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Hello, my name is Courtney and I’m a newly seventeen year old who has wanted to become a tattoo artist for many years now. I’ve been wanting to get an apprenticeship and I will start searching soon for an artist I can look up too. I looked into the Oregon School of Tattoo Arts and while it seems to be a very professional school, I was told by a woman who emailed me from the school after I contacted them that they are looking for people who have art courses or past history with varied art experiences. Such as majoring in art or have had a career revolving around art (graphic design and so on). Now they do accept people who have just a high school diploma, but it is best, according to the woman who emailed me back, to have had courses and what not because of competition. (And I don’t think I’ll be going to that school). What I am wanting is an apprenticeship before 18, so one of my questions is
Can I get an apprenticeship at this age?
And also, I do not want to take college courses for art. I want to start as soon as possible and with my ability I think I certainly can. “Think I certainly can” sounds like an oxymoron I know, I feel more ‘certainly can’ though because of my ability. I can say, with no ego nor am I trying to brag, that I do have talent. I’ve been drawing since I was old enough to pick up something that left a mark, please do have a peak at my attached artworks. So my next and most wondered question is this,
Before I get an apprenticeship, will I be required by my future mentor to take certain pay art classes or college (or anything else of this sort) ?
My artworks –
Inked deer
http://s1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa480/ihasgoodgrammar/?action=view¤t=scan0002.jpg
colored pencil
http://s1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa480/ihasgoodgrammar/?action=view¤t=scan0003.jpg
pencil sketch of some model
http://s1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa480/ihasgoodgrammar/?action=view¤t=scan0004.jpgTruly, thank you for any help you can offer :)
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No you are not going to get an apprenticeship before you are 18. After 18 with a good portfolio and some thick skin yes eventually. It is always good to study in whatever you want to do with life. You are wanting to go into a field with great artists. Art classes can only help your art skills, and make you better in the long run. Just remember though. Just because you are an amazing artist doesn’t mean it will go well with tattooing. Stay humble and learn even from tattoo artists that can’t draw as good as you. Go into tattooing for the love of it. Don’t be thinking your gonna be a superstar on tv. Tattooing is a lot of hard work, but amazing when you step back and look at a piece then tell yourself fuck yeah that looks great.
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Tattooing laws vary from state to state, but most require you to be 18 to tattoo. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start looking at shops and talking to artists though. There may be a loophole that would allow you to work in a shop as an apprentice, but not tattoo people. You have some serious talent, so it shouldn’t take you long to find a willing mentor at a reputable shop. You have enough talent to be picky when it comes to taking an apprenticeship. Talk to many artists, and visit many shops.
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you have a very solid base to build on. VERY solid. Id keep drawing, and start working on your portfolio. go into shops, and talk to people there. artists, and such. get to know them. once you are 18 id say go into the shop you want you work at, and get tattooed by the person you are hoping to apprentice under. getting tattooed is your best way to show your dedication to the industry. i actually have my whoel right arm tattooed by the guy i apprenticed under, so dont be afraid to go in. even to just hang out, and talk. itll help you built rapport with the artist, and show him/her he/she can spend extended periods of time with you.
once you’re ready drop the A bomb with your portfolio in hand. they may have you starting off with drawing even though you have a strong ability. drawing tattoo designs have very specific rules to them that the hand naturally doesn’t want to do as a sketch artist. one straight stroke is one of them. i kind of scratch my pencil on the page, so I had to train my hand to start drawing in one single line. my sketches are VERY messy compared to my tattoo designs.
be sure to add some script into your portfolio too. show you cant draw script!
Examples:
http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/558508_10152086733790251_1043255579_n.jpg
http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/603287_10152086735475251_396682666_n.jpg
http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/242114_10152101083520251_2005406455_o.jpg
http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p206x206/223828_10152053035670251_1946920747_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/326925_10152088962870251_1219225840_o.jpg
http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/525033_10152147974150251_1469187030_n.jpg
those are all examples of stuff I drew during my apprenticeship :)
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That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start looking at shops and talking to artists though. There may be a loophole that would allow you to work in a shop as an apprentice, but not tattoo people. You have some serious talent, so it shouldn’t take you long to find a willing mentor at a reputable shop. You have enough talent to be picky when it comes to taking an apprenticeship. Talk to many artists, and visit many shops.
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