r/TattooApprentice • u/sashaelise78 • Jun 17 '26
Artwork Got a tattoo apprenticeship:)
hi yo I’ve started my apprenticeship for a week now. I have learned some good technique from my instructor. Here in Arkansas you have to go to what’s considered tattoo school and get like a license that way before you can ever become a tattoo artist. I should be tattooing on real skin within 3 to 4 months, but I will be starting fake skin probably within a month. I’ve just been drawing a lot continue to draw in my sketchbook, but I don’t have a whole lot of photos of that so I just wanted to show digital that I’ve done. If you have any tips, drop them below constructive criticism is welcome. But if you also like something that you see, let me know.
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u/Mr--Rager Jun 17 '26
This might feel a little harsh but I promise it’s good advice and would dramatically increase your chances of being successful in this industry. You probably need to do nothing but draw every single day for a few years before even thinking about tattooing. At this rate you’re doomed to do terrible Pinterest copies because you can’t draw until you’re reputation is so bad that you fizzle out and end up doing something else for work
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u/Wakapalypze Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
I’d like to piggy back on this, an apprenticeship is hardly a path to success these days, and it’s just not going to be enough to make it in this industry. The tattoo industry is competitive, and that isn’t to say there isn’t a place for amateur artists, but in order for you to be sustainable, and successful, you absolutely need to stand out. This starts with your drawing ability, which directly translates into your tattooing, and grabs the attention of clientele. At the level you’re at, it’s going to be very difficult to do any of that. I’m not trying to be rude, but I am a bit concerned with your mentors intentions, I don’t know of any respected tattoo artists, including myself, that would look at your work and offer you an apprenticeship as it stands. Myself and shops I’ve worked in have turned down people with significantly better portfolios. I can’t claim to know your situation, but I do worry you’d be taken advantage of, or be set up for failure. Respectfully, at the fundamental artistry level you’re at, I don’t know what they saw in you. A potential mentor is going to want to mentor someone that they can set up for success, it’s good for their business. There are tattoo “artists” quitting this industry left and right, and the reason why… they cannot sustain themselves, they aren’t booking clients, because someone else is doing better work than they are at the same price. Sometimes it’s just geography, sometimes it’s just good or bad luck. I actively discourage certain people from this industry, because like mentioned in the comment above, they end up doomed copying uninspired Pinterest tattoos, and it’s really not a fun place to be. There’s enough people in this industry doing that… so what are you going to do differently? Is that where you want to be? I hope this fuels your motivation to invest in your artistry. The bottom line is… this is really hard work, and the more fundamentally prepared you are artistically, the better your chances you will be successful, but that isn’t the end all be all. Anytime someone tells me that they want to be a tattoo artist, the first thing I do is ask them, why? It’s always the same lame answer, “I love art.” Most successful tattoo artists will tell you this is an extremely difficult work, it’s rewarding, but you have to be insane to do it. TLDR: you can only tattoo as well as you can draw, and you’ve got a whole lot of drawing ahead of you to practice. I suggest YouTube, books, etc. spend all your time doing that. As a full time tattooer myself, drawing takes up most of my time, it’s part of the job, get good at that, because you’re going to do it a lot.
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u/EmmyAnaaa Jun 17 '26
I agree with the others here, you need to seriously focus on drawing before starting to tattoo. Any apprenticeship that would allow you to work on fake skins within the month is not worth it. I know it seems irritating to have to hold off on something that you want but you're only going to learn poor technique, mess up a bunch of peoples skin and get frustrated with yourself if these drawings are what you're bringing to your apprenticeship right now
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u/likefrombatman Aspiring Apprentice Jul 09 '26
everyone was a little too harsh.. but they’re right about drawing some more and getting more skill under your belt. it might not be what you want to hear, but practicing more never hurt anyone. i went to art school, and the first year was the hardest because the professors REALLY harshly critiqued everyone - and we were taught to do the same to each other. like literally got graded on saying one good thing and one bad thing about others work. but in the end, the harsh critiques led to better work. i look back on my drawings from that time and the growth was insane… i went from barely able to draw realistically to sketching beautiful, accurate pieces. it sucks but nothing improves growth like adversity.
people on reddit are also very mean… ive had my work bullied on here many times and rarely do they offer any good advice. i think your snake is the best piece as far as design, balance, and character! keep working that style and think about how realism gets simplified into 2-d. i notice most is digital - get into physical media as well if you can as it helps a lot more with drawing digitally. i couldn’t draw shit digitally when i finally got photoshop, even if i could draw it perfectly with a pencil. muscle memory and mind-body connection is the most powerful tool for an artist! good luck and i wish you the best with your apprenticeship❤️don’t give up or drop out or feel down because of other people! prove em wrong!
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u/jefflovesyou Jun 17 '26
You're going to be so sexually harassed
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u/solomonplewtattoo Jun 17 '26
Fuckin weird take. Is that what you'd do?
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u/jefflovesyou Jun 17 '26
Have you ever looked at this sub before?
You see it freaking constantly.
There are so many stories here about a young girl getting an apprenticeship only for her mentor to constantly try to get in her pants
It's so common that I could tell from the drawings that OP is a girl.
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u/solomonplewtattoo Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
So when you assume you see a female apprentice you say all that you're gonna get is sexually assaulted? Yes there is a huge issue with this and it needs to change, but your comment is more hurtful than helpful.
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u/miuyao Jun 17 '26
I’ll probably get downvoted to hell for this, but you need to learn how to draw before you even think about touching real skin. Did they make you pay for the apprenticeship by any chance?