So You Want To Be A Tattoo Apprentice?

[@bukoetattoo5680]

I watched this video before I landed my apprenticeship, I took this video seriously, I went and got my first tattoos and practiced my style every day until it become an obsession. It wasnt easy and it still ain't easy but you have to love it. I got my license in jan of this year and I've been getting recognized as a letter artist. Thanks for the advice 🙏

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Aw dude, that rules! Stoked to have been able to assist in any way I could!

[@RyokoInk]

Grats dude.

[@QyanLy]

I actually got an apprenticeship when I did not have any tattoos. Why did I not have any tattoos? Because I had no money to pay actual good artists.

[@oksanakemarskaya2268]

Same... got my apprenticeship with clean skin. Only portfolio. I keep skin for a big suit, don’t want to have little patches

[@ndiaperkins5999]

@@oksanakemarskaya2268 do you have any tips on building a portfolio?

[@oksanakemarskaya2268]

@@ndiaperkins5999 all my apprentice work is in @kimazoart

[@intutivetarot7596]

Ironically I got a tattoo apprenticeship last week. By using my artwork on my iPad and my physical portfolio with original artwork all finished. My teacher is pretty laid back and he left my work whether it was digital or traditional so I got super lucky with that one!

[@dylan251]

Update on how it’s going?

[@scarlett6841]

I’ve just been offered an apprenticeship today. I didn’t apply, but my mum went to get a tattoo I designed and the artist loved it so much he’s asking me to become an apprentice. I’m 16 so I don’t have tattoos nor have I even had one done, but my passion for tattoos is so immense I want to dedicate my life to the craft. So to everyone who wants to break into the industry, sometimes opportunities will come to you. If you were to see me on the streets you would NEVER think that this was for me, nor would you think I was capable of preforming to the same standard as most apprentices in there 20s. But work hard and fight for you’re place. Keep trying people, do what you love and best of luck to anyone like me wanting to get into the industry. Even if you’re a young girl still in school, someone may see your potential. Best luck to anyone out there wanting to be a tattoo artist, work hard, and keep trying!! I can’t wait to learn and become the artist I dream of being. If any tattoo artists here have any advice for me, I would really love to hear what anyone has to say. I know this is a tough industry, and I want to listen and learn from anyone who’s willing to teach me

[@Dewydewdr0ps]

You're a bad ass!!

[@selviodsouza7342]

Damn that hit hard

[@jessicamessica2271]

That's awesome!

[@coolandcooler1]

Don’t let this video turn you off. I got a apprenticeship with a messy sketchbook. Would it be easier with a professional portfolio? Yes most likely, but if they see the potential in your art and your determination to work hard that won’t matter.

[@johnhendrix222]

Sounds like the musing of a out of touch self righteous cunt if you ask me....there's many examples of people who revolutionized industries without being entirely emerced in its culture. Fuck his snobbery.

[@Enkeria]

To anyone thinking about becoming an apprentice. This video explains it pretty spot on. I am an apprentice 1 year back. I have few more to go.

[@brittlebonez666]

I’m extremely passionate about tattoos and the art form - I hope to become an apprentice and shadow realism/black and grey artists in my town but I’m worried that without any tattoos, I won’t be recognised for my talent in art (I’m not delusional, I know that I’m good and hope to follow this path) - I want tattoos, of course, however I am not financially stable and can’t afford luxuries like that at the moment- amazing video though!

[@keatonferrin6340]

WhyMe Leigh bruh same here! I’ve only done my own

[@toni9141]

yeah I wanted to use my money from creating tattoos to get tattoos myself but there's a bit of a paradox there if what he's saying applies everywhere

[@marwk8287]

ikr they take in as if you not having tattoos is the equivalent of you not knowing or taking serious what you do.

[@jays2381]

I did a shit ton of styles just to get in too a shop i was in I quit after five artist left the shop and left me with no teacher after wasting months of my life busting my ass .you should have said make sure its a clean, friendly and good shop .

[@tomrush08]

Dude seems to just want you to experience the same misery as him it seems

[@GoddessDevilDoll]

Those three dislikes are probs the art students getting butt hurt with what you said hahh

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

In this day and age, there is simply no way to please everyone-- to be honest, a few dislikes is far, far better than I expected. I've been waiting for the flame-troll-brigade since my first upload. :)

[@mikoj5788]

I agree with everything you say except for the person having to have a tattoo. That's kind of judgemental, like when you lose out on other jobs because you do have a tattoo. I somewhat understand when you say it's difficult for you to know what your client is going through if you've never experienced it, but tattoos are expensive, and if you're fresh out of art school or have a pretty crappy paying job, I mean, tats are expensive and not having one shouldn't affect how you do your job in any way. I'm looking into both getting into the industry and getting a tattoo, but I don't have a spare £100 lying around right now.

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Normally, for this channel, I try not to be adversarial-- however, on this one topic, I am unrepentant and unapologetic. It is my opinion that one has absolutely zero right, period, to tattoo anyone unless you're already tattooed. This is a sacred, ancient tradition. It deserves the utmost respect. No one has the right to treat it like a disposable retail job. If you think so little of tattooing that you don't have any, then you clearly don't have respect for it and dont have the right to profit off of it.

[@mikoj5788]

@@PennyBlackTattoo I think we kind of disagree on that one, the only reason I dont yet have a tattoo is purely because of the price, I simply can't afford one right now. I know what I want, I know which artist to go for, but right now I just can't and am desperately saving for one stuck in a horrid call centre job and have been for over 6mths. To me, that is dedication, and if an artist rights me off for not yet having a tattoo it just doesn't seem fair. I suppose being stuck in this job for another 6mths to a year will be the price I have to pay to get where I want to be, which hopefully is to be able to have my works appear on someone's body which to me is a far higher honour than having it in a gallery.

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

You're attempting to discredit my points with absurd black-and-white scenarios. Medical reasons? As if. I've been in this game for some time now, and I'm telling you straight out, "medical reasons" is such a ridiculous outlier as to not even be worth discussing. What medical reasons would even preclude obtaining tattoos? Eczema? I've known plenty of extreme cases of Eczema with tattoos. Same is true with extreme Psoriasis. Skin cancer? With the exception of treatment processes, that doesnt rule out tattooing. I have double lung transplant clients on the most hardcore anti-rejection drugs available with staggeringly compromised immune systems that have been cleared for tattooing, I have double-mastectomy clients with -extensive- nerve damage to their entire epidermis that can get tattoos... so it seems to me you're grasping at straws trying to "get me" with your "what about"-isms.
Besides, thats beside the point anyways. The issue at hand is the increasing volume in entitled little snowflakes who believe it is their RIGHT to exploit this ancient and sacred art form, that they DESERVE to earn all-the-dollars without having to pay a single due. In this they are mistaken. Just because the world has been handing them participation trophies up to the point where they walk through my doors does NOT mean I will continue to feed their delusions.
Your own point about ob-gyns falls apart when you ask any woman on earth how happy they are with a man telling them what to do with their body. It FURTHER falls apart when one does even the most basic research into the actual numbers, seeing as how not only is the field traditionally not THAT imbalanced, but the numbers show OVERWHELMINGLY that women are the ones entering that field of medicine FAR IN EXCESS of men (As of last year, 82 percent of doctors nationally matching into OB-GYN residency programs are women). It's simple math: a women will always feel more comfortable with a woman ob-gyn, because a man doesn't have the firsthand knowledge and experience of the female body. By logical extension, any client will always feel more trust in a tattoo artist who can demonstrably prove firsthand experience over some softened hipster kid who's only heard hypotheticals.

[@OzyIllustrates]

Penny Black lol calm your tits man. If anyone’s a special snowflake right now, you’re hitting the mark. And, alright, you don’t think illness is a reasonable excuse NOT to get inked. Then you better not be turning away artists that have HIV, leukemia, and several different types of skin conditions where even a small paper cut could result in the person bleeding out as if they were shot with a shotgun. Lol listen, turn off your over emotional and highly sensitive brain for a second and think about it. Just as there are dozens of reasons to GET a tattoo there are just as many reasons to NOT. Doesn’t change the artists ability, their business senses OR their ability to sympathize with clients. You think only people who get tattoos know what it’s like to get repeatedly stuck with needles over a set of hours? HA! Not even close my friend. There are millions of people who get poked and prodded daily with multiple sized needles, some never leave their body. It’s not a unique thing only for tattooers. Simple as that. But, if you wana say that all blanks are incapable of being real tattooers and are just some lazy ass punks and whatnot, by all means do so. But don’t you dare get butthurt or even file a lawsuit when someone takes one look at you and calls the cops because they’re afraid you’ll rob them simply because you HAVE tattoos. Or that rumors go around that your employees and your shop is filled with drugs and run by gangsters and ex cons simply because you ALL have tattoos and are tattoo artists. It’s the same mo. Don’t like it? Tough tits and floppy dicks. That’s the way it is and that’s the way it always has been. For as long as there have been tattoos they and the people that have them have been seen as degenerates, criminals and low life’s. If you wana do right by the craft, honor the craft. Stop getting offended just because someone doesn’t look like you. It’s just silly.
Oh, and I would watch out how you phrase things to do with females lol saying things like “women will always want...” means that you know what women want and that’s not possible because, well, you’re a dick carrying dude lol don’t want the ladies to think you’re some ass who presumes to know and understand that with which you have no connection with whatsoever, now do you? 😉😎 keep up with the good tats man! And stay out of glass houses as much as you can lol

[@slothy1030]

I wouldn't get a tattoo from someone who isn't tattooed lol

[@olivituss5140]

Wow, that camerawork made me feel seasick... Very good advice tho.

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Haha, oops! Im going to guess the rest of my videos arent going to be much better for you, visually... :(

[@olivituss5140]

@@PennyBlackTattoo I get disoriented easily if there's uneven camera movement on screen (shaky cam kills my eyes lol). I'm sure most people don't notice it at all. I might still watch a few more, as I found this one very interesting. My first comment was unnecessarily rude. Sorry about that!

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

@@olivituss5140 It's all good. I try to avoid the usual "talking head" format--- but I guess its going not work so well for 100% of viewers... maybe just listen to the others? How much of my mug do you really -need- to actually see, after all? :)

[@olivituss5140]

@@PennyBlackTattoo Haha, well I prefer to see the person who's talking, but I'll work it out. Keep doing what you're doing, dude. (:

[@maymarzipan6697]

me too! haha still watching it though

[@pushinsince9339]

thank you for this! This will definitely help me in the future when I find who I want to be my teacher, for now I'm trying to hone my skills at drawing, painting, and sculpting, but I definitely will be a tattoo artist one day and if I ever meet you in the future, I'm going to thank you for this video.

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Glad to help, and I hope it does-- its a hard business to get into and succeed in, but it can be so worth it!

[@leralle5454]

I just got an apprenticeship but I only have one tiny tattoo but he loved my art style and portfolio. And I start in a month and I’m so excited

[@stephanlukas8623]

Thanks so much for this. I finished art school + stupidly bought a machine from my partner and immediately gained so much interest in the medium aside from the professional tattoos I’ve gotten. Been trying to figure out how to navigate that part of my “bad past” because all I want to do truly is fix what I’ve been doing wrong the entire time, learn constantly, go fully professional with my work and WORK HARD! I want to be honest and upfront about it, and I’d rather be rejected for that than just lie, doesn’t feel right. These tips are really similar to the instruction i had in art school when looking for a job and really brutally honest. Really taking all of this to heart and even more motivated than before to keep working on my portfolio. Thanks again for the advice.

[@KRISDIVIDE]

I became an apprentice few days ago, i brough a portfolio with art on paper and i brought my iPad, i showed some iPad drawings first and i got my apprenticeship cuz of that

[@qwertyahnumber5]

just some advice, for hand held shots during interviews frame the subject in a specific area and keep them there even if the camera moves a little bit.

[@jubiejones9357]

I feel like saying you must have a tattoo doesn’t make all that sense, I’m looking to be a tattoo artist (can’t afford a tattoo) what he says is like saying “you can’t be a doctor unless you have had every sickness”. if the person Is willing to put their life into tattooing why turn them away for not having one?

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

You aren't "putting your life into it" if you don't even have a single tattoo. Also, your doctor analogy does apply- no one would trust a doctor who had never been ill at any point ever in their entire life, just like a tattoo artist with no tattoos can't ever truly be trusted to know what the hell they're talking about. Theoretical knowledge will *always* be inferior to practical, period

[@dogseasgod6013]

I agree with him if he means like ... one or two tattoos but I think it’s stupid for all tattoo artists to be heavily / visibly tattooed tbh. Some people just don’t like that look but enjoy doing it on other people

[@eliskasommerova9697]

JubieTHEJones13 i absolutely agree with you. ❤️

[@verasteiner7292]

i agree with you. You do not need to be heavy tattooed to be an tattoo artist. Does not make any sense to me. Why should i have tons of tattoos when i enjoy needle them into my canvases.

[@madbrah8361]

@@verasteiner7292 So you can understand how your client feels, especially in rough areas. You also learn a lot from getting tattooed by artists you look up to and pick their brains..

[@bb-qw2pu]

Hi Keith,
Awesome video. I have been drawing as much as I can everyday for 3 years now. Spent around 2 years on my tattoo portfolio. Almost ready to start bringing it into shops. With that being said, I have so much love for artists like you who take the time to make informative videos for those of us who are interested in pursuing this career. Just wanted to say thank you!

[@Zombosis]

Awesome! Best of luck, and remember-- persevere!! Don't give up at the first challenge! :)

[@TheAngryCanadianKaren]

Amazing video. Oh my god the ending. I screamed “that had to be said?!” And immediately he says in the video “that happened like four days ago!”
HOLY SHIT 😂

[@Zombosis]

Yeah. Sadly, the misconception that this is an "easy money" industry attracts all kinds of... interesting... characters... :)

[@TheAngryCanadianKaren]

Keith Durocher the idea of that makes me sick to my core. You said it so well. My art and craft is NOT your paycheque (:

[@survivingzgamer]

I’m a bit confused on why it’s a deal breaker to not know the older greats. Tattooing has been around for so long and has had so many experienced artists you could absorb knowledge everyday without seeing their work. There are also newer styles that rose in popularity after their active years. I get why it’d be useful to know the history but I don’t get why it’s a deal breaker, you don’t need to know who brewed beer in the prohibition to learn how to make an ale.

[@octopusmint]

I'd love to get an apprenticeship but 99% of tattoo artists have a god complex and I'd rather be a scratcher than deal with douchebags for a year. You're putting your line of work up there with other art forms like painting and illustrating but it would be damn strange to find a painter as full of himself as an average tattoo artist smh, just listen to the way you speak dude.

[@Zombosis]

Finding arrogant painters and illustrators is laughably easy, so I'm left to wonder where it is you're from-- a bizarro-world where all-but-one-percent of tattoo artists are arrogant, and all other artists are humble and down to earth. Wherever it is you're drawing your opinions from, it's leaving you with a comically distorted point of view. I guess its a good thing you'd "rather be a scratcher", 'cause thats likely the only avenue available to you with the attitude you're showing with this comment. It does make one wonder though-- which came first? Your attitude because of your inability to find an apprenticeship, or your inability to find an apprenticeship because of your attitude?

[@octopusmint]

@@Zombosis I finished two European art schools and got a degree in illustration so I'm around painters and illustrators a lot and I stand behind what I said. Are there douchebags everywhere? Sure. But they're in minority. My point is that out of tattoo artists - 99% are douchebags. The 1% is rare to find and they're mostly from Asia/Korean or girls. The white straight male that thinks he's the god almighty because he can tattoo the same old skulls, roses and butterflies that we've all seen done too many times is what I do not want to deal with. And guys like that are in every studio. Cringe!

[@davidbrown1010]

I would love to get into tattooing. Sad part is that I don't have any art or drawing experience. My wife and her brother are scratchers. They both have worked on me.

[@janamatrix8387]

Listen to the way he speaks? He sounds like someone who was properly broken down during their apprenticeship and understands the importance of learning to tattoo. It just sounds like he hit one of your soft spots, because something he said actually applies to you.

[@devin121]

WaterHorse yeah you have a negative way of thinking think about all the down to earth cool artists out there there’s plenty of them and 99% is an extreme exaggeration

[@IcarusRising866]

Scottish Highlands to Vancouver would be a hell of a commute. Great stuff. Tattooing will always be my dream, just need to find the courage to start pursuing it like I mean it. Lots of work I have to do on myself before even starting to look for apprenticeships. But what you are saying here is a great motivator, thanks for taking the time for doing that!

[@Zombosis]

Ooof, and I'm really unfamiliar with the tattoo scene in Scotland, I don't even have some studios to recommend to you. Closest I have to that are a few in the UK. I'm heading to Ireland in March, and we -might- hop a Ryanair over to either Glasgow or Edinborough, and if thats the case I might try to make some connections, but thats a long time to wait for a recommendation. :)
Just take your time feeling out as many studios as you can. Go in, look at books, see how you're treated, and let your heart guide you from there. Then start pestering for training. :)

[@jakecremean9533]

my absolute favorite artist has no tattoos, so i’m glad someone took them on as an apprentice. their work should be the only thing that matters. if they can tattoo me extremely well then why would i care if they have tattoos or not.

[@JoSe-ow4ut]

im a tattoo artist, but i dont have tattoo's. it hurts me when i hear someone that tells me that, i just started recently.. maybe a month. in our country, you cant get a decent life when you have a tattoo. they discriminate us. but i still pursue my passion becoming a tattoo artist.. coz i love it. i dont even earn money from the 1st day until now. i only do it for free.. so dont tell people that they dont deserve to be a tattoo artist if we dont have exp it on ourselves.

[@Zombosis]

You can't call it a 'passion' if you believe so little in it that you won't get any yourself. Your excuses about your country don't hold any validity, if anything that makes it WORSE that you would apply tattoos to others knowing that what you're doing is going to subject your client to discrimination that you yourself fear so much that you refuse to get tattoos. I hardly believe an untrained scratcher with a months time under their belt is in a position of authority on this subject. Pay some dues, then we can revisit the subject. Hopefully by that time you'll have developed some respect for the craft.

[@nicolegray608]

I love how honest and to the point this video was, thank you for the advice.

[@jackiemeans5321]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video! It was refreshing with added humor. I'm currently working on my own portfolio and appreciate your suggestions.

[@LivingwithPerks]

4:24 - When you say your favorite artist is the person you want to apprentice under and then you get called: 2:15

[@Xtinejoijones]

I want to become a tattoo artist with a passion and willing to do the work to get there. But I don't want to lace my body with tattoos. I know that might sound strange, but I am an artist at heart. I love the fundamentals, I love the time and work to make a well balanced drawing. But I just personally don't want to have drawings on my body. Is there something wrong with that?

[@Zombosis]

Yes. Inherently. Tattoo is not like other forms of art, there is as much ritualistic/spiritual as there is creative talent and craft- anyone who attempts tattooing with so little regard for the deeply ingrained culture that they wouldnt have any work of their own is showing, at best, that they're exploitative scabs. Thats before we even touch on the idea of appropriation. Let me repeat: my culture is not your paycheque- believe in tattoo in its entirety or dont do it.

[@MissJodles]

Personally I think yes, if you don’t want art on your body I don’t think the tattoo industry is the right job for you. Any artist of any medium can enjoy the aspect of a balanced drawing and the techniques, but you’re better off selling prints or doing commissioned paintings if that’s the case. Tattooing is more than just drawing: it’s medical, it’s about healing, aftercare, skin penetration, bleeding, placements on the body, and is one of the jobs with the most poignant and specific culture surrounding the industry that it seems a bit ridiculous to become a part of it if you don’t respect it.

[@Mittsthebear]

I got an apprenticeship at a reputable shop without tattoos. I don’t have the money to pay good artists and that by no means affects my artistic ability or drive to tattoo.

[@rogernorden210]

I apprenticed in 93 listen to what this man says no bull shit nothing was handed to me the bull shit I went through was well worth it in the end

[@Hazardguysgolf]

I’ve watched this video probably 50 times this year

[@joshcookify]

Thank you for the video (for all of your videos) and your advice. I think some aspects of the industry are changing for the better in regards to apprenticeships but sounds like most of this still stands. Tattoo is the most unique industry out there with requirements for entry not seen in any other industry (I don't have to have a contractor build my house and hang out with them for a few years before learning the how to frame a house) but it is what it is. Your advise was extremely helpful.

[@psychedelicbdsm7301]

"functionally, my craft and culture is not your fucking paycheck"
that can be said on behalf of all creative artists - couldn't have said it any better

[@zer0291]

Thank you doing this video, its going to help me having more knowledge as I'm working to get an apprenticeship and I'm constantly drawing and working on a lot of other things with the help of the info from this video will help me out a lot. I can't thank you enough for this video and information.

[@viincreations]

This is some legit advice thank you 🙏

[@amberborum9926]

NGL, I was agreeing with the contents of the video until I heard you say "People without tattoos shouldn't be tattoo artists". And the bigoted replies you wrote to some comments... Just, stop.
As a woman, it's also very offensive when someone says "all women/men want yada-yada", which in this case you stated that "all women wont a gyno who's female", which is NOT the case as even though men can't go through what women go through physically, some men gynos are actually more GENTLE and EMPATHIZING than women gynos. I've literally had a female doctor basically say "suck it up" when it felt like my insides were tearing inside (PS - her idiocy didn't make the pain any better and later I found out I have a condition which makes everything painful, by the doctor's nurse - not the doctor herself). You would THINK another woman would understand the woes of having a big ass metal clamp in your goods and have more experience treating other female patients with different health conditions, but that's not actually the case. I've also had other women, who have had several kids in their lives and are used as literal walking vaginas, tell me that "life isn't worth living without kids" - which is such utter bullshit because EVERY person has their own value in life that doesn't have to be the same as everyone else. And - SHOCKER - Not all tattoo artists have to have tattoos either!
So let me just tell you now.... HAVING TATTOOS DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN YOU ARE ABLE TO EMPATHIZE WITH OTHER PEOPLE GETTING THEM. Some people are way more sensitive than others while some just feel fine through the needle stabbing. And some people just plain suck at empathizing with others to begin with, which has NOTHING to do with having tattoos and MORE to do with not having the right mind-set to understand and listen to others.

[@Zombosis]

Anyone who tattoos anyone else without having tattoos is a disrespectful, self entitled asshole. What's funny is, it's always other disrespectful self entitled assholes who argue the loudest about how a tattoo artist doesn't need to have tattoos to do tattoos. Respect the craft, culture, and artistry of tattoo, or get the fuck out. End of story. No amount of indignant petulance will ever change that.

[@jessicamessica2271]

Frankly I think it's ridiculous. Im fine with tatooless apprentices, maybe they haven't decided what they want for sure yet. It's a big commitment and expensw.
Surgeons are out performing open heart surgery even If they've never had surgery, Lawyers are our defending cases when they've never been charged with a crime. Your grubhub delivery driver may have never ordered grubhub before but he knows how to do it. Nasa engineers design space ships even though they never get to ride in them. I don't care if the triple AAA guy rides a bike to work if he changes my tire properly, he probably still knows more than me because he has training.
The way I see it, is if you have the training and the skills to know how to do something, it doesn't matter as much if your been in the customer's chair or not, in my opinion

[@wiiishfulthinker]

woah this guy is so posh and wise woah

[@ktkami9616]

i'm sorry how did you just pronounce van gogh

[@Zombosis]

I've been pronouncing it Van-GOFF for years, but apparently that is also incorrect-- a quick google tells me I've been murdering the proper Dutch pronunciation. Apparently "Van VEK" is an acceptable phonetic Anglicization. Phonetically, the Dutch would say "Van VUCK". Bottom line is, "Van Go" and "Van Goff" are both wrong, and I am shamed at my lack of linguistic awareness. :)

[@ktkami9616]

@@Zombosis whoa i never knew that! now i'm ashamed too! u learn something new every day

[@floydprice3829]

You are very well spoken and passionate. Very inspiring to us greenhorns 💘

[@ebztofied]

I have this total awesome dude giving me a chance to prove myself before officially giving me an apprenticeship. He let's me come in and hang out in the shop before I got to work and even gives me homework. How should I increase my chances to garuntee my apprenticeship beyond all the effort I'm already putting in?

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Well, first off, congrats on the first stage! My advice to you is, do everything you can to prove you're reliable. Be a steady rock- do everything asked and more! After that-- WATCH!!!! I can't stress that enough. Watch each and every tattoo you can. Watch ALL of it: design, prep, set up, tattoo, aftercare, tear down, then do it again and again. Ask relevant questions. Show that you want to LEARN everything you possibly can. Always, always watch. Its the best path to learning, and it shows your (potential) mentor that you're not taking the whole thing for granted and that you're serious. Good luck!

[@ebztofied]

@@PennyBlackTattoo thank you so much for the advice!! I'm so excited and really hope I'm the best tattoo Padawan anybody's ever had 🤣

[@navinewolf]

Thanks for sharing your insight! Awesome video with a lot of great information

[@Ty35294]

This varies on shop I used my phone because I don't have a portfolio and my artwork get messed up afterwards so I save the clean photo in my phone. I spilled coffee on my mother Mary but I got a pic of it before it happened

[@sarahpeartart]

Thankyou. Valuable info!

[@agentbacojones5082]

Idk why but I was watching this when I was on acid worst choice of my life it ruined my trip

[@aDayToF0rget]

I didn’t agree with everything you said, but gladly stayed because you are where I want to be, many years in the future. Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Sorry so many people in the comments weren’t prepared to hear the truth😂

[@mmushypushy]

Thank you. Needed this advice.

[@getinthevanihavecandy]

The only things that stopped me from pursuing an apprenticeship was that I wasnt living in my moms basement. I had a job and bills and a house and numerous other things people need to survive on thd planet. I never did ask and just assumed that tattoo artists wouldn't look at me twice if i said I could only come on my days off.
Have you had this type of person ever ask for an apprenticeship?
I dont want to sound like a jerk but it just seems like you'd have to be a complete loser to be able to get an apprenticeship and not have any income? Am I way off or..?

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

No, you're not really off the mark--- but its not that you'd need to be a complete loser so much as perhaps be young enough to still have a stable home life that doesnt require 'adulthood' expenses. Doesnt automatically mean basement-dweller. But the fact is, most trades can't be learned very effectively via part-time, and tattoo is no exception. It will always be harder, far far harder for anyone trying to succeed in tattoo with only a few days/hours a week to dedicate to it. Many studios would rather not drag the process out like that.
However---
Having said that, both the students at our shop right now have day jobs. It's not impossible to find a place willing to work within the realities of life. Not impossible, but certainly challenging.
While you're right that -some- artists wouldnt look twice at you owing to your situation, in cases like that you probably wouldn't want to work with them anyways. The artists worth learning under will look at *everything* you have to offer before deciding whether or not to take you on, not just flippantly dismiss you because you have to juggle learning with survival.

[@getinthevanihavecandy]

@@PennyBlackTattoo well said sir, thanks. I didnt mean to come off as better than anyone else, it just always bugged me as it was/is something Id really like to do.

[@TKO-1503]

Just because you wanted to be a tattoo artist but didn’t “make time” isn’t our fault don’t refer to us as losers. What’s the matter with you? I was in the army deployed and practicing
When I came back I went to work got off work showered spent time with my wife and went to the tattoo shop from 10pm till 2 am they’re closing time everyday for me years and all day Saturday half day Sunday don’t make excuses and offend us calling others losers.
Where do you get off.

[@andyhowden7655]

Auto mechanic with No licence or car that's cracked me up. So true........Shit I best get some tats ASAP!

[@shortyj1976]

i have a few thoughts ...first of all there are some people that shouldn't get tattoos (those people that have diabetes that is out of control(straight from a doctors mouth btw) also let me try and understand what you were sayin...as a tattoo artist do u get paid for your work(yes) so your job is a tattoo artist..job being the important word ...tattooing is a job by definition , u are providing a service that you get paid to perform ...another thing that struck me odd was when u said that we should know what its like to get tattooed before tattooing others ..I have had several major surgeries and i can tell you that a tattoo is nothing pain wise ...also i have heard of people paying their "dues" and working as apprentices for years with no real time table as to when they might finally be done apprenticeship (shouldn't there be a some kinda time limit) considering most apprentices do the setup/breakdown, cleaning etc.as well as do it for free ...seems like a scam to me

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

First: I'm not sure what doctor told you diabetics can't be tattooed, but I assure you that is incorrect. There is no reason why diabetes would preclude getting tattoos, and I myself have tattooed countless clients with diabetes. You do say "diabetes that is out of control", but that's a circumstance so absurd as to not require mentioning. Yes, someone in a diabetic coma shouldnt be getting tattooed. By that same logic, we can also conclude that someone with an open shotgun wound should also avoid getting tattooed, and perhaps a woman mid-childbirth might want to reschedule her session.
Secondly: I'm not exactly sure what your follow-up point is supposed to be? I get paid to tattoo, therefore it's a job, and...? And what? You haven't really finished your thought or made your point here.
Thirdly: pain isnt a singular sensation. Just because you've had several major surgeries doesn't mean you automatically understand every possible form of pain, and dismissing anything you consider to be "less" than the extremes you've experienced is glib at best, condescending at worst. Having a working firsthand understanding of all the different levels of pain is an essential aspect of the experience and expertise demanded of a tattoo artist.
Fourth: apprentices who are never given an end point have chosen poorly when it comes to their apprenticeships, but that in no way invalidates the entire concept of an apprenticeship.
I value feedback, but I am a little unclear as to the overall message you're trying to get across here. It seems like you're against apprenticeships in a general sense, but you dont have much in the way of specifics to validate your position. It also doesnt seem like your point of view is that of someone who does tattoo or is planning on tattooing.

[@madbrah8361]

you sound like an idiot I hope in the two years your mindset has changed a lot.

[@yetsket7317]

Thanks for this video! I really want to get intro the art of tattooing I’ve always loved it since I was little and my dad and uncle would get tattoos all the time. I’m not of age to get an apprenticeship (I’m 15) but this is so helpful so I can see what is expected of me! Thanks!

[@yetsket7317]

Also I can’t get any tattoos until I’m 18 because my mother hates them and won’t sign off on one

[@Zombosis]

@@yetsket7317 there are aspects of the process you can start now--- get in all the tattoo art history training you can. Study up on your blood-bourne pathogen control/prevention, get your knowledge of asceptic procedures down. Draw, draw, draw--- copy as much flash as you can. 100 roses, 100 anchors, 100 dragons. Think of it like doing forms for martial arts. By the time you're 18, not only will you be ready as fuck for your first work, you'll also be three steps ahead of most apprentice applicants, because you'll already have spent three years studying all the aspects of the career that aren't just art. Most mentors will respond to that, shows serious commitment.

[@yetsket7317]

Keith Durocher Wow thank you for the advice, this helps a lot! I’ve been working on drawing specific things a lot as well

[@kennynyc1555]

Great stuff man

[@Jr-Cane-Corso]

Thank you for the advice!

[@Bigbagingi]

Pure gold video right here. Been tattooing for 7 months full time now after a three year apprenticeship. Still a very short apprenticeship in many tattooers eyes, I’m very fortunate. This stuffs the truth.

[@colette14373]

Whilst I stand by the majority of your video, I disagree with your statement on having tattoos to tattoo. I recently got an apprenticeship with no tattoos. Though I hope to in the future once I have found a design that truly means the most to me, my dad was a well-known 1970s/80s traditional tattooist (Graham Townsend) - he didn't get a single tattoo his entire career. It never affected his ability to create beautiful artwork and understanding for others, and work alongside the likes of Jessie Knight, etc. He was tattooing during a movement for tattooing itself and nobody made a fuss. He wouldn't want me to get a tattoo until I KNOW I want it, otherwise it's basically disrespecting the culture another way, being how permanent and meaningful they should be. Just to be tattooed over? Just to be hated for a lifetime? People making tattooing elitist and 'macho' like yourself are a problem. Art is art. Meaningful design takes time.

[@KarbonElement]

This was great advice

[@reginadelreal9623]

This is million dollar advise, thank you so much!

[@OMFGITSVIKKI]

lol I basically experienced the hazing and grilling and teasing as an employee at a shop. I was the counter person and they told me from day one no apprenticeship and then still treated me like one. 😭

[@nikedomus]

Thousand miles from home to apprenticeship? That's around 1600 kilometers, and it takes 16 hours to drive 1600 kilometers if you drive 100km/h / 63miles/h. With airplane it takes probably 5hours? I hope this is exaggeration and not an attempt of lying.

[@vampiretattoo4785]

Neither lie or exaggeration. Fly from Vancouver to FSJ, work for a month, come back down for a month, fly back up, etc. Rinse, repeat. Flights take about an hour and a half.

[@flowerchild8450]

@@vampiretattoo4785 lol that’s fucking unreasonable and you’re a schmuck for thinking it isn’t

[@mx.sunnyside3549]

Would if you have a low pain tolerence but still devoted to become a tattoo artist?

[@mariamar7067]

wow this is really helpful. i love tattoo art, but i cant ever picture myself getting a tattoo any time soon, im way too indecisive. is not having them really such a huge deal breaker? why does that matter so much :(

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Hey Maria-- that question is a good one, and one that seems to be coming up a lot. The answer is too long to put down here in text, but I think its been asked enough that it warrants a video of its own. I'll add it to the 'topics' list and tackle it when I next go in front of the camera.

[@mariamar7067]

Penny Black thank you!!!

[@TKO-1503]

It’s not a deal breaker my first tattoos we’re done from some one with out any tattoos, how ever he did get two sleeves three months later. I guess it’s just because it’s sort of a “how is he/she going to tattoo me but doesn’t have permanent ink of her own” it’s just a tattoo culture thing. This guy is very informative and professional might I add.

[@angelbeck4713]

We definitely don’t need to know who those legends are. If I can tattoo circles around you and I don’t know those people, then what?

[@jessicamessica2271]

Ok but what about the surgeon performing open heart surgery. They don't need to have had heart surgery themselves, they just need to know how to do it.
Just cause you haven't had something don't to you, doesn't mean you have no idea how to do it.

[@janamatrix8387]

It's true. I was a pussy and should've stuck to it. I had to do a 100 mile commute. Ran out of money for gas and had to sleep in my car in a Walmart nearby for 7 months. I eventually broke when it started snowing and had to go back to home to work again and get a place to stay when the cold broke me. I still regret it. Always keep pushing.

[@crykiwi1642]

This is really good advice, thank you.
I’m just wondering if having your inspiration be modern artists as opposed to traditional or historical artists, is going to put someone off wanting to take you on as an apprentice? As an example, if I were to get asked by a tattoo shop owner who my inspirations are, and I mentioned some Instagram artists I’m heavily motivated by, would I be looked down on?
Whilst I appreciate more famous and older artists, my art inspiration is always usually Instagram accounts. There are some amazing artists that specialise in all different types of mediums, including tattoos, that give me passion to go into tattooing. But if I were to mention them to someone who doesn’t use Instagram, they wouldn’t know who I’m talking about. So what would I need to say?
I appreciate this video though, this is some really helpful stuff I didn’t know before. I’m 17 and in the process of building up my portfolio so I can get an apprenticeship one day. I want to wait until I turn 18 and get a few tattoos of my own just so I’m certain it’s what I want to go into as a career, but I already have my mind set on it with few doubts. If you’re able to read my comment and respond, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks :))

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Well, for my money, I'd prefer most to see a mix of both old and new. I personally want to see a sense of passion about the craft- and a prospective apprentice who can list off current artists they love and admire is still FAR better than prospective apprentices who literally have no idea about who's doing what or who did what. Again, this is just my opinion-- but I think at least a passing knowledge of tattoo history is a good thing to have, even if most of your inspirations might be current. :)

[@johnrockland18]

Great video
I am starting a 400hrs challenge from first time olding a tattoo machines to wherever it get me (only on fake skin, not playing around). Then If I finish it then Ill be looking for a tutor. Your info will be helpfull for sure.

[@uncleandy5023]

Hey.....don't forget Ben Corday, one of my favorites! Great video, all need to realize this important information!

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

I've considered doing a series on "tattoo art history" just to try to draw some attention to those who deserve it. I'll need to think of other aspects to this channel sooner or later, 'cause eventually I'll run out of "general tattoo information" topics, and I would as soon not start filming "how to tattoo" clips, as there's enough of that crap on youtube already.

[@motorizedmisfit-artist8535]

Thanks man this was a huge help!

[@dylan251]

I bet this guys fun at parties

[@claireonlinex]

Thanks for this video, I was considering creating a portfolio to try and persue this but it seems that I am not the right candidate after all. Cheers

[@koaoi9172]

very good video

[@ImmortalMatcha]

That last part killed me 😂

[@VampiraVonGhoulscout]

I am passionate about tattoos and art, but I also want to be a filmmaker. I want to be able to do lots of different creative things while having tattooing be my main source of income. They're all of equal importance to me. Would that still be disrespectful though?

[@TV-qx6zy]

This video is awesome for to be tattoo artist.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@hadesfiness631]

A " hood apprenticeship" is definitely the way to go just make sure you are CLEAN, get some ink test it out on yourself, don't use any ink from your " beginner tattoo kit" and don't share needles, after that find some of your degenerate friends and get to blasting, im not saying go full throttle and do a sleeve first time tat but do some party tat practice and eventually you'll have some passable lines without any blow outs 🙂

[@somberjpg]

Thank you so much for making this video!

[@nomansson4628]

I think some of these are completely unnecessary... I dont need to know or care who the founding fathers or "big names" are.. I'm getting into this because drawing is something I've done for a long time and want to expand on art instead of just on pen and paper and can appreciate art in different forms, as well as for something to do. As for not having tattoos... if I had a body for it I'd consider but I wouldnt bother trying to put any decent quality art on the shit excuse for a body I'm stuck with But I'd be fine doing drawings for others. As for the experience I dont mind trying it out with an inkless needle.. these sorts of things are why I try to learn things by myself and minimalize dealing with the drama from other people

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Petulant sense of entitlement? Check. Absurdly irrelevant argument? Also check. Im guessing you fit squarely within the GenZ age range, you're the prime demographic for the "I deserve everything without earning anything" philosophy on life.

[@nomansson4628]

@@PennyBlackTattoo what the fuck you 9n about... calling me entitled.. dont you dare use this word at.me.. when did I even state anything to do with wanting someone I didnt earn...... you didnt even read my statement enough to Male a fair judgement and i dont see how you can pick on what i said.. saying that i dont care about the background or stats of the industry doesnt matter.. fucks sake from when I was a kid and picked up a pencil did I have to know who any artist were?.. hell no. Do I have to of known any of the guitar greats when I started practicing?.. not at all I do it for myself and the experience. I dont need an educated history on something to get into it. As for not having any so what. I explained that where the fuck do you pull entitles from... because I said I try to learn things by myself to avoid conflict... if anything I'd be being entitled by seeking someone else approval. Whatever you're taking you've either had too much or not enough

[@Danieldoestattoos]

About the having tattoos part: what if I can't get tattooed because I have a medical condition like Epilepsy?

[@anais8974]

quick question: when you say you must have tattoos, how many do you have in mind? obviously not just one, but like am i to be expected to have fully complete sleeves ?

[@Zombosis]

Heya-- I'd say the goal is "enough work to show your passion and commitment to the art, the craft, and the culture". I'm not totally sleeved myself. One of my artists only has one tattoo- but it's a gorgeous full sleeve, so there's no denying her love for tattoo. So you can get away with even a single tattoo, at first... But personally, I'd still be leery of getting worked on by someone who at least didn't have massive tattoo ambitions. :)

[@EstoBreal]

@pennyblack Hey I want to start tattooing , I’ve been saving up for a machine , I know some studios or shops don’t like when you tattoo in your house first , how likely is it where they wouldn’t take you in because of that?

[@zelljubovic9390]

Haha Good advice, this makes sense,

[@runkenrun1]

Stoney knows how! Respect

[@colonelsanders1167]

I really like Oliver peck and his style

[@meganslater5421]

I want an apprenticeship to tattoo. I want to brighten people's days through my tattoos. I love tattoos... want to keep getting more (saving for more) the issue I am having is... how does one get an apprenticeship in a post covid-19 world? I am having issues finding artists that would be willing to take me on. I don't mind hard work. I am willing to put in the time. I also want to ensure I am doing the correct things. Any tips? Any information would be amazing.

[@1917yee]

Do people who can't afford tons of tattoos just not get to become tattoo artists

[@vampiretattoo4785]

It's not a matter of "tons", we're talking about people with none at all. You don't have to be fully sleeves out to pick up a machine, but none at all? Unacceptable.

[@bjornonthisday9691]

Awesome video and excellent information. Keith what’s your take on trying to get an apprenticeship during the pandemic? I’t seems now, it’s almost impossible trying to get one.

[@Zombosis]

Honestly, I'd say pretty much all the same standards apply--- it just might take more patience as we all deal with the slowdown. So long as we're still working, theres still opportunities for learning, so... :)

[@alexking9117]

excellent video

[@eloise746]

Are there any other specific ppl I should search other than the 3 he mentioned (Ed Hardy, stoney St Clair, Lyle Tuttle)

[@Zombosis]

Honestly, just enjoy falling down the rabbit hole. The point is more about immersing yourself in the names that brought us to where we are, and its a very, very long list with some reeaaallly cooooool art.

[@wasreallygoodnikka]

I have a theoritcal for you. My father was one of those people you mentioned. He apprenticed, got by, but just couldnt handle being told what to do and got kicked out because he was refusing to do certain tattoos . Nothing offensive mind you. I'm sure you'd understand it'd be annoying to do another tazmanian devil or star or anchor for such a ''unique'' person with a ''unique'' story about it. But at the end of the day, it wasnt his shop, and he wasnt there for even 2 years, let alone the 10 or more years the others were there for. It was a job, and he refused to do it. I, an American, live in China now. Have some decent drawing skills, and have a shop willing to take me in. If I moved back to the states after a few years, would that apprenticship even be considered valid？ I know i'd need the proper paperwork regarding bloodborne pathogens, etc. But if I had a good portfolio, would a shop shoot me down to join them just because I studied outside the country? Thanks

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Thats one thing about tattooing--- its not like medicine or engineering. A studio won't much care -where- you apprenticed, so long as you did. However, in my experience, the standards for blood bourne pathogen prevention and control are -astonishingly- lacking in China, and so you may find that coming back stateside will require a period of adjustment as you get used to the more stringent requirements for safety. That's going to be true no matter where you travel to though, even doing guest work takes a degree of flexibility as each shop does things its own way. Past that though, I dont think too many studios are going to care that your apprenticeship wasn't in the same country... and if a shop -does- have a problem like that, odds are you dont want to work in that shop anyways.

[@wasreallygoodnikka]

@@PennyBlackTattoo Thank you for your honest response.

[@SharpUchi]

Great vid, thanks

[@niktosyt8939]

Great video, thank you🙏

[@Blackbird_magus]

I love this guy!

[@valkyriafromluxaink]

The typo-thing cracked me up - not gonna lie.

[@celsgalacticgarden7162]

Hi! I really appreciate this video, lots of tips I haven’t heard elsewhere. I do have a question though regarding iPads and digital work- I’ve been going through a lot of my old sketches and redoing them on procreate on my iPad Pro- I started doing this because the last few times I went to get tattoos that’s what the artists were using, and I had an iPad Pro so I figured it would be a good idea. After watching this video I’m thinking it might do more harm than good if I have too many drawings through Procreate? Would it be better for me to redo them on paper? I plan on printing them out and putting them in a portfolio with some Pencil/ink sketches, I’m unsure if that makes a difference. I do realize that Procreate really helps with straight lines and perfect shapes, so will this make it look like I dont have as much original talent?? Thanks for the advice & video!!

[@Zombosis]

Hey Celina--- honestly, I have to be careful with this topic... as I myself pretty much only use a Cintiq and Clip Studio, so I can't be too "Fire-&-Brimstone" about it, or even too "old man yelling at the kids" so to speak. I guess speaking just from a 'studio owner' point of view, I'd at the very least like to see a blend. I know firsthand that digital art has that super-convenient 'undo' feature, whereas traditional hand drawn art in ink doesn't so much... erasers notwithstanding. The thing is, if the only art you can produce comes about as the result of many hours of fiddling/undo/redo/copy/paste.... well those are all things you can't do with a tattoo, and I want to see examples of how you might have worked an imperfection into an artpiece and made it *work*, so that its not a mistake anymore. That means you need to be able to show some physical illustration. I also personally still dislike a potential tattoo artist/apprentice coming in and handing me their greasy/germy tablet or phone and calling that "their portfolio", so even if you do have digital design in your portfolio, I still want to see it presented in a professional book and not a piece of tech.

[@assasinenzio2841]

That was a good vid

[@RyokoInk]

Everything in this video was facts.

[@Vintagevatotattoos]

In any art form their will always be hard chore traditional artists expecting everything to stay the same. Unfortunately in every art form technology and human skill has surpassed that thought.. some up and coming artists are just ahead of there time Tattooing is a selfish career. Most OG'S hate for that reason alone..

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

Im a little unclear as to the point you're trying to make. It reads a bit like you're saying apprenticeships are irrelevant because you think skill and technology has rendered them obsolete? I assure you, this is not the case. At all. Tattoo is not now, nor has it ever been, nor will it ever be, a purely artistic endeavor. It is, has always been, and will always be a 50/50 fusion of technical craft and art. Apprenticeships are primarily to cover the technical craft side. No matter how 'ahead of their time' some aspiring tattoo artists might be, if they skip learning the technical side of the craft, they're going to botch many, many tattoos-- and potentially harm people, what with blood bourne pathogen control, asceptic procedures, and cross contamination processes being a crucially important aspect of tattooing.

[@fran1274]

Is it impossible to be an apprentice even when you're at University? I am really passionate about becoming an apprentice but I can only do weekends and some evenings. I have had some artists interested in my artwork and I dont want to miss this opportunity. Likewise, I dont want to not commit fully. The video gives me good advice!

[@Zombosis]

Not impossible-- one of the students at my studio right now is splitting time between learning at the shop and her coursework. Its much, much harder though-- with tattoo, you get out of it what you put into it, and if you have to split your focus it will slow you down. Perseverance though, thats so, so key. If you want it badly enough, you'll be willing to put in that hardcore effort-- and reap the rewards. :)

[@fran1274]

Thank you so much! This gives me hope. :)

[@TanyerLamb]

I'm investing in getting work done on myself, and am saving up to move to as far as Finland, to learn under someone. I'm an old school martial artist chick, I don't believe in not grinding, nor being disloyal to my "master". Thankfully, getting choked out on a daily helps with the mental fortitude.

[@PennyBlackTattoo]

One hopes your Finnish mentor won't resort to those extremes... Pretty jealous that you get to go to the land of metal. \m/

[@TanyerLamb]

@@PennyBlackTattoo just saving up cash! Haha, technically I outrank her in belt levels, so I thankfully will avoid being choked out.

[@juanparra3122]

This guys are like mechanics they feel gods hahahahaha Yes amazon machine yes in my basement which is a tattoo shop now

[@kornelious1]

Who is this guy? I want to reach out to him.

[@Zombosis]

Hey Kornelious1 - you can contact me via my IG, @zombonomicon or via email, [e-mail]