Tattoo portfolio help?

How do I make a tattoo portfolio? Please help!?

• Sometime in the future I want to become a tattoo artist. And obviously to do that I will need a tattoo apprenticeship. And to get an apprenticeship I will have to prepare a portfolio filled with drawings and art. Am I right? But what do typical tattoo artists (willing to accept an apprenticeship deal) look for in a portfolio? Is a 3 ring binder acceptable to put my art in? Should I put my art in page protectors? What kind of paper do they like to see my art on? Plain white 8x11 paper? Is looseleaf paper okay for some??? Is there any other info I should know about? Please help me! Thanx.

• Answer:

  Tattoo portfolio should be considered as an any other art portfolio, should show your ability to draw, blend/shade and uses of different mediums and colors. Put yourself in the tattoo artist's head: Would you honestly want to teach someone how to be a tattoo artist with loose leaf paper in there portfolio? I wouldn't take the person seriously or professionally. While I don't personally know about building a tattoo portfolio, I do know about Art portfolios. Like I said before your ability to draw as well as your use shading/coloring will be important. My college & High School (I've been in specialize art schools since jhs) were not to fond of the sprial ring binder portfolios. They and I as well like these type: http://www.pearlpaint.com/shop-Itoya-THE-ORIGINAL-ART-PROFOLIO_3999_3986.html Also a good idea is to bring your stretch book, companies I have applied for (in the Graphic Design field) also want see those as well. I assume a tattoo artist would too. Think out of the box. Use different mediums and don't create all you work that looks the same, is the same height 8X11. An artist is creative!!!!