Disabled veterans, do you love tattoos and wish you loved your job as much?  Retrain as a tattoo artist with Body Art & Soul Tattoos by following these three steps: 

1. Talk to our Veterans Liaison and get your questions answered
2. Start retraining to become a professional tattoo artist
3. Tattoo in our studios

How to Retrain as a Tattoo Artist (When You Have Ch 31 Benefits)

Chapter 31 eligible veterans, use your VocRehab benefits and retrain as a tattoo artist at Body Art & Soul Tattoos by following these three steps: 

Step One: Talk to Your Advisor. 

Have a lot of questions about what the program is all about and whether a career as a tattoo artist makes sense for you? Our veterans liaison is standing by to give you details about the program and more information about applying for your VA benefits. 

Step Two: Start Your Apprenticeship. 

Even in these uncertain times of social distancing and shelter in place guidelines, you can start your apprenticeship right away: working one-on-one with your trainer over live video. Once in the studio, you’ll be ready to complete your apprenticeship. You’ll be trained to implement impeccable tattoos on clients, while gaining the work experience and professional development you need to launch your career as a professional tattoo artist. 

Step Three: Tattoo at Our Studios. 

Depending on the program you choose, you’ll enjoy flexible hours making appointments to tattoo at our studios under the direct supervision of a trained teaching artist. Extended training time in the shop may be offered, along with a guaranteed job offer to join our team as a tattoo artist at the end of your program, depending on the program you choose.  You will have all the skills necessary to keep you and your clients safe while you execute quality custom tattoos with world-class customer service.

Get Inkspired by Veteran and Tattoo Artist CJ

Get inspired by Clifton “CJ” Adams, a veteran who apprenticed at Body Art & Soul Tattoos who now travels between our Brooklyn and Los Angeles studios working as a professional tattoo artist. 

Learn more about CJ as he shares his story about pursuing his dream of tattooing after he got out of the armed services. He discovered a tattoo apprenticeship that suited his learning needs at Body Art & Soul Tattoos and you can too.

Although CJ, “started drawing comic books when I was around six,” he didn’t see a way to make income from his art, and in 2007 he joined the military. 

After completing his service in 2015, CJ wanted to pursue his interest in art and he returned to education, majoring in graphic design. 

Soon enough though CJ, “figured out that graphic design wasn’t really for me, but I still wanted to stay in the art field. I got the idea to become a tattoo artist because during my time in the Air Force I got dozens of tattoos and always looked down and noticed what they were doing, and kind of figured that I could do the same. I googled tattoo trade schools and yeah, the rest is history!”

A year after entering the apprenticeship program in 2018, CJ became a tattoo artist at Body Art & Soul Tattoos. Coming from a background in graphic design, CJ had an understanding of what made a good tattoo but knew there was a lot to learn. He found Body Art & Soul Tattoos the right place for him. “They’re really professional and really friendly, the whole environment is really inviting. The big thing was learning that you actually have to stretch the skin when you’re tattooing, which makes sense but was something I didn’t know before.”

“My favorite part… is creating really dope art.”

Under the guidance of CJ’s mentors at Body Art & Soul Tattoos, he grew in knowledge and confidence as an apprentice, working towards creating his first tattoo and permanently applying it to a client’s skin. All tattooists will tell you the first few times are quite daunting but also exciting, especially when they realize how much they enjoy the work.

“When I figured out that this was the right choice (for me), was when I completed my fifth tattoo and it didn’t turn out horrible. I was like, ‘okay cool I can do this.’”

At Body Art & Soul Tattoos, we are honored to help disabled veterans who qualify for the Ch. 31 Vocational Rehabilitation VA program enter into tattoo apprenticeships. So, if you are looking for VocRehab eligible programs in the arts, look no further! Our veterans liaison is ready to walk you through the program and give you more information about applying for your VA benefits.