online video tattoos

hey ive been wanting to tattoo for along time now, me and my friend purchased a tattoo kit from superior tattoo did some on ourselfs, turned out ok, then we got rid of it, and the shops around here wont apprentice anyone, unless you pretty much know how to tattoo and even then its slim, i was thinking of getting this tattoo coarse online and videos, are they any good at all?, and was thinking of getting machines, and other things for it, to do tattoos, any suggestions?. i was looking at the v-tek machine from superior tattoo, i dont know the quality of there equipment, so kinda wanted to get everything, use the videos to learn, i have someone that can also teach me when i move, but he isnt to confident in himself to teach, so i wanted to get the videos so i can learn, and have some knowledge on it, the guy that did my tattoos was apprentiching someone, and i went in alot, and picked up some things with him, but he was moving away shortley, but just not sure why someone would use certain needles over other sizes and such, but this is what i want to do, and i do plan on moving soon to a bigger city but not for a year, and kinda want to learn as much as i can so i have some experiance, so if i can get any help with these from people that have done them, to give any imput, or people that have veiwd them it would be appreciated, and also, what brand tattoo supplies to get, or if the superior equipment is junk, i seen some posts saying you can get better machines for the price, so i was just wondering, any help would be appricated, thanks

and i dont plan on just getting the stuff and marking up my friends with bad tattoos, i acually want to learn, use the synthetic skin, i dont mind tattooing myself. but dont want bad ones either, so if anyone has experinace with the online/video coarses please let me know as i do want to look into some. and eventually order them soon, thanks for any help

In all honesty, and since you're here asking for advice on what to do, I have to say none of the above. If you're planning on moving in a certain amount of time, instead of moving towards your friend that will teach you when he has the confidence, you should move somewhere that has real shops with real established artists that are looking to apprentice someone. You're wasting your time going down the road you're heading down. Do the right thing, even if you plan on buying a junk kit and doing it on fake skins and yourself to get more comfortable, you're only going to develop bad habits that will be extremely difficult to break IF you learn how to do it the right way later on. There is a right way and a wrong way to do things, and from what you've already stated, that is what I would consider the wrong way. Do you have a portfolio of some of your artwork for any one to see? Anything online of your artwork? There are plenty of legitimate shops around that are willing to apprentice someone and if you have the right attitude and talent, you would have no problem getting into something like that. Also, there are SEVERAL posts concerning this topic, as well as at the top of the forum there is a section on what you should do, under one of the PLEASE READ threads.

P.S. As far as the videos go, I've never seen one, but I notice that the only people that support them are the people that make money off of them and the people that are too lazy to get an apprenticeship. In the end, it's a bunch of people that don't tattoo very well. I can get videos of the best Sports moments and watch them thoroughly, but it won't make me an athlete by any stretch, as I can get videos of Taz in Mexico, but it wont' make me an ass man either :)

yeah, well like the only reason im moving is because im getting married, and my fiance is going to be doing her schooling and everything there, it will be in minneapolis, and there are alot of shops there, i just wanted to kinda do that so i get some hands on type stuff, im from canada, dont spend to much time in minneapolis, i live a few hours away from it and same with my gf, and i just dont know of any shops up there cept one close to her, i do have a portfolio getting put together, whenm im here i cant work and i usually spend a month or 2, so i usually just draw alot.theres one in the same province im from, but they wont give me much information, and i cant do one for to long here cause im getting married, and kinda have to remain in the states. so i dunno, i just wanted to get something as hands on right now, theres a school i looked at too, for 2 years, in austin texas, yeah i did look at others i didnt see much about like the videos and such, i seen a few things said about them but other then that not a holew lot. im am willing to do what i would have to do with an apprenticship, and i personally dont want to pick up bad habbits with things, so thanks for the info,

<<"i just wanted to get something as hands on right now">> You got it backwards, first you do the theory and book learnin', then the practicals... learn what you can without applying ink to anything but paper, then get a mentor to guide you through the rest down the road at some point.

At this point all that should concern you is ART WORK!!...Drawing painting, sculpting....any kind of artwork....get your skill level to the point where when ya take in yer portfolio they GOTTA hire ya!...Buy all the art how to books ya can afford...buy Good quality art supplies and go for it!!!! If ya need suggestions on which art books are relevant just email me (click on my name) Good luck!!!

Without question you want to DRAW DRAW DRAW. Think of it this way, skin is the most sacred canvas an artist can work on. There is never a good reason to tattoo before you are ready, you should have artwork so fucking great that when you find the right place to apprentice (and not any apprenticeship will do, you need to find a GREAT studio to learn at) you will have the talent and skills to make the decision un-deniable. Its great that you are asking questions and taking advice. Your best bet, no matter what you want to do in life, is ask the people that are where you want to be how they got there. Lastly, I probably how to tattoo as well as 50% of the hacks out there and I have never picked up a machine and cant draw to save my life. I even know the equipment to buy and a few techniques and tricks. How can this be you may ask? Easy, I have been getting high quality tattoos for over 10 years from some truely amazing artists. Ive watched the setup and breakdown tons, Ive listened, watched, and seen what happens firsthand more times than i can count. Absolutely by mistake I received one of the best educations an aspiring tattoo artist could get, just as a collector. So my advice would be to draw and get sleeves and other large tattoos from some amazing artists. Where you are moving has some truely talented artists, check out Uptown Tattoo and Electric Dragonland for some off the top of my head. Adam Chido, the ink tailor, is there too... Travel to the conventions to see the masters at work. While many artists learned by trial and error, if your patient and dont tattoo before your mentor thinks your ready you will earn more respect from the community, and more importantly, you will have a lot less bad karma to work off.

hey i'm from thunder bay too and i've wanted to tattoo for a while i almost had one with dean but then he said he was to old to teach me and so i went to under ground and they said they'd call me when they could teach me, has anything like this happened to you?

DDUUHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you need to tattoo any animals that you own, then drug your parents, sisters and brothers and brand, pierce and tattoo them. after you do that, kill yourself... hack artists are born every day... learn from real artists. save up and apprentice in a REAL SHOP. and then in three or four years... you may be able to fix the shit you did to your family... asshat!

best bet is honestly to hang out at tattoo shops and first make ppl who u look up to respect u and eventrually they will through u a bone. shit it took me 3 years just to find an artist that a fit together with. as in brands dont but n e thing for a while and just focus on art. but in the future stay away from interent stores that r selling u shit products. must sellers only selll to artists so thats how it is, but good machines range around 350- 500 on average... products such as bicknee. but remember ur man focus is art and being friendly and willing to be a slave for many years, but its all good fun. its not an easy road but if u want it hard enough ull get it. email me with n e questions or what products r good.

hey man, im from mpls. there are a ton of great shops there. you should have no problem finding one of the 10 shops that are in uptown alone to get a app. if your art work is good enough. like everyone said dont waste your time buying cheap gear and learning bad habits. it honestly disgusts artist when some one comes into the shop and brags he has all that worthless gear. spend your money on art supplies, magazines and spend all your time researching your fav. artists, study as much reference as you can and draw and paint every single day. there are a ton of shops in mpls and around. and if no one in mpls is looking try st paul which is only across the river. good luck

hey man, im from mpls. there are a ton of great shops there. you should have no problem finding one of the 10 shops that are in uptown alone to get a app. if your art work is good enough. like everyone said dont waste your time buying cheap gear and learning bad habits. it honestly disgusts artist when some one comes into the shop and brags he has all that worthless gear. spend your money on art supplies, magazines and spend all your time researching your fav. artists, study as much reference as you can and draw and paint every single day. there are a ton of shops in mpls and around. and if no one in mpls is looking try st paul which is only across the river. good luck