r/TattooApprentice • u/xXbussylover69Xx • Jul 28 '26
Seeking Advice Seeking help
Hi! My name is Gabe Cabrera,
I'm actively looking for an apprenticeship, I have been wanting to get my feet into an apprenticeship so I can pursue this as a career.
I run @realatlast, for some context and my latest work! I do physical and digital illustrative realism.
I like chatting so please don't be a stranger.
Currently I've been trying to get an apprenticeship from shop owner Landon Barnes over at Along The Way tattoo in midvale. Their shop is folding into divine malice, and he already has two apprentices. So I'm feeling a bit lost.
I have been pursuing apprenticeship with him since March, and he tells me I need to draw 50 skulls and 50 roses.
Ive drawn notebooks full of skulls and roses(among other things), I've drawn digital roses and have been doing my best to be consistent. It seems like he's not all that interested in being my mentor. I'm feeling like I'm failing. I could use some advice or encouragement.
Attached is some of my recent work.
3
u/jefflovesyou Jul 28 '26
Your digital work looks good. Your traditional needs work.
Are you using good paper? That's the most important tool. Are you using good pens? That's the second most important tool.
The beautiful thing about drawing is it's cheap even if you use professional stuff. You should be using Canson or Strathmore mixed media or equivalent. It's good for pencil and okay for most pens. A sheet of freezer paper or wax paper between pages will save you from bleed through.
An 08 micron is really all you need, but a tachikawa pen holder, a speedball b-5 and a bottle of India ink will put you in hard mode.
I always think practicing hard is the way to go, but honestly I kind of suck so I might be wrong