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Hi sir,

Well no I wouldn't say its too late at all, but that depends on how good you are at drawing or painting.
Because It takes years for one to become good at using their hands as well as training their eyes, to create art. Let alone starting from ground zero when the transition to tattooing happens.

So if you can in fact draw or paint well, then by all means go for it!

Usually an apprenticeship is offered on account of one's drawings etc, not tattoos. Because if you already have a portfolio of good tattoos, then you don't really need an apprenticeship right?

But you're in the right path by studying and researching on your own, thats very important.

Thank you for your thoughts and advice , I'm hoping that the last 5 years of graphic design work and study , freelance artwork are all transferable skills that I can take into the industry with me...even though I know drawing painting and using other mediums are gonna be quite different from actual tattooing

I know how hard it is to get an apprenticeship and also finding a good artist to teach me..do you have any advice on the rite way to approaching and finding a good tattoo artist? is there anything els I can be doing to seek the right knowledge...



Thank again
Ash

Thank you for your thoughts and advice , I'm hoping that the last 5 years of graphic design work and study , freelance artwork are all transferable skills that I can take into the industry with me...even though I know drawing painting and using other mediums are gonna be quite different from actual tattooing

I know how hard it is to get an apprenticeship and also finding a good artist to teach me..do you have any advice on the rite way to approaching and finding a good tattoo artist? is there anything els I can be doing to seek the right knowledge...



Thank again
Ash

Yes, it usually is all applicable to tattooing, even though as you mentioned, the technical side of using a tattoo machine is far different to using a pencil.
Although I suspect it might be closer to using a brush, you'll have to ask a tattooist who stems from painting in order to confirm that.

Anyway, now to the apprenticeship part, I have read of all kinds of circumstances. Basically from what I gather, yes its difficult to get an apprenticeship with a very good tattoo artist.
I can speak from my experience though. I live in cyprus, and I searched for a local shop that I had researched and its owned by the guy who took me in. He saw my drawings and called me after 2 weeks to start my apprenticeship.

Now, this guy is very respectable in Cyprus and I believe he's one of the best if not the best here thats why I chose him. But in top level standards, he isn't up there but thats absolutely fine. And Im very lucky to have been accepted.

Anyway, from what I gather, there isn't an apprenticeship that will take your hand and show you exactly what to do and how to do it. You will still need to learn a lot of stuff by researching, and the other half load of stuff you will learn from your own practice.

So for now you need to just find any shop that doesn't suck. You will help them, they will show you what kinds of needles there are, as well as studying first hand how to tattoo etc and thats all you need.

The rest is work, research, practice for the rest of your career.

Its not easy, its not quick, and its frustrating I think everyone would agree. But at the same time its a whole journey and there are beautiful things to learn and experience.

So get crackin!
Oh wait, also, this forum is the shit so search its history im sure theres a bunch of stuff about apprenticeships. I've learned so much just from reading everything on here every day all day, going crazy. My eyes are getting fucked with this black and white font ;p

I hope that helps.

Hi again

Thanks for the advice it means a lot , I'm determined to make it , I truly believe that an apprenticeship is the way to go... and will definitely take your advice

Thanks again

Ash