Info???

I just recently purchased a starter tattoo kit. I did not buy this with the intent on tattooing someone, but to see if I could on practice skin (which doesnt seem like skin at all). Ive enjoyed art my whole life and tattooing is another medium which I would like to learn. So i have a couple of questions for anyone that would help. 1.) I work your typical full time job with two kids and a wife. I understand that an apprenticeship is the only way to go if your interested in doing it right. I would be willing to give up weekends and possibly evenings during the week to learn. Will shops do this or will I be expected to devote everyday all day? 2.) I believe in the saying you get what you pay for. So with that being said im sure my gun and power supply is shit. I would like to get a better gun and power supply to work with to try and get a portfolio together for an apprenticeship. Any suggestions on these? Thanks for any info what so ever. Im not asking for a hand, just point me in the right direction.

There's a thread that's "stickied" on the top of the board's main page called "aspiring artists, want to learn to tattoo?" Read that fully. Who knows, maybe if you do everything you're supposed to and show great potential, a shop will be willing to take you on. Yeah, the machines in kits always suck. However, you don't want to use good machines on practice skin anyway. Like you said, the rubber skin is nothing like real skin and is hard on your machines. Please stick to your original statement that you only bought the kit to use on practice skin. It won't take long before you get the itch to try the real thing. Lastly, your portfolio should consist of your artwork in other mediums (drawing, painting, etc..) NOT tattoos done on practice skin or even worse, poorly done tattoos that you did with no training. Hope this helps some. What medium do you work with? Can we see your work online? :)

Thanks for the help. Ive mostly draw, and some painting. Ive also done graphic design and animation but only on a personal level. I also make jewelry which doesnt really apply to tattoing I guess. I dont have anywhere with pictures posted online but maybe I can get some stuff up on myspace or something. And yes I will stick to practice skin only, I dont even plan on doing work on myself let alone some one else.

never call your machine a gun!