how long to tattoo?

im just curious.... to artist who went through an apprenticeship before they became an actual tattoo artist.... how long did it take you to do your first tattoo?... how did you keep yourself from getting discouraged?.. im just wondering because im in my 4th month of my apprenticeship and im pretty much being forced at the shop to start tattooing. i have done about seven tattoos already but i dont feel confident yet to jump into tattooing the clients. How can i let my boss know that i dont think im ready without him calling me a coward all the time?

Well if your mentor is coaching you right and he sees that you have what it takes to start tattooing, you should trust him. You may not feel ready because of fear, mental pressure and other reasons, but the only way to overcome those obstacles is by getting involved with them. The first tattoo will be hard the second one too, but you will gain self confidence with every tattoo. I'm sure you are starting by doing simple tattoos and he is watching you the whole time in case you mess up. Give your mentor some trust and follow his orders. I hope you nailed an apprenticeship with a good artist and not a crook. Good luck