Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:34 pm
Hello everyone!
Hi, my name is Lysa. I'm 44 and I've been struggling to get into the tattoo industry for over a decade. I have worked in three shops now. One was owned by a great tattooist named Keith Kok who I adore to this day (he's moved since to another state), but was very far for me. After 4 months of apprenticeship where I soaked up all I could by watching, making and bagging needles and drawing, I finally had to toss in the towel because I had no vehicle. The other was with a "lady" who spent more times downstairs smoking and doing lines than helping me or running her business. I paid her over $7000 for NOTHING. She also sucked as an artist. But I was there for nearly 2 years and the only thing I learned was that she was useless. She taught me nothing and worse, wouldn't even let me do anything there but pierce. Again, I watched and learned what I could, but it was like watching a blurry video. Not much help and she wasn't that great to begin with. The last shop I was hired as an artist by her friends who started their own set up a few years later. The "artist" that was there was NOT an artist. He wasn't a tattoo artist either, imho. And he knew less than I did!!
So I've given up working in shops or trying for another apprenticeship. I get told I'm too old, too ugly, too whatever at shops around town. Or they'll ask for $$$$$ that I don't have to spare. I'm an artist and have been for 30 years. I have enough equipment, autoclave, etc to open my OWN shop. But I need my skill level to be alot better than what it is now. There's so many questions I have about technique, machine technology, etc. Things I asked repeatedly about and had to try and learn online or through books or just trying to figure it out on my own. I want to produce work as good as Tom Renshaw or Nikko Hurtado. So I'm here hoping for the best. Next payday from my "slave" job, I'll be ordering the book offered on this site and praying for the nonjudgemental people and acceptance. Who here has it and what's the reviews?
Anyway, hope to learn more here!
Lysa
So I've given up working in shops or trying for another apprenticeship. I get told I'm too old, too ugly, too whatever at shops around town. Or they'll ask for $$$$$ that I don't have to spare. I'm an artist and have been for 30 years. I have enough equipment, autoclave, etc to open my OWN shop. But I need my skill level to be alot better than what it is now. There's so many questions I have about technique, machine technology, etc. Things I asked repeatedly about and had to try and learn online or through books or just trying to figure it out on my own. I want to produce work as good as Tom Renshaw or Nikko Hurtado. So I'm here hoping for the best. Next payday from my "slave" job, I'll be ordering the book offered on this site and praying for the nonjudgemental people and acceptance. Who here has it and what's the reviews?
Anyway, hope to learn more here!
Lysa
Gene police! You! Out of the pool!
