Marvin Martian Tattoo

START WITH A PROFESSIONAL TATTOO ARTIST!
Most of us start with a recommendation from one a friend, but the easiest way is to look through your local Yellow Pages for addresses where you should find only registered tattoo artists. If you're not sure, check with your local Environmental Health Department who'll be able to give you the addresses of any tattoo studios that are registered with them.

In most cases every tattoo artist has his or her own style, so don't make your choice based on recommendation alone as their particular style may not be what you're looking for. Don't fall into the trap of going to the same tattoo artist as your best friend just because they did a great job for them, unless that is, you want a tattoo that is very similar.

My best advice would be to visit a tattoo studio on a busy day, say a Saturday and take a good look at the work in progress and the many examples on display and if you see something you like either on the wall or on a customer, go ahead and talk to them about it. Tattoo wearers are a friendly bunch, so go ahead and ask!

One final but very important point to remember when you're checking the studio out is cleanliness. Make sure that you're comfortable with the state that the studio is in and that you're happy with their levels of hygiene. If they are registered with the local health department this should be a given, but check anyway.

IS TATTOOING POPULAR?
Tattoos have been around for thousands of years and have had varying degrees of popularity. Tattoos have seen resurgence in the past ten years or so, not least because they are now seen as a fashion accessory. Popular culture often dictates fads and fashions and the popularity of tattoos is greatly affected by this also. Rock bands, pop heroes, catwalk models, sports stars and famous actors all have their part to play in the popularity of styles and trends and right now, tattoos have never been more popular.

IS IT ON THE INCREASE?
Yes, most definitely! Tattoos have always had their loyal supporters but there has been a much greater acceptance of tattoos over the last fifteen years or so. Once again, popular culture has raised the awareness of tattoos as well as the major tattoo conventions that have been popular in both the USA and the UK since the early seventies.

WHO WANT'S TO BE TATTOOED?
Just about anyone and everyone! Men, women, professional people, working class, military, you name it. Contrary to popular belief, there are no specific types of people who enjoy tattoos, even royalty enjoy tattoos!
As with any art, styles and designs evolve and today's designs have put a greater demand on tattoo artists in terms of their intricacy and detail. This development has seen an increase in demand for tattoos from women who demand a lot finer and more detailed tattoo standard.

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON DESIGN?
There probably isn't a clear leader in terms of the most popular design because of the fickle nature of fashion and popular culture. Evergreen designs are Tribal designs, Celtic designs and Kanji designs (Japanese characters - make sure the translation is 100% accurate!).
Women tend to opt for smaller more feminine designs such as Flowers, Butterflies, Small Birds etc, but designs are by no means exclusive to either sex. Look around and experiment, or come up with your own!

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TATTOOS?
Everybody has a different answer, but most times it boils down to wanting to be different. Everyone wand to show the world that they are an individual, even if their tattoo never sees the light of day, at least they know it's there!

Many couples will have matching tattoos as a statement of their love for each other.
Tattoos of famous sporting institutions are often worn by loyal followers such as club mascots, club emblems or club slogans for the more ardent fans.
Armchair philosophers often wear their favourite quotes, literally on their arm.

The names of loved ones, living or not are a permanent record of something touching , special or profound which cannot be taken from you.

These days' tattoos are created for fashionable reasons. In times gone by, tattoos were created as a rite of passage and were earned rather than chosen on a whim.

HOW ARE TATTOOS DESIGNED?
Modern tattooing really stepped up a gear around a hundred years ago. Back then there were a few designs which caught the imagination and were detailed enough to encourage tattooing as an art form. These days, we see influence everywhere.

We now have tattoo books, magazines and conventions and with this growth, we are seeing tattoo artists copying other tattoo designs and building on them with their own unique style.

HOW IS A TATTOO DONE?
The introduction of the first electric tattoo machine a little over one hundred years ago was a huge advance in tattooing. Since then tattoo equipment has become very sophisticated which has produced tattoos of much finer detail.

The tattoo design is drawn or placed on the skin with a transfer and the outline is then drawn with a machine which is very similar to a sewing machine, which injects ink into the skin.
The tattoo artist will use any number of colours and any number of different needle shapes for different jobs

WHICH PARTS OF THE BODY CAN BE TATTOOED?
You can tattoo anything! However, most professional tattoo artists will advise against tattooing the hands, face or neck, but ultimately, it's possible to tattoo any part of your body.

TATTOOED ROYALTY and others...
King Frederick (IX) of Denmark, George I of Greece and it's been claimed that his wife Queen Olga was also tattooed. George V and his elder brother Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence, Edward VII the eldest son of Queen Victoria, Prince Edward, Lady Randolph Churchill was tattooed, this was Sir Winston Churchill's mother and many more who have never admitted it we suspect!.

OTHER FAMOUS TATTOO WEARERS...
Jeff Pinkus (Button Hole Surfers), Flea (Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Johnny Winters, Henry Rollins, Steve Tyler (Aerosmith), Wendy O'Williams), Jerry van de Made (Rock a Fellas), Derry Brown ( E.M.F.), Jon Bon Jovi, Corey Glover (Living Colour), Adam Ant, Slim Jim, (Stray Cats), Brian Setzer (Stray Cats), Cyndi Lauper, Axl Rose, Mark Almond, Ringo Star, Phil Anselmo (Pantera), Joolz, Cher, Janis Joplin, Michael Falzarano, Tommy Lee, Slash, John McVie, John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Kaukonen, Mick Geggus, Vince Riordan, Stinky Turner, Gass Wild, Rich Thomas, Ron Young, Gary Long and Bob Kingston, Tenpole Tudor, Cockney Rejects, Billy Idol, Nicki Six (Motley Cru), Lenny Kravitz, Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction), Billy Duffy (the Cult), Helen Wheeler (Helen Wheels band), Nick Cave, Chris Bond, Nez Pierse, Chris Bond, Sarah Jane (the Belle Stars), Tommy Price (Mink de Ville), Dee Dee Colvin (the Ramones), Chas Smith (Madness), Filfy Phil and Lemmy (Motorhead), Angry Anderson (Rose Tattoo), Peter Wells (Rose Tattoo), Sebastian Bach (Skid), Chris D. and Don Kirk (the Flesheater), Ozzy Osbourne, Throbert (Primal Scream), Mick Fleetwood, Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Dave Barborossa and many more!

HOW DO YOU BECOME A TATTOO ARTIST?
A common question with no easy answer. Sometimes a tattoo artist will take on an apprentice. The time involved could take up to three years and comes with a certain amount of responsibility and expense. For instance, you would most likely be expected to purchase your own equipment and you would be unlikely to be paid during this time!

You will be taught the necessary skills gradually and will begin to put on your own tattoos after about 6 months with a view to becoming fully trained and competent after around five years, working five to six days a week.

Tattooing is a hands on skill that can only be learned by tattooing people on actual skin, there really is no substitute.
As you can see, becoming a tattoo artist is only for the really dedicated.

Good Luck!