Best Atlanta Tattoo Studio Voted By Creative Loafing Readers
 
HomeNew Tattoo ImagesTattoo ImagesAll or Nothing ArtworkRead about us in the pressCheck out our bumpin message boardLearn about our studioWatch videos about All or NothingRead our massive gallery of articles about usHow to get hereLearn how to take care of that new tattooCheck out our hellafied links pageShow your support by linking back to usGet some All or Nothing gear at Stranglehold Merch 

Go Back   All or Nothing Tattoo and Art Studio > Open Chat > Technical Questions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-13-2007, 04:29 PM
BRANDON BOND's Avatar
BRANDON BOND BRANDON BOND is offline
Moderator
Field Marshal
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 7,876
Default Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

Tattooing is an apprentice-based art. A traditional apprenticeship lasts at least three years. Our organization advocates that those who wish to learn the profession follow this route. There are so many variables to learn (such as skin condition, medications that affect tattooing, machine building and adjustment, design color and selection, pigment reactions and variations) that the "trial and error" approach is criminal. Tattooing places the health and well being of your client, not to mention yourself, at risk. By taking advantage of the knowledge held by an experienced, professional artist, you will avoid many costly mistakes.

In past years, schools have opened that claim to teach tattooing. Many of these schools will turn you out in a matter of months. It is an option, but a poor one. There is no way you can learn all you need to know about skin, machines, design selection and infection control in 6 months. Additionally, you will not have the respect of your peers. In this industry, that can be very important.

Landing an apprenticeship can take a lot of persistence. First, it helps if you have tattoos. A person who is not tattooed and has not lived as a tattooed person does not present a very compelling argument for entering the profession. If you are not tattooed, you can't help a first timer make those very important decisions about selection, size and placement. You are also not showing much of a commitment to the tattoo community.

An apprenticeship is rarely, if ever, free. You would not expect to attend a trade school without paying tuition so don't expect an artist to provide you with the tools for making a living without expecting compensation for the knowledge.

When looking for an apprenticeship, put together a portfolio of your artwork. Designs that are similar to tattoo flash would be most appropriate, though anything that shows your skill with composition, color and line would be good. Lastly, you should make appointments to talk to the artists in your area. You should be willing to wash floors and scrub toilets. Artists probably see 30 people a week who want to become tattooists, most of them talented artists in other mediums. If you want to set yourself apart, you are going to have to stand out. What most of these people lack is a willingness to start at the bottom and learn the right way. As one artist put it: "I can make an artist. I can't stand a hotshot." This is an industry that places heavy emphasis on respect; respect for the history and traditions and for those that have come before.

Last edited by BRANDON BOND; 06-14-2007 at 08:37 AM..
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-13-2007, 04:59 PM
Topshelftattoo
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

it will e along time before i take on another one
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-20-2007, 03:44 PM
BRANDON BOND's Avatar
BRANDON BOND BRANDON BOND is offline
Moderator
Field Marshal
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 7,876
Default Re: Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

the only real way for an artist to learn is from another artist like jedi's yo
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-20-2007, 04:05 PM
parabellum's Avatar
parabellum parabellum is offline
Senior Member
Platoon Sargent
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Illinois, USA
Posts: 696
Default Re: Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

It was the same with blacksmiths, and many other forms of highly skilled labor.

In Japan, sword making, sword polishing, sword mounting...it was all the same way, passed from person to person under almost secretive conditions.

When you apprentice to be a sword smith in Japan...it is typical to spend the first months (like 6 months) just learning how to properly cut the charcoal to make the forge fires. 6 months just cutting little ass blocks of charcoal and sweeping the shop...you never even get to touch steel for years. But eventually, after years of hard work and paying your dues...you come out of it with skills and knowledge of technique that would have been *impossible* to obtain any other way.

Certain things just can't be rushed, or written down completely...they need to be given from one person to the next over a long period of time.

And people wonder why *good* tattoos are "expensive".
__________________
"Effective gun control is putting a second slug in the hole made by the first!"

http://www.inkednation.com/parabellum9x19
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-20-2007, 05:13 PM
BRANDON BOND's Avatar
BRANDON BOND BRANDON BOND is offline
Moderator
Field Marshal
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 7,876
Default Re: Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

hahahhahahaha - I love you more everyday

weve got to get you over to anti art elite for a day with dave and I
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-20-2007, 08:07 PM
parabellum's Avatar
parabellum parabellum is offline
Senior Member
Platoon Sargent
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Illinois, USA
Posts: 696
Default Re: Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

>weve got to get you over to anti art elite for a day with dave and I

I'm honored!
__________________
"Effective gun control is putting a second slug in the hole made by the first!"

http://www.inkednation.com/parabellum9x19
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-20-2007, 10:07 PM
BRANDON BOND's Avatar
BRANDON BOND BRANDON BOND is offline
Moderator
Field Marshal
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 7,876
Default Re: Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

lets get it on talk to matt yo!
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-20-2007, 10:08 PM
BRANDON BOND's Avatar
BRANDON BOND BRANDON BOND is offline
Moderator
Field Marshal
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 7,876
Default Re: Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

we will supply the guns
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-11-2007, 11:18 PM
drhill's Avatar
drhill drhill is offline
Junior Member
Private
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 19
Default Re: Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

It's strange, I am apprenticing right now and every time my mentor "reviews" my progress she moves up the time it's going to be that I start working. I didn't have any plans as far as how long it would take - I figured a couple years - but was willing to do whatever it took.
As for BEING tattoed... I never had the TIME to do it! What with working as a crane operator for the last ten years, usually out of town at 12 hours a day, 7 days a week! But even though I'm not sleeved or whatever, just changing careers at 37 years old, when I made 70,000 a year already, with a wife and two kids and being the only one working, I still have the respect and the commitment to the art of tattooing. And being an artist in many mediums I'm dieing to get going just to make art! I am anal as hell when it comes to sterilization and protecting everyone involved, I haven't done anymore tats out of the pad because of how f@#king dirty a house is as opposed to a shop.
I've now moved the whole production to my back yard and scoop dog s&!t while working on my guinee pig so i don't waste the gloves... but I do wipe the shovel with an HB wipe! lololol
I'm starting to get the sleeves though, Corey Miller has done a portrait of Dali on my forearm (I was born the same day and he was my first favorite artist). I am going to do all of my fave artists on my left art and samples of their art on my right. I'm getting a painting by Michael Hussar done on my right by Corey on that new show L.A. Ink probably next week... "movie stahhh" lol. The painting is my user icon, it's a portrait of Hans Memling.
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-12-2007, 07:26 AM
561design's Avatar
561design 561design is offline
Weaksauce
Corporal
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Woodstock, Ga
Posts: 479
Default Re: Tattoo apprenticeships as defined by the APT

Interesting read. The industrial design industry is the same as well. Although you have to get through HR to interview with the hiring manager. You still have to present a strong portfolio. Now that I'm working in the field for the past 5 years I'm still upgrading my portfolio.

It's good to see other industries still insist on "paying your dues".
__________________
Charles
Avast Scallywags! My portfolio
flickr
Submit to Clesto Submit to Digg Submit to Reddit Submit to Furl Submit to Del.icio.us Submit to Spurl Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
apprenticeships, apt, defined, tattoo

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

| Home | Tattoos | Art | Publications | Messageboard | Links | Studio | Tattoo Articles | Driving Directions |
| New Pictures | Tattoo & Piercing Aftercare | Link to Us | Media |

Don't forget to check out:
| A.N.T.I. Art Elite | A.N.T.I. Art Atlanta |Atlanta Tattoo Tv|BrandonMFBond.com| Atlanta Pitbull Rescue
| StrangleHold Merch | TattooingAtlanta | Brandon Bond | Dave Mf Tedder |
Matt Dunlap |

All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner.
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest © 2004-2013 by All Or Nothing Tattoo And Art Gallery.
2569 S. Cobb Dr., Smyrna, Ga. 30080 - Phone: 770.435.9966