much I can say, I use a very good pen or a Rotary. Both with 4 needles, for good and fast contours. Also for color and shades. Both types of machines I paid less than one thousand Euro for. Why does he work with two machines, you may ask yourself. Because that way I achieve the desired results. It took me almost a year to find out. My demands on myself grew steadily, which often annoyed me. Wanting to tattoo something but not being able to do it gnaws at my soul. The complex combination of machines, modules, needles and colors is a difficult hurdle to overcome in the beginning. I very much regret that I can’t offer you a patent remedy here either.
A little story
In recent years, many people came up to me and asked for the appropriate machine if they wanted to learn to tattoo. Of course, always the same pattern. The best machine, at the cheapest price. Then nothing can go wrong, right? It reminded me of the time when I was looking for a suitable camcorder, because I always wanted to make films. With actors, great effects, suitable music and everything else that goes with it. First criterion, the camera. The best, as cheap as possible. I wanted to invest a thousand Euro.
“What do you want to do with the camera?”
was the first question I received from numerous salesmen.
“Film, of course.”
was always my answer.
“What do you want to film?”,
was the second question.
“Well, everything.”
was my short answer.
Perhaps I didn’t express myself logically enough, or they simply didn’t want to understand me. Some time passed and the desire to make films ebbed away. One fine summer day I was sitting in the garden with my neighbour. He presented me his new camera, more precisely, his digital SLR camera from Nikon. Proudly he showed me all the functions and the accessories, like the bag, tripod and a thousand other things. Then he started with great filming, in High Definition. I was baffled. We knew each other for a long time and yet I didn't know that he was so enthusiastic about photography and filming. So I consulted him and asked his opinion about a solid camera.
“What do you want to do with it?”
was his first question. I buried my face in my hands in an attempt not to strangle him. He laughed and said my reaction was completely normal. Then he did something... something the salesmen hadn't done. He asked me a lot of other questions, like: “Are you only going to take holiday shots? Quick and decent-looking? Or do you want to get started like a professional filmmaker? With nice tracking shots, good sound and all that other knick-knacks?”
I couldn't keep my mouth closed. My friend and neighbour had completely understood what I wanted. He smiled and confessed to me that he was facing the exact same problem. So first he informed himself thoroughly and figured out what he wanted to do with the camera. This required an exclusion criterion that included many steps. After that I also sat down, first of all I gathered information about companies and models. I quickly found a magazine that dealt with the latest camcorders in my price range. At the same time, I realized which factors were decisive for my purchase. An external connection for the microphone, a connection for the headphones and a brilliant image stabilizer were essential. Several books about professional filming came into my hands and confirmed the knowledge I had acquired so far. At that time, I decided to buy the Panasonic HDC-SD 909, even though it was only second place among the test winners. Now you're probably wondering why I chose the second best camcorder. It's quite simple. The Canon that was considered the test winner did not meet my requirements. It was too overloaded, didn't look very good and was also two hundred Euro more expensive than my chosen model. Resolution and recording quality were identical. Happy and satisfied, I learned to use my working tool and quickly reached my limits. The symbols and signs the camcorder revealed to me didn't make any sense to me. Thus began a lengthy learning process that brought me closer to the camcorder and its handling step by step. The additional purchases of a bag, tripod, pan head, slider rail, editing program and much more slowly but surely exceeded my budget. In short, it took me almost a year until I mastered my camcorder and the equipment. Another half year went by until I managed to get the optimal picture layout and relatively professional rides. Not to mention the video editing and the publishing formats. Even today I learn something new with every shot. The effort was worth it, I think. Even though I haven't made a real film yet, which is yet to come.
Through my acquired knowledge I enjoy a status among friends, professional photographers and amateur film makers, who call me an expert. A nice feeling, even if it is not completely true. The other day a family member approached me.
“You know about camcorders. I'm thinking of getting one and hope you can advise me. The best there is, at the best price.”
After spending some time laughing, I asked,
“What do you wanna do with that?”
I hope the gist of my little story hasn't faded too much. You have to find for yourself or perhaps with the help of a semi-professional or full professional the tattoo machine that suits you and your needs. Thanks to the Internet, this is done quite quickly these days. At least in theory. Of course, all vendors praise their machines as the highlight and revolution of the century. Just visit a tattoo convention and ask the tattoo artists working there about their machines and why they use them. Don't worry, some are very sociable and helpful. If not, on to the next one. Practically every high quality tattoo machine from about three hundred Euro is suitable to do a good job. For outlines, as well as for colors and shades. Nevertheless, it depends on the tattoo artist himself. As often mentioned, the best and most expensive machine is of no use to you if it runs at the wrong speed, the colors are bad or the artist simply isn’t good. The best camcorder is of no use to you if you don’t know how to operate it.
Which criteria are important?
When choosing your tattoo machine, you should consider the following criteria. If you have only one machine, with traditional needles soldered on a bar, you have to change it after the contours are inked. Just like your handle. If you have forgotten something about the contours, you have to change them back again. If your stroke is too large or too small, you have to change it again. More on this in a moment. It's easier with a pen that works exclusively with modules. Modules are nothing more than needles that have been incorporated into a fixed tip. These are available in all common sizes and shapes. They can be changed very quickly and as often as desired, which saves a lot of time. Throw it away after use and you’re good to go. Actually the optimal way of working. There are also attachments for coil and rotary machines, with which you can use the common modules. They cost a lot, but you can use your machines to their full potential. Mostly this purchase is more worthwhile than a new tattoo machine.
I tend more and more to a good pen that only costs a measly six hundred Euro. That sounds like a lot of money, especially when you're just starting out, but the time management and results speak for themselves.