Even though classical music, horseback riding, reading and cooking are some of her favorite things in life, Johnson, or “C.J.” as she’s called, is not your everyday kind of girl. The Empire State-born tattoo artist and current Virginia resident is the founder, owner and main trainer for Woodbridge-based Tattoo Training.
Your students have to take tests. How difficult are they?
They definitely have to study for them. The state requires both a written and practical exam. For the written test, based on a 100-point scale, they have to get 90 to pass. For the practical exam they have to be able to do the skill they are tested on. And this one is just pass/fail.
Do you use canvas different from the human body to teach on?
Absolutely. There is practice skin that mimics human skin. You never start on human skin.
What is practice skin?
It’s synthetic skin. It allows people to try techniques that they have never tried before.
What do you do while a student is tattooing a volunteer?
They are totally supervised and told, “Do this, don’t do that,” or actually take the machine away from them, say, “If you do this, then,” then hand it back to them so that they are definitely absorbing in a way that creates a good product in a safe manner.
Do tattoo artists fit a common stereotype?
People interested in tattooing are from every walk of life. There’s people who are professionals just looking for a different type of life than the corporate life. There’s people who five or 10 years ago never even thought of having a tattoo. There is definitely more interest in becoming a tattoo artist today than 10 years ago.
– Hristina Ninova
