How to Tattoo Like Ami James
Israel-born hothead Ami James lives, breaths and eats ink. OK, maybe not quite that extreme, but he has a profound respect for an industry that he loves working in and has been his passion for more than half his life. Star of the popular "Miami Ink" reality show, if you want to become as adept with needle and ink as Ami, you have to work hard and never stop learning. Read on to learn how to tattoo like Ami James.
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Instructions
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Show respect. Ami feels many tattoo artists today have little or no respect for the time-honored tradition that surrounds tattooing. If you want to tattoo like Ami, read up on the history of tattooing and delve into the different styles and techniques used over the years.
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Get an ultra traditional tattoo. On one episode of "Miami Ink," Ami got a real "old school" tattoo from his friend and mentor, Japanese artist Shinji who hand-tapped the ink into his skin the way they've done it for centuries. If you want to see how far the tattoo industry has come, find someone experienced and still practicing this ancient technique of inking.
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Have a little attitude. To say Ami is a little feisty would be an understatement. Known for a quick temper and a razor sharp tongue, he's not afraid to voice his opinion and this may include if he feels your tattoo design is not all it should be. Though you don't have to make your customers cry, you should still be able to tell them if the design they want is bad. Don't just take their money and let them live with a bad decision, this goes back to the show respect issue.
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Start practicing. Ami began tattooing when he was 20-years-old, and though he started by working out of his home, he soon got involved in an apprentice program. To properly learn all you need to about tattooing, you should study with an experienced tattoo artist. There are very few good "self-taught" artists anymore, and there's a lot more to tattooing than being able to draw and stick someone with a needle.
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Stick with it. Ami got his first professional tattoo at the age of 15 and that's all it took. He was hooked on the art form and by the time he was 33, he'd already had his own reality television show focusing on his tattooing talents and was world renowned for his skill and artistry.
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Branch out. Due to his immense popularity and talent, Motorola contracted Ami to design tattoos to feature on their RAZR V3 cell phones in 2006. You can currently get them in black or pink with an oriental dragon, skull or cherry blossom design. Oriental designs including dragons, koi fish and floral art are a common theme for Ami who has mastered the intricacies of these pieces.
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Get inked up. If you look at any of the great tattoo artists, you're most likely going to find them covered in tattoos. Part of them probably self-created and others received from notable or up-and-coming artists in the industry. Ami is no different as he is a walking canvas. It also makes your customers more comfortable, because getting a tattoo from someone without tattoos is like getting your haircut from a bald barber.
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Keep learning. Ami has said the day he stops learning, is the day he'll quit tattooing and after so long in the business, he still strives to learn more everyday.
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Tips & Warnings
Respect is the key element to tattooing like Ami. If you don't respect what you do and the work you do on your clients, then you will never be in his league.
Once you've "mastered" tattooing, you may find yourself with your own apprentice. Ami took Yogi Harada under his wing on "Miami Ink," which allowed him to pass on the vast experience he's gained in the tattoo industry.
Use your popularity to do some good. Ami participated in an anti-fur campaign in 2008 for PETA to express his love of animals and hate for animal cruelty.
The name of the tattoo shop Ami co-owns is Love Hate, not Miami Ink, which is the name of the show featuring his shop in Miami.
Don't worry about specific brand names. Every tattoo artist finds the perfect tattoo machine, ink and other supplies that fit their particular style. Talent, dedication to excellence and desire to uphold the traditions of tattooing are more important when following in Ami James' footsteps.
