Posted by: admin : Category: If you are just getting started, you may think that it will be difficult to find people who will be willing to let you practice tattooing on them. Fortunately, there are several ideas you can try, without resorting to giving people free tattoos in exchange for being your guinea pig!
The most popular practice surface for tattooing is the grapefruit. Although it is round, it has a surface area that is larger than an orange, and the texture is very similar to that of real human skin.
Some tattoo artists use pig skin to practice doing tattoos. If you can find a butcher that sells whole pigs, try to buy one with the skin still on it. the pig body can be used for about 2 days, which is long enough to get in several practice pieces. Unfortunately, this can be quite expensive.
Another option is fake skin. You can find polypropylene rubber swatches or leather squares that are specifically made for practicing your tattoo skills. The surface is flat, so it beats a grapefruit, but you should expect to pay about $10 for each 6′ by 6′ square. Look for the brand called Second Skin–it works well, and if you can afford it, it is nicer than grapefruits, and won’t freak people out when they come to visit, and find an entire pig in your refrigerator!
Finally, a fourth idea is to go to a sport flooring supply house and ask if they carry the rubber underlayment that is used to cushion the tiles of a basketball court or gymnasium floor. Actually, I will do you one better: THIS SITE will send you a free sample if you want to try it out before buying a larger quantity.
Have you used any of the above ideas? What method or practice material is YOUR favorite?
