Howie Starts A Second Tattoo Apprenticeship
Howie Starts A Second Tattoo Apprenticeship
[2:44] “If I didn’t have a tattoo, or if I wasn’t drawing, I’d sit and watch Phil tattoo and ask him questions. And, one day eventually something kind of clicked. I started applying his techniques to a more illustrative style. I was able to take the same roses I’d been doing for years and put a unique stamp on them.”
— Howie Horowitz
Be “the eternal student”, someone who often seeks out learning, trying to engage with the artists around them, and constantly honing their skills and craft. Surround yourself with artists that inspire you in any way that you can. Do guest spots at shops that you really like, see if there are any drawing/painting nights at shops in your area, and just be open and hungry to learn from the artists you interact with.
Never be afraid to learn from other artists. Ask questions and be interested in what they’re doing, how they’re doing it, and why they do it that way. Being open to learning in this way can often open people up, many people don’t realize this but most people WANT to show or teach you something, you just have to be genuinely interested.
Something else you might consider is going through a second apprenticeship. To begin again is something we often don’t do as artists. It seems counterintuitive to go through a second apprenticeship since it feels like going back to square one, but really what you’re doing is honing your skills. It’s taking those beginning steps all over again with an expert’s eyes, and really taking an opportunity to learn deeply from someone you admire, or to unlearn bad habits from earlier on in your career.
