trouble with my apprenticeship

I have an interesting situation regarding my tattoo apprenticeship and I would like some honest input from the professional tattoo artists here. I have looked at the other topics regarding apprenticeships and read many different views, but I thought Id share my specific situation. Sorry it is so long but I feel the need to get in all the details. First a little of my background: I have always been passionate about art and I graduated with a BFA in 2010. I studied many different mediums while I was in school including drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking, jewelry, digital art, wood working, sculpture, welding, among others. I even studied phlebotomy in case the 'art thing' didn't work out, so I have universal precaution training. I have always been able to pick up and learn a new medium with ease and I've always known I would be an artist. When I couldn't find a job in my graduating field (graphic design) I decided to pursue tattooing. I love tattoos! I love the way they look and the way they feel. I have tattoos and plans for more. All of my friends and family support my creative choices. I had heard what it meant to be a tattoo apprentice and what it meant to be a woman in this field so I was prepared. I know I have what it takes. I landed an apprenticeship at a well know shop near my home, and was lucky enough to be taken under the wing of a very nice and reputable artist. We had a verbal contract and I believed I would get through my apprenticeship without any problems. For the first year it was great. I knew what was expected of me and I would come in on time and do all of my apprentice duties without having to be told. I was polite to all the artists and clients, I watched tattoos and asked lots of questions. Then came the time when I was deemed ready to tattoo on live flesh. My boyfriend and many friends were very willing to have me tattoo them and I did not have any trouble scheduling appointments. I was doing fairly decent work too. My mentor watched my first tattoo and did not give much feedback. After that, he didn't watch anymore. He said he was okay with me tattooing without his supervision, and I was free to ask the other artists for help. So I’m thinking “I must be that good if they don’t need to watch me.” From then on I made appointments when I could, mostly when the other artists had the day off so I could use their booth. I would do the tattoo and then my regular duties. I still was not getting any feed back from anyone except my clients (and they are ALL happy with my work). Then things got more tricky. Here is some of the shop's background: There were 3 main tattoo artists that had been there for years. There was a 4th booth in which they had to keep re-filling because there was a high turnover rate for artists and piercers. There was a time when artist's equipment would go missing, power cords and other stuff. The owner (who is VERY passive) never did anything to address this issue. Also, some of my paintings were vandalized with swastikas and penis's. And nothing was ever done about it. I did not feel comfortable leaving my equipment there, so I transported it all back and forth in a portable tool chest. Even though I practiced being polite, I felt as thought I was never really 'accepted' as a fellow tattoo artist or friend. Like I'm too goody goody and not 'bad ass' enough to hang with the big guys. I wanted to get through my apprenticeship so I didn't do anything to rock the boat. Up until this point, I had done everything that was expected of me without any problems. The first time I make a mistake, I am condemned. Other than the specific questions I asked, I wasn’t taught anything about our states tattooing laws. My mentor told me that one did not need a body artist license to tattoo in the city in which we worked. I understood that scratching wasn't acceptable in this industry because of the risk of spreading disease and injuring clients from lack of knowledge. However, because I already had that knowledge, and was tattooing on my own anyway, and was transporting my equipment back and forth. I got the 'brilliant' idea of giving my best friend and I matching ankle tattoos in my house. I honestly did not know it was wrong until my mentor saw the picture of it on FB. We had a very serious discussion about it and why it was wrong. I apologized and promised it wouldn't happen again. I thought we resolved the issue and were going to move forward. Even though we had 'resolved' the issue, from then on, he acted as though I was purposely trying to disrespect him. Later, while I was tattooing a quote, a girl came in and saw me and asked if I could do her quote tattoo. I asked my mentor “This walk in client asked if I could do her tattoo.” he said that it was fine. I made the mistake of not telling her I was an apprentice or getting her phone number. I was excited and was talking to the owners apprentice about it and he told me I shouldn’tt have taken the appt. becauseapprenticess are not allowed take walk in clients. He tells the owner, and next thing I know my mentor is upset with me again. He said the owner wanted to fire me over this, but since it was partially his fault, I wasn't fired. The girl never showed up for her appointment anyway. Shortly after that, I was having personal issues with my boyfriend, and only made it into the shop once that week. Then I got an email from my mentor stating I was released from my apprenticeship because of the issues mentioned above, and that he never sees me in the shop anymore. I replied with a respectful email thanking him for the opportunity. Since I had such a strong art background and a small collection of decent tattoos, I figured I could land another apprenticeship, no problem. Then I learned how screwed I really was. First off, every shop I went to either knew of or knew personally, my mentor and praised him as such a great guy. So if he fired me, I must have really messed up, right? Secondly, all the shops informed me that I couldn’t just pick up where I left off but would have to start over at the beginning again. Also to forget what I was taught because they want me to learn their way. Even though I received good reviews of my work, I am very discouraged to continue in this field for several reasons. First off, I though my mentor and I had resolved those issues, but he felt the need to bring them up again, as though I kept doing those things. It seems being fired from a reputable artist is enough to condemn me, but the education I received from him isn't good enough for anyone. Secondly, after all the work I put in paying my dues and beginning to tattoo, the thought of starting completely over again is very discouraging. Thirdly, I am very bothered by the fact that my history in art, my tattoos, and my developing clientele had NOTHING to do with me being fired, or me finding another apprenticeship. Why would I want to work for an industry that doesn’t take these things into consideration? I feel confident that if I had been “in” with the guys, they would have given me a chance to recover from my mistakes, like a damn popularity contest. Instead I’m left high and dry with nothing. After reading many reviews from this forum, It seems that many tattoo artists demand professionalism, and determination from their apprentices. But who is making sure these tattoo artists are returning the favor and teaching their apprentices properly? Who is regulating the tattoo education process? There is no degree, or certificate that one can earn, or guarantee that one will make it through an apprenticeship, or that what they are learning is right. I read that an apprenticeship is a way of 'weeding out the undeserving' and 'making sure they are serious'. If my history isn't enough to prove that I have what it takes, I don't know what is. I made it through college, I made it through phlebotomy, why not this? I feel as though I made mistakes from lack of instruction from my mentor, and now I am left with nothing. I suppose your advise is to continue my apprenticeship somewhere else, but is it too much to ask to pick up where I left off? I love tattooing, but so far, I am not impressed with the industry.

Well, before we get too much farther, where can we see a link to your art?

Thank you gabe for showing an interest in my artwork. Here is a link to my facebook page of the tattoos I did, and your welcome to look at my other artwork photo albums too. I know they are not professional and I still have a long way to go, but they are not what Id call "pieces of shit". I certainly have potential. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3257340800247.167739.1468921612&type=3

Sorry, that link doesn't seem to work. Here are my tattoos. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3257340800247.167739.1468921612&type=3 Here is artwork related to my tattoo education. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2042904880108.131708.1468921612&type=3

It's a shame you didn't know about the industry being full of Assholes and Self Proclaimed Pros that think their shit don't stink! Lmfao... Anyway, my advice to you is to just forget about the whole Apprentice Bullshit, and just continue tattooing out of your home. Better yet, write a good business plan and then go to your bank and ask for a Personal line of credit. If that doesn't work for you, find private investors, and I don't mean loan Sharks! After you find investors, open a shop in a good part of town with lots of traffic... I've seen your work, and it's not bad, not bad at all. Let's just say that a lot of so called Pros aren't half as good as you are!!! Also, in the year that you've apprenticed at that shop, you must have learnt enough about sanitizing and shop clean up. So you should know enough about the dangers of operating a dirty shop. Take all the you've learned and go out and make your own fortune!!! That's it... Good luck & hang in there

It's a shame you didn't know about the industry being full of Assholes and Self Proclaimed Pros that think their shit don't stink! Lmfao... Anyway, my advice to you is to just forget about the whole Apprentice Bullshit, and just continue tattooing out of your home. Better yet, write a good business plan and then go to your bank and ask for a Personal line of credit. If that doesn't work for you, find private investors, and I don't mean loan Sharks! After you find investors, open a shop in a good part of town with lots of traffic... I've seen your work, and it's not bad, not bad at all. Let's just say that a lot of so called Pros aren't half as good as you are!!! Also, in the year that you've apprenticed at that shop, you must have learnt enough about sanitizing and shop clean up. So you should know enough about the dangers of operating a dirty shop. Take all the you've learned and go out and make your own fortune!!! That's it... Good luck & hang in there

It's a shame you didn't know about the industry being full of Assholes and Self Proclaimed Pros that think their shit don't stink! Lmfao... Anyway, my advice to you is to just forget about the whole Apprentice Bullshit, and just continue tattooing out of your home. Better yet, write a good business plan and then go to your bank and ask for a Personal line of credit. If that doesn't work for you, find private investors, and I don't mean loan Sharks! After you find investors, open a shop in a good part of town with lots of traffic... I've seen your work, and it's not bad, not bad at all. Let's just say that a lot of so called Pros aren't half as good as you are!!! Also, in the year that you've apprenticed at that shop, you must have learnt enough about sanitizing and shop clean up. So you should know enough about the dangers of operating a dirty shop. Take all the you've learned and go out and make your own fortune!!! That's it... Good luck & hang in there

I'm following up on my situation. When I look back on the post, I realize I was probably putting too much into it, but it was only because I took it very seriously. My career is a serious thing to me. I realized that I had been warned, apprentiships are not easy. There were going to be people who were going to doubt me, and many other obsticles to overcome. So I didn't give up. I also realized all my education DID make a difference and I kept looking for work. I have found a great shop, I've been here over a year now, and I'm doing very well. My tattoos get better all the time, and I love it! I'm here to stay.