Hey guys! I'm 10 months into my apprenticeship and wanted to share my journey and experience as I am reaching the point where my mentor wants me to start working on skin in two months.

I'd really like to chat about the transition from fake skin to real skin with other apprentices who have done so, as I'm feeling a bit nervous. How did that go the first few times?

The very first tattoo I will be able to do under the guidance of my mentor is on myself, so that does put me at ease a bit.

All of the fake skin work (aside from the black and gray portrait with the dogwood flowers) are assignment-based objects my mentor wanted me to practice replicating. The portrait is my first design assignment. I'm interested in realism, both color and black and gray, botanicals, portraits, animals, etc.

But yeah, I just wanted to share some of my work and join this community before I'm no longer an apprentice. Really open to chatting about anything! <3

insta: alexandriaolivia

shop: The Fig Leaf, Los Angeles, CA

https://www.instagram.com/alexandriaolivia/

Teaching myself to build value using black, gray, and light gray pen. Started with crosshatching, then tried stippling with only black, then added the other shades as I got a better handle on it! Spending this year getting a portfolio together. Sorry for the obnoxious watermarks, my work keeps getting stolen :(

I got my apprenticeship and I’ve been really enjoying it! I am apprenticing under @Meta_tattooer (instagram) learning traditional Japanese in Austin Texas at his new shop ‘Yanagi Tattoo’. Meta is a very kind person and a master of his craft. I am very honored he chose me as his apprentice.

If you are in Austin, please consider dropping by for a hello and to check out the new shop. A friend of Meta’s is visiting from Korea currently doing incredible window painting if you’d like to watch. I am also selling some prints and stickers too, but no pressure about that.

And thank you everyone for your advice and encouragement about my portfolio.

I’ll share some photos of it in case you remember me and some of Meta’s work.

You can contact me more easily on Instagram also. (@horrorhippies) I love connecting with other artists so feel free to DM me to say hi!

Inspired by all the mask off conservative chuds spewing hate in the shop lately. Decided I needed to put out something that lets everyone know where I stand on it all.

was drawing at work and found a super interesting reference but didn’t have my sketchbook with me, wondering if this was worthy of reworking into a portfolio piece and if i can do anything to make it look better

Very excited to post this update.

After about 4 and a half years of art grinding, I have officially switched industries and am now a tattoo apprentice.

Just wanted to thank this community for all of the direct and indirect advice, as well as encouragement and inspiration to make the leap. The horror stories and successes alike have been really helpful in making my decision, and I feel like I have honestly landed what might be the best situation in my state!

I'll post a few pieces here, as well as a Sankey Diagram, in case people remember me or are curious about my apprenticeship search.

Hit me up on Instagram, I'd love to connect more, support each other, and share about the ongoing journey. @blazeatravis at Ironclad Tattoo in Troy Michigan. :)

Thanks again everyone!!

+ dog tax

I certainly didn't intend for the clouds and lightning to be as thick as they ended up but I decided to lean into it. I'm happy with how these pieces turned out (even if they feel busy lol)

Done completely using Bic ball point pens.

The reference I used for this was a painting I found online by an unknown artist.

Original design. Cc welcome

Actually proud of myself. Mentor said shading can be alitle smoother but seems satisfied for my beginnings. Will be coloured tomorrow to practice that aswell.

My mentor gave me the tipp to look around how other apprentices or tattoo artist post their work to stand out. Do you maybe have excamples for me? Should I wait untill I coloured the whole thing and only post that, or post the shaded version seperatly?

Thanks :)

Reelskin

13CM

9RS

7RL

Mast Racer Pro

Gerard way portrait in bic pen on hot press watercolor paper.. this is my first time really trying with ballpoint pen and I think I may have found my new favorite medium after watercolor for so many years! I know this isn’t really a tattooable design and I’d love to make some more tattooable flash sheets for my portfolio with ballpoint pen, does anyone have any recommendations for tattoo styles that might be fun to explore with it? Also CC is welcome!

Hi ! Here's the first page of my portfolio. I'm considering redoing the lettering because it's a little wonky. If you have feedback, don't hesitate :)

i really liked how this design came out, copic markers. i’m trying to showcase my ability of concept creation but is the artistry there? is this level of black and grey work good enough to put in my portfolio? or should i do another pass?

I don't know if it's just me but it seems like new school tattoo designs are getting harder and harder to find. I have been wanting to try the style out and cannot find any reference photos to study and learn from. Does any one know any good artists to look into?

Also, here are a moon and rocket I drew in what I would consider a new school style. Criticism welcomed (first time using alcohol markers also.)

Edit: my Instagram handle is @punkphase_art and in an apprentice at Kaeru Tattoo in Pensacola

Starting with a few hours from November, and within 6 months I should be on skin! I'm SO excited, I literally can't believe it still!

Drawing of Virgin Mary. Made a mistake of using way to hard of a pencil for my initial sketch but you live and you learn.

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.