I'm an apprentice

i've been an apprentice for a little over three weeks now, i have no tattooing experience but i can draw. should i buy a kit and start practicing on fruit and fake skin or just wait a few months.

DO NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL YOUR MENTOR TELLS YOU TOO!!!! going behind his/her back and purchasing shit will piss them off beyond anything you want. If they had thought you were ready they would have you practicing already.

Nah man, have some respect for the man and the trade. If your mentor is legit he'll tell you when you he thinks you are ready. Tattooing is the last milestone in your apprenticeship. But feel free to get some books, take courses or read on the net about CC, BBP, CPR, First Aids, etc. That never hurts.

yeah, its kinda suprising you would ask this question. Your mentor will tell you when and where to buy equipment. If you hustle your ass off for him you might find yourself inheriting some old but trusty equipment. At the least your mentor will tell you when and what to buy. You should practice on rendering visual effects on paper or in the computer. Really refine your artistic vision and rendering capabilities. If you can render it on paper, then after you learn the technical skills you can find the sweet spot with rendering effects and the medium of the skin. Lets see a link to your artwork and we can give better advice. I would also look into attending the Paradise Tattoo Gatheirng which is a convention geared towards teaching and inspiring apprentices and artists (and tattoo fans with fine taste).

Listen to what everyone is telling you, notice this is something everyone will agree on. I would suggest explore other mediums then drawing. Start using watercolors (I suggest Doc Martins) if you don't already. Design some cool flash. Good Luck!

listen to everyone's advice. you could end up out on your ear if you jump the gun. your mentor will let you know when you're ready. and hell i was GIVEN a nice set of machines when i completed mine so be patient man......