I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A WAY TO START TATTOOING OTHER THAN APPRENTISHIPS

can someone out there that has gotten into tattooing without an apprentiship tell me how to do it and what to expect, both good and bad.

oh brother ! don't you people read any of the posts before you ask these damn questions??!!

Its the same guy.

IP rules

i wasnt trying to act like i was someone else, i just thought the title would grab some others attention. i just want to get as much info as possible

You just got all the info you can get "GET AN APPRENTICESHIP" You have the drawing skills. I just think you are missing the "Listening skill".

hmmm, remember all the crappy drawings you did while you were learning to draw by yourself? Now imagine they are all on living breathing people... bottom line is, there are so many factors to poking holes in peoples skin if you do it by trial and error you will put a LOT of CRAP on peoples skin. If you find a TALENTED mentor, then you wont put (as much) crap on peoples skin. You have the art, and if you have the drive you will do it one way or another. the only question is how much bad karma will you have to pay off. I wont speak for self taught artists, but the good ones almost always wish they had worked harder at their art to secure a proper apprenticeship as opposed to learning at the publics expense.

to FK and anyone else who thinks im not listening. i also have a post asking for places that would be good to start an apprenticship. i truely am looking at both aspects equally, but i have yet to get any info from someone on the self taught side. i want to hear the good and bad of that side. and so far all i get is the bad, and it would be foolish for anyone to say there is no good that comes from it. so thats what i am looking for so i can make an educated decision. thanks for all of the advice so far

Inksane gave you a reply on your original post. There is nothing that makes being self taught more beneficial than an apprenticeship. All it serves is to make the learning process 100 fold harder than it would be if someone was guiding you along. Its basically this, how many peoples skin are you willing to risk in order for you to be a tattoo artist.

Jon, the problem here is that you want someone to tell you that going on your own is a good thing. You just heard it, no one has good experiences about doing it on their own. I was good at art and though I was going to be good at tattooing when I attempted several tattoos on myself. I scratched on myself. I was lucky enough to one day show these horrible tattoos I did on me to a pal tattooist. He offered me an apprenticeship. It took me several months to get good at setting up and cleaning his station without making a single mistake. Health first art second. I probably did 7 months on-off. .t took me 1 month or so to start producing good lines and shading. As off today I still have a long way to go. I have more confidence a surgeon learning how to tattoo on his own than an artist. Why?? Again "Health first, Art second" One thing for sure is that if you apprenticeship last 5 years then there is something really wrong, with you or your mentor. I consider that any good artist with a good mind set can be go to go in 6-12 months. Your hustle will be reflected at the end of your apprenticeship. Just to give you an example, Nkko Hurtado is a great artist, I had the honor to interviewing and ask him about his beginning. Interview here: http://www.tattooconnect.com/interviews/nikko/ He said that he was good at art and people told him to get into tattoo. He had a friend Mike DeMasi who offered hm an apprenticeship. His apprenticeship lasted 6 months, after that he was slaming on people nothing but great tattoos. He has only 4.5 years in the busness. A few months ago he was featured on LA ink. I am not against you pal, not at all, I've been there done that and don't want the same for ya. You have talent, but that's not enough to become a great artist these days. I hope all these tells you something.

Some people think that self-tought is easier and you don't have to go through the hazing of an apprenticeship. The truth is, it will take you longer if you're not learning with someone over your shoulder - I don't care what you read on the net or in tattooing books or what your IQ is. You need guidance to prevent mistakes and to teach you the right way the first time. Also, you will not be as respected and probably won't get hired by the very people you're trying to get in good with. They will not take you seriously. It will be faster, easier and more respectful to the art if you get an apprenticeship. Most people have to search for a long time to get an apprenticeship because shops always have people asking but there just isn't that much room. I feel that you would not have to bare this hurdle because, based on your art, they would be silly not to want you. Somehow, it seems like your sabatoging your own dreams.