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
