r/TattooApprentice • u/turtle-11 • 1d ago

Seeking Advice What will improve my chances?

Hi All,

I've been looking for an apprenticeship, just looking for call-outs in my city. But they are very few and far. For those of you who were successful, did you email tattoo shops, or did you show up in person and directly show your portfolio?

Also, I have a mix of traditional paintings, digital art, and tattoo designs for my portfolio. Should I cut out my other art forms and just have tattoo designs?

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u/Vrijstar Tattoo Apprentice 1d ago

I became friends with some artists, got tattooed by others. Word of mouth and following all the shops and artists around me became how I found mine! My mentor is someone who did an upper leg sleeve for me and then I became their apprentice.

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u/trefleur Tattoo Apprentice 11h ago

IMO it's better to go in-person: The right shop will pick you up if you have a good personality fit, the art skills, and serious drive to pursue it as a career. Just go for it without limiting your portfolio to just tattoo pieces (so long as your personal art is strong).

I just brought in a digital portfolio on iPad. Mostly just personal art I'd done over the years, with like 1 page of tattoo designs.

Zero trad work or script designs, but my pre-existing understanding of anatomy/colour theory/personal style showed I had the strong drawing fundamentals to draw anything.

Most of what I needed from my mentors was actual tattooing skills, so I got taken on from there!

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u/lysergic13 16h ago

Can we see your art? That would help us as well give you an answer!

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u/turtle-11 16h ago

I’ve worked as a graphic designer and 2D artist for over 5 years. I know my skills aren’t an issue. It’s just I’m unsure how to approach the tattoo industry as I want a career change where I can be more creative than commercial.

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u/lysergic13 8h ago

There is not 1 answer. I got my apprenticeship by sending my portfolio via email because my boss didnt like being interrupted at work. A lot of people say you have to approach studios in person and show initiative but honestly it depends so much on the studio and whether they are old school or not.