HOW TO BECOME A TATTOO ARTIST (getting an apprenticeship vs self taught) 

Dope content, but lose the farting sound effect is annoying bro

Do the research…..learn…research ….practice practice….be clean and safe…most importantly believe in yourself….TEACH YOUR SELF PEOPLE….. 11years Self Taught here….been tattooing consistently for about 7 years now….this takes years to even grasp what it is you are even doin so dont rush this shit…take your time you can do this

One of those people who needed this more than y'all will ever know, thanks

I was supposed to start an apprenticeship last month. I had built a nice relationship with my artist and he was actually the one to mention the apprenticeship a couple of years ago and I told him I wanted to finish my degree in graphic design but fast forward to this year were I stopped going to college and went with my other option of tattoos. He ended up not going through with it due to his partner who was co-owner or the shop. It was definitely a business decision and it only pushed me to do more and clean my stuff up. I definitely should have had a better presentation and more rendered work. This video is def guiding me on a different level and what to really expect if you want to be successful.

just stumbled upon this video and had to drop a comment! I appreciate the insights you guys have shared through your own experiences in the industry. I'm a artist who has been diving deep into tattoos for the past few years now and you guys were able to help clear up a lot of my questions regarding apprenticeships. much respect!

that is not a rare thing, I've been chewed out and F/O'd by EVERY tattooist I've come across. I was 16 when I initially started looking for an apprenticeship, they all told me GET an apprenticeship DONT be a self taught tattooist. It's all setup to keep you out....its frustrating, I thought we were all ARTIST's

This was so helpful, I had a shop just waste my time and run me in circles and I never once even got to touch equipment 😭 and they wanted $6k upfront lmao it’s hard out there

As an artist and seeking apprentice myself, this content was very insightful from the eyes of the industry and very knowledgeable and informative, thank you guys very much!

MY G this was very useful! Trying to figure out life rn, art, graffiti, screen printing have always been my interests. Did the college route, did the online route, and I think tattooing is calling back my name. So this was the ultimate playbook of what the work that is required from me entering this space.

thank you for making this video this is genuinely the most informative apprentice video i’ve found on youtube!

I decided to be a tattoo artist after my best friend’s murder, when I got a memorial tattoo for her. I’m 33, I have a degree in fine studio art and have worked in veterinary medicine for the last decade. I moved to a small town in KY two years ago when I got pregnant. Now a career changer, I am also a full-time caregiver to my toddler. We have a limited number of tattoo shops here. My own tattoo artist told me the shops where women have complained if sexual abuse, verbal abuse, revolving apprenticeships, etc. I visited three shops so far, two of which loved my portfolio but had no room for an apprenticeship and to check back. The third one accepted me but it would be 5 days a week, 13 hours per day. The no pay doesn’t bother me because that’s what I expected, but with a two year old, seeing my two year old two days a week isnt reasonable or even realistic. I am looking to become self-taught. Or at least get my blood borne pathogens certification and teach myself on fake skin until I’m able to get an apprenticeship. Likelihood though…?

never subscribed so fast. thank you for this!!

Dope ASF I magnetized back into tattooing after stopping it years ago

My wife recently got a tattoo and mentioned to the artist that i draw so he wanted to see some of my pieces while she got tattooed. I got offered to be an apprentice. So I'm heavily considering it right now.

I'd honestly love to do an apprenticeship (minus all the menial labor, that's exploitation regardless of whatever justification they have) but I'm immune compromised and everyone is pretending the pandemic is over. I can't even walk in the door of a shop. So okay I'll learn on my own. I enjoyed the video. It was interesting to hear the different considerations and opinions.

I had a horrible apprentice experience for 5 months I cleaned and then they fired me it sucked but my next apprenticeship is gonna be solid

This was super validating to listen to, and had a lot of great advice. I'm an art school graduate putting my portfolio together and preparing to start go-sees, and so much of what y'all said rang true for me and this decision to start tattooing. I've always wanted to do this, tried a more "normal" line of work, and now I'm listening to this feeling in me that this is something I need to do. I'm ready to be humble, learn, and become an asset to someone's team of artists 🖤

I mean my thing is what happens when you're in a situation where you can't get an apprenticeship/have another job that takes away from it but you legit want this and take it serious

This is exactly what I needed to hear 💯

I just bought everything I need to start practicing at home. I've always wanted to learn it. It's hard where I am to get an apprenticeship. I've taught myself a few things like guitar. But now I think people can do enough research to learn enough.

As someone who is self taught - It took me 4 years of work to get to the point where I am now and that was every single day of coming in and tattooing. It's definitely way more recommended to get an apprenticeship.

love your content guys! i just started an apprenticeship…and i’ve been drawing for awhile already so i have experience as a portrait artist. but i’m 42 years old. do you guys think it’s late in the game for me to pivot into this industry? is it something you’ve seen before? i went all in on this, cashed out some of my retirement to be able to support my fam till things pick. so i feel the pressure

This was so informative tbh. I'm confused as to why it has 76 views likeee. Subscribed immediately. I do have a comment though. I'm from a small country in Europe where apprenticeships are rarely done. I live in the capital city and most of the shops are private, with just one or two artists working in them. I'd say the private studios take up like 95% of all the shops in town. There's a bunchhh of them everywhere, but they're all private. The rest would be "regular" shops. There are only SIX normal tattoos shops where I live. The "regular" shops are kind of dying, the people who own them are all 60-something year old men who look down on everyone that tattoos because they have this sense of superiority because they're the OG's in our city. Most of the time their shops are unsanitary as hell, dogs walking around, one even has a parrot that just flies around and sits on its owner's shoulder. They have shitty reviews on Google for being rude and their work being bad. I've contacted a lot of "well known" artists from my area and all they say is like "apprenticeships are ancient, just go for it". They tell me all these horror stories of trying to get an apprenticeship with those six OG shops in town, some were even as bad as getting assaulted. I feel like apprenticeships are very common in the US and I kind of feel like a faker seeing all these American artists do it the "official" route, while nearly every big artist in my area tells me to just jump straight into it. Of course they help with any questions and stuff but they all refuse to participate in the apprenticeship dynamic. I kinda don't know what to do now since I'd like to take this very seriously but I don't really see an option? Moving is also not an option sadly, I mean the artists in my city are all ver well-known and no one shits on them for being a "scratcher" at first but I'm just scared of what other professionals might think.

I’m rlly stuck on this, did you come up with those ideas or did you find them online and do them yourself? Would that be bad to do for a portfolio?

Ngl I was laughing my ass off with the fart sound effect, but overall you guys threw some good statements regarding the industry and things going on with apprenticeships. I've been a self-taught 2D artist both digital and trad since a couple years, and I am at the time and place that Im considering tattooing as one of my options, since my grayscales could translate well for tattoos. Thanks for the advice nevertheless.

this has been so insightful so far. but as someone who has been working on blackwork primarily, meaning blackout tattoos & designs. there is no guidance regarding direction with this valley of tattooing, i’m a bit lost. but i am committed to working at this regardless.

So what are the necessary skills and things that I should have and do in order to become an apprentice

Oh shit these dude are in my area. Time to grind out some portfolios

Thanks for the game gentlemen.

Great info. Hey I have a job that I work 75 hour a week am being practicing around 8 months is being really hard to find a apprenticeship cause my schedule I don’t really wanna be a scratcher.

I love this video so much good stuff-watched it twice- will sub and like---------- one comment bruh the fart noise- i cant, only thing I didnt like about it, its just so distracting and it can just be a little much since its so often- just so distracting and its not something i would playoutloud without headphones- other than that 10/10

Amazing, it solved a lot of my doubt, what about working as a graphic and tattooer does it help the journey in some way?

It used to be almost impossible here, you either had to be buds with an artist or his/her boy-/girlfriend, most were white and sponsored by guys who rode bikes or you would have a very difficult life ( that's what I was told as a teen) 80-90's

thats ME!...@40 now, I'm gonna retire from my first career to do ART full time.

A shop that I think deserves, AT THE VERY LEAST, a top 10 spot is Labor Temple Tattoo in Tucson, Az. Those mf's can SLING TATTOOS. I wish I still lived there, I'd be hangin out every day

love the video, seriously can't do the fart noises.

They now have schools in my state and it’s $8000

Lmao

Live the content but the fart effect throws me out each time 😭

I’m not the best artist but I can fart really good. Can I get an apprenticeship?

Cant disagree enough on the tech thing! Needles tubes and coils will always have a place in tattooing.

Watched 2 minutes and quit because im a grown man and im not listening to fart noises all day

what if you're not THAT interested in drawing? i'd like to get into tatttooing but more interested in geometrics, lines and ignorant style. i do have drawing experience but it's not something i'm that excited about. i have no interest in doing most tattoo styles so why do i have to force myself to draw that way?

Nvm, y’all’s channel name is literally “Fart Friends”… can’t be mad that every adult word is censored with farts. I can however, be mad at myself for listening to this thinking it would be valuable information. It’s not. It’s just generic information in podcast form.

Yall are so bothered over farting noises 😂😂😂 just put on some headphones.

No thank you I’m not becoming someone’s slave for a spot at a tattoo shop

The noise takes away so much more time (in milliseconds) than just bleeping it out it’s pretty annoying to hear the guest and it’s like a 2 1/2 second fart

bro the fart sound effects do my fkn head in, i couldnt listen

Thank you for the awesome insight my friends, but the fart sounds suck dude

Sadly, most of the views are only up to the three minute mark because all the farting noises

Wtf with those fart sounds. I was trying to listen to the content but 5 mins in Instead of learning my head is wondering when the next annoying Loud fart comes in. In the intro was funny, throughout the thick of the chat it was a very bad call

good info but too many fucking fart sounds

Fart Friends? Worst marketing strategy I've ever seen. Unless youre trying to appeal to really immature people 😂

The farting is so cringe

lol dorks

I was supposed to start an apprenticeship last month. I had built a nice relationship with my artist and he was actually the one to mention the apprenticeship a couple of years ago and I told him I wanted to finish my degree in graphic design but fast forward to this year were I stopped going to college and went with my other option of tattoos. He ended up not going through with it due to his partner who was co-owner or the shop. It was definitely a business decision and it only pushed me to do more and clean my stuff up. I definitely should have had a better presentation and more rendered work. This video is def guiding me on a different level and what to really expect if you want to be successful.