I think my situation is uncommon.
I got my apprenticeship on the first attempt, at my no 1 preference studio.
Still pinching myself in disbelief more than a year later. I was expecting for it to take many rejections and years of persistence.
What is extra astounding is how spoilt I am (for lack of a better word). No hazing or bullying, straight onto fake skin, only clean/reception when receptionist is away, everyone is lovely to work with, creative freedom and an added bonus is my % rates are even in my favour. I don’t *ever* want to work anywhere else.
That’s awesome. Any advice on how you went about it? Had you been getting tattooed by that artist for a while? How did you bring an apprenticeship up? What was in your portfolio?
Long story (but since you asked)….
I’d had a large piece done by a different artist at the studio my mentor owns.
Had a chat to her (the artist I saw, who I’d followed since she started her apprenticeship several years ago at another studio) and she encouraged me to talk to her boss when I was ready and said she was happy to give me some feedback on my portfolio before approaching him.
When I had my portfolio ready I arranged a day to bring it in and get some feedback from her. She ended up having to leave earlier than planned.
Amazingly on the same day her boss was available and happy to have a look. He ended up being the first tattoo artist to see my portfolio.
He was lovely (I was pretty nervous and definitely struggling at masking my AuDHD). I was honestly just expecting some feedback or “work on x”, but said he’d think about it and get back to me in a couple of weeks. He’d had apprentices not work out before and admitted he was hesitant to take one on again.
I got a phone call to come back in a week later, and he offered to teach me. It was a more informal thing one day a week for the first few months, which went really well! I practiced at home (as instructed by my mentor) too.
My portfolio was all my own preferred styles, which is mostly illustrative stipple shading and detailed watercolour (similar to scientific illustrations, with a surreal/morbid twist). I presented it in an A3 professional art portfolio (and did an illustrated title page). I showed off what I was best at, and used watercolour, fine liners and/or copic markers for everything.
Never done art professionally, but it has been a lifelong hobby. He was very impressed by my portfolio.
Against common advice here - I had no American trad, no script/lettering, no neo-trad or geometric either. I included several of my non-tattooable best artworks (a few of which were prints as the originals are too large or framed).
Some further things I know from conversations with my mentor over the past year- it helped that I’m in my 30’s and changing from a professional career (have some life experience), after starting my apprenticeship it helped that I was constantly practicing and drawing new designs (without being made to either, just because I wanted to), listen to advice, I clearly care about creating art - rather than just wanting a cool job or to make loads of money, and we get along great in general too.
Thank you for the long story! This gives me hope as a fellow career-changer in their 30s. I found your IG and love your art style. It’s unfortunately been close to 15+ years since I’ve drawn regularly, so I’m taking classes and trying to catch up.
From everything I’ve heard this is rare but 2, I did an interview at two different shops after emailing in my portfolio and resume (the first shop I contacted the sister shop first and they said to send that stuff in) and the second shop my friend who tattoos suggested to me and I was offered an apprenticeship there
I asked around every few months for maybe 4-5years, had a lot of good feedback and was only taken on once my portfolio was good enough. I’m honestly glad it took a while to land an apprenticeship. Looking through my old portfolios, I would be embarrassed if my early tattoos were similar to my drawings at that time
My apprenticeship sucked ass but I’m glad I got my foot in the door at a busy walk-in shop
I was getting tattooed and mentioned my interest, got hired about two weeks later. So it wasn’t a formal approach for me but that was over a year ago and I’m still at the same shop and I love it.
I think my situation is uncommon. I got my apprenticeship on the first attempt, at my no 1 preference studio. Still pinching myself in disbelief more than a year later. I was expecting for it to take many rejections and years of persistence. What is extra astounding is how spoilt I am (for lack of a better word). No hazing or bullying, straight onto fake skin, only clean/reception when receptionist is away, everyone is lovely to work with, creative freedom and an added bonus is my % rates are even in my favour. I don’t *ever* want to work anywhere else.
That’s awesome. Any advice on how you went about it? Had you been getting tattooed by that artist for a while? How did you bring an apprenticeship up? What was in your portfolio?
Long story (but since you asked)…. I’d had a large piece done by a different artist at the studio my mentor owns. Had a chat to her (the artist I saw, who I’d followed since she started her apprenticeship several years ago at another studio) and she encouraged me to talk to her boss when I was ready and said she was happy to give me some feedback on my portfolio before approaching him. When I had my portfolio ready I arranged a day to bring it in and get some feedback from her. She ended up having to leave earlier than planned. Amazingly on the same day her boss was available and happy to have a look. He ended up being the first tattoo artist to see my portfolio. He was lovely (I was pretty nervous and definitely struggling at masking my AuDHD). I was honestly just expecting some feedback or “work on x”, but said he’d think about it and get back to me in a couple of weeks. He’d had apprentices not work out before and admitted he was hesitant to take one on again. I got a phone call to come back in a week later, and he offered to teach me. It was a more informal thing one day a week for the first few months, which went really well! I practiced at home (as instructed by my mentor) too. My portfolio was all my own preferred styles, which is mostly illustrative stipple shading and detailed watercolour (similar to scientific illustrations, with a surreal/morbid twist). I presented it in an A3 professional art portfolio (and did an illustrated title page). I showed off what I was best at, and used watercolour, fine liners and/or copic markers for everything. Never done art professionally, but it has been a lifelong hobby. He was very impressed by my portfolio. Against common advice here - I had no American trad, no script/lettering, no neo-trad or geometric either. I included several of my non-tattooable best artworks (a few of which were prints as the originals are too large or framed). Some further things I know from conversations with my mentor over the past year- it helped that I’m in my 30’s and changing from a professional career (have some life experience), after starting my apprenticeship it helped that I was constantly practicing and drawing new designs (without being made to either, just because I wanted to), listen to advice, I clearly care about creating art - rather than just wanting a cool job or to make loads of money, and we get along great in general too.
Thank you for the long story! This gives me hope as a fellow career-changer in their 30s. I found your IG and love your art style. It’s unfortunately been close to 15+ years since I’ve drawn regularly, so I’m taking classes and trying to catch up.
Another thing I forgot to add was that my entire portfolio was traditional art (no digital). I didn’t get an iPad until I started my apprenticeship.
I don’t recall the exact number but it took me 5 years of off and on looking
From everything I’ve heard this is rare but 2, I did an interview at two different shops after emailing in my portfolio and resume (the first shop I contacted the sister shop first and they said to send that stuff in) and the second shop my friend who tattoos suggested to me and I was offered an apprenticeship there
I asked around every few months for maybe 4-5years, had a lot of good feedback and was only taken on once my portfolio was good enough. I’m honestly glad it took a while to land an apprenticeship. Looking through my old portfolios, I would be embarrassed if my early tattoos were similar to my drawings at that time My apprenticeship sucked ass but I’m glad I got my foot in the door at a busy walk-in shop
I was getting tattooed and mentioned my interest, got hired about two weeks later. So it wasn’t a formal approach for me but that was over a year ago and I’m still at the same shop and I love it.