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If you have a year into an apprenticeship, then just shop your art, drawing ect around the other shops in your area....
why did you quit suddenly? we you aware of these problems before hand?

Youre righ....t that would be the thing to do if I had recieved an apprenticeship. Its a long story, and it all comes to an end at my expense.. Shortly put, I work fulltime at a steelmill so directly after that since last sept id go there until about 10 at night. For 8 mos o was not taught anything except shop duties, wich I loved. Then four mos. Ago the REAL artist my supposidly mentor quit. I didnt suspect any wrong doing at the time then when he left the owner of the shop, basiclly apprentice himself was all that was left. So for four mos. Ive been trying to teach myself to tattoo and he would tell me to do walk ins, and i didnt even know how well enuff.
Found out he was heavy in drugs and I just wanted to learn to tattoo the right way and be apart of it all.. Ya theres more to it, but I was stupid to stay as long as i did, bit I kept being told ." Next week wel do sum work" never happened then he quit... So I thought id ask to hear any recomendations.. i think its clear though, Im tired of wasting my days on phony apprenticships..

i have had the same deal mate i give this place 9 months
of doing all crap that has to be done. then i find out my mentor
has just been tattooing 1 year its a long story

Dont get me wrong, I love doing all the shop duties, but like yoi stated, you land an apprentceship wich is hard as hell to get. Then put in more thrn enuff time to find out their a joke. I dont want to tatt home, I want a great guidance.. Ive went to three shops now and have gotten all filled positions. I apologize Im bitchn but its just shitty road for a lot of us that can do great art.

Well...
Take all your best drawings and put them in a nice portfolio (Nice ones start about $10-15 bucks at any craft store)
and bring them to other artists...
Did you get any decent equipment while being where you said you were?
Basicly you have to shop yourself out...
did you actually learn anything?
how to use a ultrasonic or autoclave?
how about a thermo stencil copier?
any knowledge about proper chemical procedures?
These are the things that will help you
and I dont want to be rude but these are things you cant fake it on cause anyone who knows will know if you do or dont.
hope this helps

Thanks (Lord). Yes I have all new equipment. The thing I don't like about my equipment though is when the artist was there he told me I could only buy National brand machines... I'm not a fan of them.. I have been blood born pathogens certified. I can work the older manual valve autoclaves and the newer push button claves. ultra sonic cleaner is a no brainer, scrubbing tubes is a no brainer... setting up a machine? I cant get it right.. I know the basics but I cant set it up correctly. could be the national brand..
I can operate a 3m stencil machine. I'm legit in all the categories except tattooing itself. Thanks for your advise, I have a portfolio put together and Ive just about exhausted all the shops near me.

I did the same an searched around for an apprenticeship an finally found some one who would take me in. Down fall it lasted a few months an had to quit. Wasn't because I wasn't trying hard an doing everything he wanted. More of I did everything an wasn't being taught how to do anything. I felt it was more of a hang out session so i decided to just go my own way. With all that said I never gave up. I just kept buying an buying more ink, machines, Needles, pretty much anything you would see in a shop other then autoclave because I use all dissposibles. I started on youtube then realized a lot of the info was a load of crap an then started to search els where. That's when I came across this board an was so amazed on how much info was on here. Ever since I pretty much read every post thats on this board an can say i learned so so much more info. All I did was take my artistic ability an applied it to tattooing. I have been tattooing one year now as a "scratcher" an not a shamed to say it because there is nothing wrong with teaching your self how to tattoo. A little harder to learn but all worth it in the future. Yes its nice to learn the sterization of tattooing but its common seance as well. Not saying im going to be a scratcher for ever an try an skip an apprenticeship, not at all but when that time comes ill for sure be happy to take the apprenticeship all over. All I can say is never give up on learning. Ive done many many tattooes all ready that are just simply awesome. an for that im now able to take my art porfolio an tattoo profolio an go get that apprenticeship with the right tattooist. As for mike, I don't write much on your board but deff read every post an im very thankful for your site an help. your artwork an tattooing is amazing an u inspire me so much u have no idea lol thanks

Its refreshing and a shame at the same time to know Im not the only one thats gone/going through this. I understand youre at the mercy of the artist/shop you land an apprenticeship at.
It's very difficult to find an artist that truely likes and wants to teach someone. At the same time it also has to do with the losers that get an apprenticeship and dont take it serious or put in their time and just bitch cuz they want to tatt right away, and they frustrate the artist to were they have no interest in teaching any longer. I never hounded and i enjoyed all the aspects of working in a shop, eagerly waiting to be taught to tattoo properly. But after a year that day never came. I too have learned a lot from what mikes said and others here. Were very fortunate that they share their methods with us. And for that I thank them.