Well, ever since I could draw, that's all I've ever wanted to do. And I don't mean to sound stuck up, but I'm really pretty good. Everyone has been telling me my whole life "get into graphic design, go work for a design firm, etc, etc..." There's a couple problems though, Number one, art school costs a FREAKING TON. Second, I don't need a degree to tell me and everyone else that I'm an artist. People see my drawings and are instantly amazed at my ability. Third and most importantly, I don't want to be sitting behind a drafter's table for the rest of my days, sharpening my pencil and drawing things for some big corporation that is just going to send me a check and tell me to have it done yesterday.
I went into the tattoo parlor across the street from my work the other day and asked the guy there, Derek, about doing an apprenticeship. He asked me if I had a portfolio, which I don't. All I have is my 2 or 3 sketchbooks that I keep in my bag. He flipped through them for a few minutes, and looked at me and said "did you draw all these?" I told him yes, and he said that my stuff was the best he'd ever seen of a person coming in and asking about becoming a tattoo artist.
He has to be in the state for another year to be able to teach legally, but in the meantime wants me to work in his shop, like doing shit work (making needles, sterilizing, answering the phone, blah blah blah), but mainly watching him and studying how it's done. I need 750 theory hours and 50 separate procedures in order to get my license, but none of what I would be doing there in the meantime would count toward it. However in a year, I'll have more experience going into my apprenticeship than most people ever do.
I'm going out to lunch with him tomorrow, and we're going to talk specifics and see what he can do to get me into the business. I'll let you guys know what happens.
I went into the tattoo parlor across the street from my work the other day and asked the guy there, Derek, about doing an apprenticeship. He asked me if I had a portfolio, which I don't. All I have is my 2 or 3 sketchbooks that I keep in my bag. He flipped through them for a few minutes, and looked at me and said "did you draw all these?" I told him yes, and he said that my stuff was the best he'd ever seen of a person coming in and asking about becoming a tattoo artist.
He has to be in the state for another year to be able to teach legally, but in the meantime wants me to work in his shop, like doing shit work (making needles, sterilizing, answering the phone, blah blah blah), but mainly watching him and studying how it's done. I need 750 theory hours and 50 separate procedures in order to get my license, but none of what I would be doing there in the meantime would count toward it. However in a year, I'll have more experience going into my apprenticeship than most people ever do.
I'm going out to lunch with him tomorrow, and we're going to talk specifics and see what he can do to get me into the business. I'll let you guys know what happens.
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