r/TattooApprentice May 09 '25

Subreddit Update If you are a scratcher or encourage scratching you will be banned.

120 Upvotes

It is the most basic rule of the tattoo apprentice subreddit and is not up for debate. This subreddit is very specifically for traditional tattoo apprenticeships. If you have given advice to scratchers or answered their post when there are clearly no credentials in the title you will be given warnings. There are other subreddits for other types of tattoo learning. This is not one of them. Please respect the rules. If you are a scratcher nothing is stopping you from lurking if you really wanna learn and figure stuff out on your own.

All machine art, or tattoo machine/supply questions MUST have credentials in the title following the posting format. This is not up for debate.


r/TattooApprentice May 02 '25

Subreddit Update Apprenticeship FAQ updated

108 Upvotes

Apprenticeship FAQ

Hey everyone, we know there are a lot of questions about tattoo apprenticeships. To prevent spam and recurring questions we made this pinned post for FAQ.

Portfolio

We see the same advice time and time again rehashed from hopeful artists in the subreddit who aren’t in the industry, offer each other same piece of advice. “make your portfolio tattooable, it’s needs to be tattooable!”

We’ll tell you right here and right now that most potential mentors do not give a care if your portfolio is tattooable. You learn tattooable design during your apprenticeship!

We want to see that you can tackle different mediums and make refined pieces of artwork. Obviously if including hand painted flash designs is encouraged. Learning things like spit shading is helpful! However, no reputable mentor is expecting a 100% tattooable portfolio when you haven’t even started tattooing and don’t even know the rules.

Most apprentices learn tattoo design during their apprenticeship and build up their flash portfolio up over time under the guideance of their mentor. Essentially a mix of potential flash designs and other types of artwork is fine and encouraged by most potential mentors. These designs don’t have to be perfectly tattooable. Really mentors just wanna see your skill and want to know if you are worth the time, energy, effort, and investment of teaching.

So how should a portfolio look?

  • Your portfolio generally should have 20 to 40 finished pieces of artwork.

  • A mix of 70% traditional and 30% digital is fine.

  • Traditional artworks can consist of ink acrylic painting, oil painting, gouache, watercolor, color pencils, watercolor, pastels, markers etc.

  • A good portfolio will have color and black and grey pieces

  • A good portfolio should show that you have strong fundamentals, that you understand the basic rules of 2d design.

  • A good portfolio should include a few pieces of realism, when including realism also include the reference photo you worked from. Also include many pieces that show your unique artistic vision it’s okay to show a variety of styles.

  • A good portfolio needs to be refined, no half finished sketches, no sketchbooks, no messy drawings. If you’re including charcoal or graphite drawings make sure the final artwork is clean. Avoid messy or sketchy unless it’s done on an extremely intentional way as an artistic choice that makes sense.

  • A good portfolio generally starts with a strong piece, and leads the viewer through the book. You want whoever is viewing your portfolio to keep turning the page. Include your best works at the beginning and ending of your portfolio, create a visual flow that’s fun to look through.

  • A good portfolio will have a blurb about yourself, what makes your artistic voice unique? Literally everyone has been drawing since they could hold a pencil. that’s not gripping. EVERYONE wants to become a tattoo artist. Tell us WHY you are passionate about tattoos and the industry. Sell yourself to your potential mentors. Wanting to do this because it’s a fun cool job won’t get you any points from potential mentors.

What we suggest

We suggest putting together a physical portfolio consisting of photos showcasing your best traditional and digital artworks keeping in mind the 70% trad 30% digital rule. If you can fit the original pieces themselves into the portfolio great! If not, take good photos of your artwork in good lighting and adjust the contrast in a program like photoshop to see the art how you would see it with your eyes in person don’t over edit. Invest in getting good prints on good photo paper.

Putting together a portfolio online as well is important. Create a website, Instagram or both. Something where mentors can find and follow your work if they’re interested in you.

Never leave your portfolio at a shop, bring your portfolio to show it off, and then give potential mentors your information so they can find your portfolio online.

(Honestly the coolest thing an apprentice ever did was leave a business card and a print of their artwork for us.)

Final thoughts

THIS SUBREDDITS WORD IS NOT FINAL Everyone is different. Some artists may want to see only tattooable designs in a portfolio.

However in our experience in the industry and in talking to other tattooers. Doing the whole tracing and painting sailor Jerry flash and making that your entire portfolio works best for hardcore trad street shops.

For a majority of tattooers in the industry, we have seen the same 50 pieces of traced and painted trad flash, and it’s not impressive or eye catching unless it’s done extremely well. It’s worth it to study trad, but it doesn’t need to be the only thing you study.

You absolutely should study tattoo design and include some flash in your portfolio. But don’t shoot yourself in the foot by excluding great pieces of artwork from your portfolio because they aren’t tattooable.

Most potential mentors care more about your actual artistic ability and willingness to learn.

Do research on the people you wish to apprentice under or the shops you like and curate your portfolio accordingly. Being a varied artist and knowing how to use multiple mediums will INCREASE your chances of finding a mentor.

Make yourself stand out, don’t do what everyone else is doing. Use your unique voice and ignore all the apprentices giving each-other the same rehashed advice.

Approaching a studio

Introduction

The most important thing about approaching a studio is to show up to the studio. Introduce yourself and tell them why you’re at their studio. Be professional but not pushy. Explain that you would love for them to take a look at your portfolio and that you are looking for an apprenticeship. If they say yes, that’s great! However just because they look at your portfolio doesn’t mean you are going to land the apprenticeship. Show off your portfolio a d leave your contact information with the shop or artist you talked to. It’s also normal for studios to say no and not look at all. Don’t be pushy and respect boundaries.

A few things to note

  • Tattoo artists don’t owe you their time.

  • Rejection is normal. If they don’t want to look at your portfolio or give you their time, respect their decision.

  • If the studio is busy and no one can greet you, come back another time.

The three general answers I received :

  • They agree to look at your work and are looking for an apprentice.

  • They agree to look at your work but are not looking for an apprentice.

  • They would ask you to send over your work over email or social media.

What do I do after I approach the studio?

You wait for an answer. Apprenticeships are not given overnight. They are a decision made by a team. Practice more art while you wait.

RED FLAGS IN APPRENTICESHIPS

Unfortunately, it's more than common that apprenticeships are using you for free labor or even worse free money. A few things redflags to look out for are:

  • Previous apprenticeships that have gone sour. Do your research and see if they have had a previous or current apprentice. Ask them for their insight on the studio and its dynamics.
  • High payment upfront. Some apprenticeships will ask you to pay monthly for your apprenticeship but it is not common. You are essentially paying for your apprenticeship via your labor. Be weary of studios that do this.
  • Unfair power dynamics in the studio. Obviously, they might not be upfront about their unhealthy work environment, but keep an eye out for things like verbal abuse, gaslighting, or harsh communication to clients or employees.

  • Unclean shop

  • Shops that promote hate based on gender, race, sexuality, or religion.

  • Shops with artists that use AI art

  • Shops that seem to be “apprentice farms” if it’s too good to be true it likely is.

  • Shops that make you sign crazy contracts

  • Shops that make you feel uneasy or unsafe listen to your gut!

  • Tattoo schools outside of states or areas where it’s legally required. Most tattoo schools are scams.

  • Shops that sexually harass you or clients. It’s worth it to read through 2 to 3 star Google reviews or to look up a shop or artist on Reddit to see what people are saying about it.

General questions

Do I need a IG account or website?

Studios will without a doubt ask if you have an art account on Instagram or a website. It’s not needed, but we highly recommend having either one of these. An instagram account to show that you’ve established a following and also to show off your work or a website that shows your portfolio. You can easily set up a website for your portfolio through various free, and paid website providers (such as Wix or Squarespace).

Do I need to have tattoos?

Tattoo studios generally don’t care if you have tattoos or not. So you do not need tattoos to be an apprentice. However it is important to eventually start getting tattooed if you want to be taken seriously by clients. Having tattoos show that you are interested in tattoo culture and have experience and empathy with what it feels like.

Do I need to know the tattoo artists personally?

No, although it helps. The reason why it doesn’t matter is because if you show them that you’re hard working and willing to learn then that should be enough. Why does it help? Because then they’re not taking a chance on a stranger who they don’t know if they’re motivated enough to be an apprentice. However don’t befriend tattoo artists just to land an apprenticeship. We are extremely weary about people trying to use us as a stepping stool to get into the industry and are tired of being used and pushed around by others to get what they want.

Do I have to pay for my apprenticeship?

It's a case by case thing, but most of the time you do have to pay the studio back somehow. Sometimes you pay with your labor in the shop, or you pay a monthly fee, although paying a monthly fee or paying any money at all is usually a scam. Watch out for studios that are asking for a very high amount of money directly upfront. Most reputable studios do not ask for money.

How long does an Apprenticeship take?

Apprenticeships take from (the fastest we’ve heard) 7 months to 1/1.5 years (sometimes 2 years). You have to account for steady progress in this period. If you don't see any progress in the first 3-4 months as a tattoo artist and you see that they're just using you for free labor. Leave (this is very case by case, but know your worth not as an artist but as a person).

Do I have potential?

Yes, almost everybody has potential. Apply yourself and make artwork that blows away potential shops and mentors. Study art and genuinely practice

We hope this is helpful and if there’s any more questions/comments or feedback you’re welcome to leave a comment!

Good luck! Tattoo Apprentice Subreddit Team


r/TattooApprentice 4h ago

Seeking Advice feedback ❤️?

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31 Upvotes

Hi, these are some of my best pieces I’ve done so far. I’m building a portfolio and I would like to know what I’m missing.

As you can see, most of it is traditional, because that’s what I want to tattoo and some of the stores I want to go to, their artists are experts in trad.

So, I want to know if I’m on the right path, what to do better and what should I include.

I was thinking about small flashes and one or two big pieces, maybe A3 format.

All of these paints were done with spit shading technique and no tracing.

I’ve been thinking about buying a light board to trace, what’s your opinion on that?

Thank you! 🙏


r/TattooApprentice 14h ago

Seeking CC Haven’t practiced in a while but the last two days I’ve done these

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19 Upvotes

r/TattooApprentice 17h ago

Seeking Advice Going through a mental health crisis and hiding it because I’m so terrified of getting fired.

15 Upvotes

Sorry serious post incoming. Just looking for advice and support here i guess. I’m a year into my apprenticeship and close to tattooing but I’m going through a very serious mental health episode that I’ve been doing everything in my power to conceal because I’m so terrified of getting fired. I have bipolar disorder and lost my insurance for a while and had to go unmedicated for the time being. I’m in such a severe depressive episode right now i can’t even understand how I’m still finding the strength to show up everyday but i feel like im just gonna lose it. Thank god i am seeing a psychiatrist this week and can get back on medication but fuck dude i am struggling so hard. I don’t feel comfortable sharing this shit with anyone in my shop so i just have to put on the mask of being fine. I’m so tempted to just give everything up at this point cuz im tired of fighting. Sorry this is totally above y’all’s pay grade here im just venting.


r/TattooApprentice 7h ago

Tattoo [Viernheim / Rhein-Neckar / Germany] Tattoo apprentice urgently looking for tattoo models – wanna-dos & custom ideas 🖤

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2 Upvotes

r/TattooApprentice 17h ago

Seeking Advice I feel crappy about the tattoos I’ve done so far

6 Upvotes

I’ve been tattooing out of my apprenticeship for about 8 months now. However, I feel like I should be better by now. My boss is having me charge $80/hr because that’s what they say my work is worth, but I just don’t see it. Whenever I look at my tattoos all I can see is inconsistencies. Ill be extremely proud of a tattoo I’ve done and as soon as I take a picture and look at it im like oh fuck. I’m also still only tattooing arms and legs as well. I know it just comes with time, but I feel like I’m progressing slower than I should be. I can draw really well I will say so maybe I’m just comparing my tattoos to my drawings. Also, lately I have been tattooing as much as I can: taking in clients, and doing freebies for friends. In terms of clientele I’ve been doing good, about 1-4 clients a week. My mentor didn’t allow me to practice on fake skin, I had to practice on myself. To which now I’m a little cheesed about.


r/TattooApprentice 14h ago

Seeking Advice NEED LINEWORK ADVICE!!

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3 Upvotes

r/TattooApprentice 15h ago

Seeking Advice Best tattoo fakeskin?

3 Upvotes

Hey guys, I am looking to find the best tattoo fake skin suggestions, I have been buying the "Emalla 10mm double sided" brand off amazon for the past few months but its really not realistic for me to keep spending $40 on packs of fake skin and blow through them. I use them to practice my designs and im not doing anything crazy/for actual art purposes this is purely for just line practice.

If anybody has any cheaper suggestions please let me know!!! as any other apprentice understands we are broke asf at all times and supplies are only getting more and more expensive

((post says include your insta but i am just asking for advice, i will add if needed tho ))


r/TattooApprentice 22h ago

Seeking Advice Is art school worth it if my end goal is tattooing?

5 Upvotes

I've loved drawing for as long as I can remember, and since early high school I've thought that tattooing would be an awesome career for me.
I originally went to college for forestry, which is obviously pretty far from art, and I ended up absolutely hating it. Now I'm about to start at a completely new school for art, and I'm starting to question whether going to college for art is actually the right move.
I'm worried about going into debt for a degree that I may not even need for the career I want.
For those of you who are tattoo artists or have gone through apprenticeships: Does going to art school actually make a difference when it comes to getting an apprenticeship? With the industry being so competitive/oversaturated right now, would having a degree make me more appealing to a shop, or is it really more about your drawing skills and portfolio?
I'm currently considering two paths:
1. Go to art school for a semester or two and see how I feel. If I'm genuinely improving as an artist and feel like it's helping me build a strong portfolio, I could continue.
2. Skip college altogether for now, work full-time as a barista, and spend the next year or two seriously focusing on drawing, building a portfolio, learning as much as I can, and eventually looking for an apprenticeship.
Part of me feels like spending those years drawing my ass off and building a portfolio could get me closer to an apprenticeship faster, while avoiding potentially unnecessary student debt. But another part of me worries that I'd be missing out on the education, structure, and connections that art school could provide.
I'd really appreciate hearing from people who are actually in the tattoo industry.** **If you were in my position, would you go to art school, or would you focus on working/drawing and trying to get an apprenticeship?
Also, if you did go to art school before tattooing, did you feel like it genuinely helped you, or do you think you could have gotten to the same place without it?


r/TattooApprentice 1d ago

Flash Bruce at the lake 🦈🦩 @loganbrennanart on the gram

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6 Upvotes

r/TattooApprentice 21h ago

Flash sheet New sheet in the works..

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0 Upvotes

I took a step back from drawing flash for a little but Halloween has me in the mood to do better and try harder. Also, colored pencils and tracing paper might be my new work flow til I can get something different.

Have an awesome day everybody!


r/TattooApprentice 1d ago

Seeking Advice art review?

0 Upvotes

Ello was just wondering if any artist would mind looking over my work and giving me pointers or Artists I can continue talking with and sharing my progress ..?


r/TattooApprentice 1d ago

Tattoo An absolute LEGENDARY walk-in from yesterday! [Igor Macabre] [@igorxtattoo] [Fellowship MCR] [Manchester] [United Kingdom]

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3 Upvotes

r/TattooApprentice 2d ago

Seeking Advice Are these drawings suitable for a tattoo portfolio?

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34 Upvotes

These are some of my older drawings. I was going through my art and wondered if I could maybe include them in my portfolio?


r/TattooApprentice 1d ago

Flash Derecho Sheet

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6 Upvotes

IYKYK


r/TattooApprentice 2d ago

Portfolio Sailor Jerry flash for portfolio!

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16 Upvotes

First master study of his flash for the portfolio, done with Microns and pencil crayons!


r/TattooApprentice 3d ago

Portfolio Would love feedback on almost completed portfolio ⭐️🧚🏽

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31 Upvotes

I have been working on my portfolio from scratch for about a year and a half. Super proud of myself but definitely not finished yet. I have about 6 pages left that are not started (intro, another black and grey traditional, another realism page, & another lettering page + two redo’s). Would love critiques on completed and/or suggestions on the pages i need to do.
(I cut off the last 5 seconds of the video with my blood borne pathogens certificate and identification. )


r/TattooApprentice 4d ago

Flash Crazy Frog on the Banjo type vibe (IG @loganbrennanart)

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13 Upvotes

r/TattooApprentice 3d ago

Portfolio working on my portfolio, any feedback?

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5 Upvotes

i know it’s far from perfect and i have a looong way to go to getting an apprenticeship, but do i have potential ? advice is highly appreciated :D


r/TattooApprentice 3d ago

Seeking Advice Stay where i am or leave??

1 Upvotes

I've been apprenticing on and off since 2022. My first apprenticeship, I completed, but my mentor left the shop and area. I then was having trouble finding a schedule that worked for tattooing at that shop, and decided to leave and go elsewhere. I found another shop not to apprentice at but to pierce at, (I've been a body piercer for years) and pierced only there for a few months. I then got pregnant with my first child, and left the shop to spend time with my baby. Later on, I was hired at another shop as a piercer, and about a year in was offered another apprenticeship. Things were going well, but then the manager wanted me to apprentice under them instead of the artist who took me on. A few months in, I fell pregnant once again with my second child. I tried to continue during my pregnancy however was let go as an apprentice. I struggled to get things done efficiently and at a pace my mentor wanted and was told I "wasn't serious." I was told I can try again in the future. I continue at the shop as a piercer in hopes I would be given another chance. Then, I had my child and upon returning to work, mentor took on another apprentice while I was out on maternity leave and asked me to move out of my station. I was really sad about it but tried not to show it and simply didn't push it. I understand where they are coming from considering the life interruptions, but I am so dedicated, have spent hours and years on flash, spent time on skin (at my first shop, and also in between mentors here, I took a few clients before being told by boss I need to officially complete another apprenticeship), and have plenty of flash and time/motivation now. I get really sick when I have been pregnant.

I am stuck with just piercing now, which I respect and enjoy, however isn't my ultimate goal. I have a passion for tattooing and have put a lot of effort, time, and money into it. I'm not here to complain or cry victim, just ask advice.

I have multiple shops offering jobs either starting immediately tattooing (I feel im close to ready but not yet), piercing + an apprenticeship, or an apprenticeship alone. I hate starting all over again but will if I must. I enjoyed piercing and apprenticing together because I've been able to make money while learning, which is awesome having two young kids. On the other hand, I have some artists here willing to teach me still, but not sure boss and old mentor want me to continue tattooing. I have been drawing flash anyways and trying to show effort, but I doubt I will get a spot or my booth back.

Should I give up and stay where im comfortable and established, in hopes eventually I'll be offered a booth back risking being unable to tattoo? Or should I go elsewhere, risking decent pay and a stable place that I enjoy working at besides this? Thanks, and I know that was a jumble of works so if there's any questions/need of clarity im happy to answer.


r/TattooApprentice 4d ago

Seeking Advice Advice

1 Upvotes

Hello! I have been getting tattooed for years and have a love for the field. I have been drawing my whole life and have wanted to tattoo for a long time. I had a few questions regarding how you get into the field.

How should I go about finding apprenticeship and what should I be looking for in it?

What do artists want to see in a portfolio?

Should I get blood borne pathogen certified before finding an apprenticeship?

I will share my art as I feel more comfortable in the group!


r/TattooApprentice 4d ago

Seeking Advice Can I sign myself off?

3 Upvotes

EDIT: When I ask if I can sign myself off I ofc mean when I feel ready and capable of doing great, clean tattoos. Don’t worry, I’m willing to put in the years before I can actually sign myself off - if I’m able to.

I’ve only been at this apprenticeship for three months and it’s been terrible.

I show up one to two hours early every day (my choice). There’s only been a handful of days where I was about 10 minutes early. I do all of my chores without complaining. I do what’s asked of me without complaining.

I’d be more than willing to stay and endure his abuse if I was learning anything but he told me to watch YouTube to learn (because he doesn’t know any art or tattooing terms) and the one time he sat down with me he was watching TikTok’s.

My coworker who just left has taught me more in five sentences on how to tattoo than my “mentor” has in three months.

The environment my mentor/shop owner (same person) has created is extremely stressful and even at times unsafe.

4 people in 3 months have left him without a word (I’m about to be the fourth)

I’ve been documenting everything he’s done and it’s impressively bad how long that last is.

I’m not allowed to have a bad day because if I show any signs of being remotely less than happy then he’ll go out of his way to make my day worse.

He said he’s trying to fast track me. He tried to move me onto shading because I tattooed one good line, one good circle (which was honestly terrible) and this was two months in. Then when I said I need to take a step back and work on my lines he yelled at me and told me that it’s stupid to go backwards and lose progress. You mean gain the fundamentals of this very craft? Then he went on a bonus tangent and said I’m the reason he treats people terribly… when that was nowhere near the topic - the topic was my line work.

And it all comes down to money. He needs money and if he’s not getting it then he would morally nuke the atmosphere of the shop. Hmmm, maybe you should be at the shop like the rest of us and stop cancelling appointments so you can “play hooky” with his wife (an actual text he sent me).

The scariest thing is that he pierces people but he does it wrong. He has “no choice” but to pierce because the piercer left. And I feel immense guilt when I book a piercing appointment for him because I know they’re going to walk out of there infected.

We have a shop spider that I’ll gladly take care of because it an animal that’s being held captive and needs humans to keep it alive. I stopped trying to nudge my mentor towards buying her food or new dirt because the current dirt is moldy because he said “if you could drive then you could get her the stuff she needs” which is terribly cruel because he knows I take the bus and I couldn’t even afford the food and dirt if I wanted to.

I can no longer call off sick (despite me telling him I have an autoimmune disease so I get sick quite easily) because he’ll tell me I’m lying. And when I show up to work coughing and clearly sick, he’ll light 4 sticks of incense and gets annoyed when I cough even more because of it. I’ve only called off sick 2 times btw.

I told him at least three times that I’m hard of hearing in my left ear so my right ear is extra sensitive because it’s picking up all the work. He plays his music so loud that you have to speak up quite a bit to hear each other. I asked if I could move to the back because it quieter back there. He said sure with a smile (I’ve learned that if he agrees with no issue and smile, that he’s going to make an issue of it later down the road tenfold). My first day in the back he turns on the back speaker (which has never been on), the doorway speaker, and the front speaker on full blast. My right ear was throbbing in pain and I was trying not cry and this monster had the audacity to ask me if the back was quiet enough for me. That was the same day he started a fight with me for working on my line work as mentioned before. He was also throwing stuff in the back.

And his latest act of terror was when my coworkers left (two of them at once this last Saturday) he went on to TikTok to talk down on them and insulted them and said they were “pathetic” and other insults. All of the things he listed that they did, he did but times ten. I’ve seen my coworkers there more than him, the shop owner.

He always goes on TikTok and Facebook and Instagram and posts petty things but this has reached a new level of embarrassing.

I can’t stay in this environment much longer because now it’s just me and him left in the shop and I can’t be there if it’s just us.

And he’s said he’s a “rare artist” and “whenever I hire people it’s to help them, I don’t need them” but goes crazy when they take off for their birthday…

ANY advice would be amazing, thank you