Portfolio from scratch: What to draw

I've been looking for an apprenticeship for a while. I know next to nothing about the actual process of tattooing, and am not going to waste my time nor money on a 'school.' Since many of my drawing/sketches/paintings are old, waterlogged, or otherwise unuseable for any reasonable portfolio, (in my eyes) I wish to start anew. I've read the other topics and know what, for the most part, type of pictures I'll present, but I am at the current time not sure exactly *what* to draw. I was sort of hoping to stay away from a lot of cliché tattoos, for the most part. Hearts, Nautical Stars, and WIngs rarely (Well, maybe sometimes) show that 'talented' aspect that would best 'sell' me, so to say. Art is my passion. I don't care how long the apprenticeship is, how little money is made, nor how hard the path is. As long as I remember, I've always been interested in creation- music, literature, art, etc, and as of late (last three years or more) I've been interested in tattooing. Any help, in any subject I've presented here, would be of great help to me. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and in the event you reply, thanks in advance

Hey there Device!...First off thanks for your post!! You are going about this in the right way...getting a portfolio together is really the only way to get an established artist to show an interest in you...you have the right attitude and that goes a long way towards an apprenticeship.. As for what to draw...it can be ANYTHING!...Its not content we are looking for, although a knowledge of the classics is important,its the quality and level of skill you show as well as inventiveness. Just concentrate on making your porty clean and professional. Good luck and keep in touch, we really are interested in seeing new people enter our art...let us know if we can help... TAz, Painted Angel Studios