pro thoughts wanted for passionate apprenticeship seeker.

alright guys... i've spent hours now reading thread posts and getting advice (for others) into my head on coming to be made a respectable tattooist. for the past 10 years i have spent every hour i could lend to fine line drawing.. not sketching, but perfected self cohesive pieces that could be put to the test under the gun and look beautiful on skin, given a quality tattoo artist's skill. i've been designing tattoo's by commision for a couple of years.macrabe being my forte, but i can handle most any request. i never say no to a commission. one must progress. and i never give it done unless every line and shade is refined and nice enough to look at for a lifetime. in light of that... people have gotten me interested in expanding my work to acually tattooing. when i was in high school, i'd sketch all day in class and on my way to work after school, i'd stop in at the local tattoo shop and they'd buy my artwork. the next day i'd find it in their flash racks. anyhow... the point of all this is... i am not a hack artist with my present meduim and i have enough tattoos to understand the bond and trust a person has to have with their tattoo artist.people's interest in my work has shown me i could be quite successful as a tattooist. i've used a gun before(on an grapefruit, haha) under professional supervision and it was displayed in the shop till it started to smell. (another haha) it was a pretty impressive little grapefruit. i hear differing opinions on apprenticeships. dont pay... pay. dont go to the fly by night schools... i agree with that one. i have been to superior supply and checked out their all inclusive kits (with ultrasonic and autoclave.VERY IMPORTANT). practice skins can be ordered as i need them. i have a revering attitude towards the role of our trusted tattooists and i dont want to come into the field without respectability. could i include practice skins into my portfolio? i have a portfolio put together (leather bound with laminated pages of fine line and full color original artwork). i can take a gun apart and put it together again. i have an unrefined knowledge of sanitization, stenciling, placement of art ona person's body to its best potential, and an understanding of professional business practices. But i am by far not an accomplished tattoo artist. on the other hand... i am not a laman either. im just putting my situation out here and listening to advice from pros. thanks for taking the time to read this and for sharing any thoughts u guys have got. i just want to get in a good direction with this. i dont plan on using the kit on the dumbasses that want free tattoos. (and there are many. omg it's retarded how many are out there) but it's a quality kit that may be useful during or after an apprenticeship?

Ummm...NO!! Superior suck ASS!!!...For the same amount of money you can buy GOOD equipment!...Email me...TAz, Painted Angel Studios

For typing that much and forcing my eyes to bleed, you are going to die.....a lot.

By the way...Its a lesser crime to call your mother a whore and your father a thief than to call the sacred machine of tattooing a "GUN" This lesson is free!

In the long run you will regret the kit.(It will cost you more from maintenance alone). As an apprentice you will have access to the shops suppliers, which means for the same price better quality. If you already have an accomplished tattooist that has done your work, then I'd talk to them about an apprenticeship. If your as good as you say (I'd like to see your "fine line" drawings) then you should be able to get an apprenticeship fairly easily. As far as paying goes, that depends on you and what your looking for. If you trying to get an apprenticeship with an artist who is very busy (the best usually are) then your paying for them to take time away from their business. However any quality artist can teach you what you need to know. Paying or not is up to you. What are your goals? How quick do you want to try to progress? P.S. Listen to TAZ!!!!

Good post KEaz!...Especially the part about listening to TAz!

haha! ok... so i've been slaughtered for making someone's eyes bleed.. damn. that's funny shit. but youre probably right. i didnt need to give that much detail. but i did it anyhow. still bleeding? and i got a free lesson on the "gun" thing. how about "machine". note taken. i sent some art to taz and keaz.. interested in any feedback. ready for anything from that. still listening here.

From what I saw (and I'm not an artist), it looks nice. You've got great potiential. My only advice is take that portfolio and find a master of the craft. If they want to charge that's up to them, but whether or not you do is up to you. Some do some don't. That will prolly also depend on your financial situation. Just be careful and make sure you get your money's worth. Good luck!

saving any machine and gear buying for while im apprenticing is probably good advice. i see the point with it for sure. more advice taken. sweet. as for the guy i get my own tattoos from... he just doesnt seem interested in taking anyone on. he just finished with an apprentice last month i think and it was a long process for him. maybe hes just glad to be on his own right now or something. maybe he thinks my art stinks. if that's the case he hasnt said so. im still tormenting him about it every now and again and bringing him all my new art as i finish it. i want to progress fast. but doesnt everyone? i mean we have to take a step back and just chill and watch and learn i realize too, so im not annoyingly eager. im more concerned about getting all the experience and knowledge i need to be the best i can be. if that takes time well hey... i got time.

saving any machine and gear buying for while im apprenticing is probably good advice. i see the point with it for sure. more advice taken. sweet. as for the guy i get my own tattoos from... he just doesnt seem interested in taking anyone on. he just finished with an apprentice last month i think and it was a long process for him. maybe hes just glad to be on his own right now or something. maybe he thinks my art stinks. if that's the case he hasnt said so. im still tormenting him about it every now and again and bringing him all my new art as i finish it. i want to progress fast. but doesnt everyone? i mean we have to take a step back and just chill and watch and learn i realize too, so im not annoyingly eager. im more concerned about getting all the experience and knowledge i need to be the best i can be. if that takes time well hey... i got time.

Ok thinker...I saw the artwork...you DEFINATELY have promise...At this point you should do a couple of things... 1....get together a PROFESSIONAL portfolio...make it neat and impressive. 2...take BBP (blood borne pathogens) clases and ccp(cross contamination) classes AND get cpr certified. 3...DRAW DRAW DRAW!! 4...Do NOT buy a "kit" from ANYWHERe...any supplier who sells "tattoo kits" to just anyone is selling inferior junk that will cause you nothing but grief! When you are ready I will give you some info on equipment. Read the :read before you post thread at the very top of this page...click on "apprenticeship 101 There ya go!

Sometimes you have to move to get what you want. Your art definitely does not "stink" so yeah he prolly has other reasons. Also remember "the squeaky wheel gets the grease", if you get enough work done, and hang around the shop long enough that usually helps. (Also try offering to help to get a foot in the door.) You might offer to pay him if that's in your finances. A little green can go a long way.

I also HIGHLY suggest that you purchase "reinventing the Tattoo" by Guy Aitchison...available at www.hyperspacestudios.com It costs $100 and will be the best money you ever spent...along with the book you get a code number that allows you to particpate in a very positive art forum with critiqes and personal instruction from Guy and other heavy weight artists...worth its weight in gold!! You should order this book like...YESTERDAY!!

taz, yep... read that one.. awesome advice all through it... scrub scrub scrub. one of the first things i read here. liked it so much i pasted it to my reading favorites in notepad. wise words. i will save my cash i was gonna spend to get skins and 'lame' kits sold by hacker magnet companies and go check out those courses. there's a nursing college a city bus ride away from here. as for the portfolio... there's accually two... a small one with u pick it we stick it style art work (not my thing but ppl like it). and the larger one with art such as what i emailed u. bigger pieces and grouped together in styles. both books are leather bound.. match and have laminate pages. should i get some kind of professional person to build me a better one? are there people out there who specialize in that sort of thing? that would be cool. i live an hour's drive away from the dutchman.. the only master whos name i have memorized. does anyone know of any others in my area... i dont think he'd come cheap if i were fortunate to have him consider it at all. i live an hour outside of vancouver.

havent read the book though... i'll check that out. yet again.. saving money on not buying crap will make that a possibility... guy atchinson is awesome. i've heard of him before somewhere.

And Guy spends time every day on his forum helping and teaching...he is one of the best people I know...a very positive approach that makes learning a pleasure!..Sounds like your porty would be good enough!

well, visa in hand... books on its way! im completely hyped!!! i'll keep working on the portfolio.. couldnt stop myself if i tried anyhow. its all i love to do outside of writting music. thank you for all your advice.. and i am surely going to take u up on further advice.. if i may... once i've gotten those certificates and gotten a good dose of Guy's book. perfect spetember is here and all the courses are starting now too! im gonna keep being the "squeaky wheel" at supreme tattoo shop here in town and definately get in touch with the artists who've been the ones to tattoo my commissions. taht hadn't even occured to me to ask them! i'll have to ask the people who ordered them who they got to do them. that's a great lead for sure. thanks again.. i'll keep listening for any other thoughts anyone has here too. keep it coming! the right path is the perfect inspiration!

Just be patient about Guys book...there is a great demand and it usually takes a while!

- Don't buy a kit all you need is a few needles, tips, tubs, and a fair machine since you are going to be tattooing on fake skin. You can get gloves, tongue depressors, vaseline, paper towels, and a good drawing lamp at walmart. with $150 bucks you are set to PRACTICE ON FAKE SKIN. Please DO NOT try anything on humans since you'll be talking about a different scenario. - Guy's book is nothing but a master piece. My 3 cents.