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Tattoo portfolio help?

How to get a tattoo apprenticeship?

  • Give me as much info as you can. I know the whole deal that it costs between 2500-5000. I know to bring in a portfolio of all your drawings in different styles. I am a beginner, I have not been tattooing from home, i've never even touched a tattoo machine, to be honest. I am a clean slate and want to learn with a lot of passion in art. I'm not the best drawer, though i am practicing and i am still learning at 20. I need help though. Money is sooo tight, how do i even save enough for an apprenticeship? Do they take small payments of like 50/ month? Also with the portfolio, are they the kind where they have the plastic protector and you slip your art in? How much do tattoo artists usuaully make per year starting out? I know apprenticeships take like 2 years, but after you're hired and all what is the average per year? Thank you.

  • Answer:

    This depends ENTIRELY on the shop owner. I was in your exact position a few months ago, and I found that prices/time/requirements range from one end of the spectrum to the other. Without a steady income, some owners won't look at you twice. BUT, some will compromise by letting you pay by the month/week, designing tattoos for them, or cleaning up the shop. Also, most owners won't give a flying foogly if you have your art in a plastic cover or not. My advice to you is to ask around ALL the shops near you and weigh your options. You will need equipment in the near future, since you can only handle paying someone to let you watch them work for so long. I got a kit that included everything I needed for right under $100 at element tattoo supply (online store). You don't have to be Michelangelo to be a tattoo artist, either. What matters most is patience and passion. BEST OF LUCK!!!

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i didnt have to pay for my apprenticeship i guess i got very lucky but normaly depending on the artist about 5000 i worked in a shop with no pay but it was well worth it. juss go from shop to shop and ask for one if u get turned down dont give up keep going back or try different ones i tried four different shops before i got mine and i wasnt even trying i just went to tha shop for the tattoo they drew up my stencil and i didnt like it so i drew it myself and got offered. and depending on what state your in is how long you will apprentice for me it was 2 years be ready for a lot of cleaning tho, and never act like a know it all either but in the end like i said worth it i make decent money but there is some down time like closer to xmas it dosent get busy but it picks up. but a little advice do not just go out and buy a kit and start practicing go to a shop because we frown on scratchers not mention in most states illegal i hope most of this helps

You will only find out guess and personal prefs on here. You need to go visit pro shops around you and (if they are clean and talented) ask them these questions yourself. Apprenticeships can take two months to 10 years... it just depends on how you learn. It doesnt matter how you package your portfolio, but if your not that great at drawing yet, id advise you start tracing flash until you can freehand it perfectly, then start drawing stuff out of your head. That would be great. You just dont want to get turned down for what you can do when maybe in a year you can do better, but then they wont take to time to look.

Not all tattoo artists charge for apprenticeships. Sometimes you work at the shop, instead. My husband didn't pay for his apprenticeship but he DID work at the shop for no pay, taking calls, cleaning, running to the store for paper towels, etc. etc. It depends on how the shop is run.

After the lawsuits and personal regret, not enough.

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