In need of apprenticeship

I am a seventeen year old, who has dropped out of high school, but am willing to learn anything. I live in Westerly Rhode Island, and sadly, cannot drive due to the fact that I am clinically unsafe behind the wheel. I draw anything! I was self taught from 11 years old, and due to circumstances beyond my control, I remained that way until 9th grade and was introduced to an art class. I have a small portfolio: [IMG]http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9569/peacocko.jpg[/IMG] By [URL=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/sammy_d]sammy_d[/URL] at 2009-08-03 [IMG]http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9176/lotustattoo.jpg[/IMG] By [URL=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/sammy_d]sammy_d[/URL] at 2009-08-03 [IMG]http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6036/lilytattoo.jpg[/IMG] By [URL=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/sammy_d]sammy_d[/URL] at 2009-08-03 [IMG]http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/59/finished.jpg[/IMG] By [URL=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/sammy_d]sammy_d[/URL] at 2009-08-03 [IMG]http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/9826/koi3.jpg[/IMG] By [URL=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/sammy_d]sammy_d[/URL] at 2009-08-03 [IMG]http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7328/celtictattoo.jpg[/IMG] By [URL=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/sammy_d]sammy_d[/URL] at 2009-08-03 [IMG]http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/3309/koixci.jpg[/IMG] By [URL=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/sammy_d]sammy_d[/URL] at 2009-08-03 [IMG]http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/4243/koionfakeskin.jpg[/IMG] By [URL=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/sammy_d]sammy_d[/URL] at 2009-08-03 Courtesy of my uncle, I have used a tattoo before, but I need to learn more about sterilization, and more about tattooing in general. If anyone wishes to contact me, my email is [email removed]. Thank you for your time, Samantha

Ok well I looked at all of your pictures you have posted and here is my opinion. First off there not bad but there not great. Keep in mind before i continue by no means am i bashing you or trying to make you feel like shit. Im simply going to throw out my opinion and give ya some ideas to make it better. I see you are very into oriental art. I myself really love that style. Alot of your work needs to be alot more symetrical. You also need to work on your color blending, which you may need to switch the medium your using. Another good way to help with color blending is to go buy some water color paint and try using that to help you start getting the idea of how colors blend together. Also try sculpting things with clay. This will help give you the idea on how certain parts of the body move and look from diffrent angles. You also need to work on your line work. Make them more solid and even. If your nearby a college try starting a basic art class. It will help you in ways you could never imagine. After you get your art work up to par draw 10 to 15 of the best drawings you have ever made. Put them in a nice folder with your name, address and phone number. Also go take a BBP class and insert that into your portfolio. This will show alot of artist that you are not only intrested but serious in becoming a tattoo artist. Keep in mind it takes time. Lots and lots of time. Make sure the artist you are going to is one you want to learn from. There are alot of horror stories out there about people getting screwed when getting an apprenticeship. This can all be avoided most the time if you take alot of time into finding the right shop and artist your wanting to learn from. The rest will be history. I waited 6 years for my apprenticeship. I worked very hard to get it. Also don't just jump into a shop with your portfolio. Get to know the artist's for a few months. Get some work done by the artist your wanting to ask to teach you. Gives you some quality time with them and will make it easier when you get the oppurtunity to ask. Now im sure there are hundres of people on here who will not aggree with this method but like I said this is all my personal opinion. I wish you the best.

seventeen, i dont think your even allowed in most shops, depending on where you live, because someone could be tattooing an area that is private and could be legal issues if you were there, kinda like why your not allowed under 18 into a adult toy shop. you shouldnt even be thinking about tattooing on skin at the moment, you should be taking what the other dude said and focus on art, this is a tough field and only the people who show the most promise get through

Alright. Thanks Guys! But as to tattooing skin, I have NEVER tattooed on a living breathing person...it was done on fake skin. But thank you for the advice!

I would agree with the work on your art. The lines in the tribal and celtic are really shaky, and stuff like that needs to be SOLID. I'm not an artist myself, but I would definitely suggest taking an art class or two to improve technically. It seems like you're going about this is the right way and the advice everyone else gave was good. so just keep trying!