[truong]

Originally Posted by threezero

I had a brief stint as a tattoo apprentice. Being someone with no drawing background i can seriously say that is is entirely possible for someone with no experience to "learn" how to draw. Many of the tattoo design are base around the same subject matter and if your sifu is willing to teach you HOW to draw, and you put the work in you will pick it up and may even discover a subject matter in tattoo that you excel in. the key is in your mentor, most tattoo artist does not take on people that can't draw because teaching someone to draw is very time consuming and it requires the student to have absolute passion and drive. and contrary to popular belief, while vast majority of tattoo artist had art background before getting an apprenticeship, being good frds with the tattoo artist is also a valid way of getting your foot in the door. You have to remember the tattoo artist is basically teaching you their livelihood and relying on your integrity to not back stab them once you have learn their craft. Old school tattoo artist will apprentice someone they trust rather than someone with an amazing portfolio.

Amen to that brotha! Where did you apprentice ? And how come you stopped?
However having said that, you are going to have a very hard time compared to someone that has draw all their life. And chances are you will not be one of the big name tattoo artist that have clients lining up for years to get work from. However just like any field of work, there are 10% of those that are superstar within their field and than there are the vast majority that doesn't suck but doesn't rock either. there are million of tattoo artist working in shops that can't really do custom design, that can only do a certain style etc.

what I'm really trying to say is. You probably won't become the tattoo artist you look up to, you probably won't make as money as an electricians. You will be working long hours and doing shit work as an apprentice with little pay. There will not be medical benefit or overtime. You will doubt yourself as you are drawing that dragon head for the millionth time. You will want to rip your hair out tattooing gay little stars on college kids while your mentor is doing back pieces and sleeves.

Being an artist of anything is really fuel by passion rather than money. Don't get into tattooing because it cool, don't get into thinking you will make big bucks. Do it for the passion. People look down on scratchers, but the fact is a lot of big name tattoo artist got their start tattooing out of their apartment, what separates them from the scratchers that still scratch out of their kitchen is passion. The will the say no to other legit opportunity because they are crazy enough to want to excel in something as intangible as art.

Does this sound like you? if not stick to being an electrician, you will have less head and heartaches

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Amen brotha! How come you stopped?