Drawing on skin pays
Mxolisi "Snake" Nyoka is a tattoo artist who began his career in 2003 in his room when he became curious about drawing.
Nyoka explains you have to be an open minded person to be in this career because it requires one to be very professional in “drawing the line” between business and pleasure.
According to Nyoka a tattoo artist has to be a polite individual who is careful and patient.
He advises high school students to take technical drawing, business studies and accounting for Grade 12.
A graphic design course, which is useful in this line of work, is a three year diploma course which can be attained at the Ekurhuleni East College, Benoni Campus.
Nyoka adds the course equips you with drawings skills and graphic skills which are needed in order to design a tattoo.
Once done studying graphic design one must do an internship with a professional tattoo artist with plenty of experience for at least six months.
According to Nyoka before opening up your studio, you must register under the Council for Piercing and Tattoo Professionals (CPTP) so your studio can strive to uphold a moral obligation to all clients.
“One can build a clientele by attending events and festivals involving tattoos and advertising yourself,” he says.
He says he decided to pursue this career because he loves to draw something that will be on someone else’s skin forever.
Nyoka explains the advantage of the career is your salary is coming in everyday while the disadvantage is waiting for clients who end up postponing at the last minute.
