“The street culture has changed dramatically – tattoos were frowned upon back then, but as times changed they became more accepted and now create new employment opportunities for people with great artistic skills,” explains BodyArt Training master trainer, Richard Anthony.
BodyArt Training was founded in Melbourne in 1994 and is the only registered training organisation to provide specialised training; the company also follows strict guidelines from ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority), which has helped them ensure they retain they reign. Add to this the fact that all trainers are qualified master piercers with a combined 30 years of industry experience, and you’ve got yourself one serious industry competitor.
It’s important to remember that just like the music industry, body art was born from cultural tradition – it was never formally structured like other professional pursuits such as medicine and law. However, in such an over governed society where you need an official license to practice anything, BodyArt Training have worked with consistent passion to professionalise the body art industry.
“Initially it was tough, but we have been involved in this arena for a while, and we work closely with the PTAA (Professional Tattooing Association of Australia), BPAA (Body Piercing Association Australia), relevant Health Departments and are also part of the Artsafe Council.”
BodyArt Training provides a wide range of courses from Cosmetic Tattoo, Specialist Body Piercing to Micro Dermal Implanting. The courses have been designed by the likes of Anthony and often simulate real on the job situations to best prepare students to enter the workforce.
“Our number one courses are our Specialist Body Piercing Course and our Maintain Infection Control Courses. These are specifically written for potential body piercers and Tattooists to help them gain the appropriate skills to be able to work safely and efficiently in the skin penetration industry. In addition, BodyArt Training run a range of small courses appropriate to the body art industry.”
Today, tattoos and piercings are almost commonplace, but it doesn’t mean they don’t still have an edge. Anthony recounts his personal experience. “After 13 years working in the industry there has been a lot of challenging times and crazy characters. Some of the most interesting and artistic work we do are corset piercings for photographic purposes.”
And of course, as one would expect, Anthony loves endowing his own body with tattoos and piercings. His favourite piece of body art? “I personally got a new portrait on my leg done by the amazing Tenile Napoli.”
Finally, the master trainer tells us why BodyArt Training should be the first choice for aspiring body artists. “Do what you want to do in life and if that is body art then give us call because this it is passion and has been for the last 19 years!”
BY DENVER MAXX
