My own apprenticeship woes...

I won't go into my past of bad shop experiences. It's all in the past and suffice it to say, it sucked balls.
But now I have another situation.

I have two job offers for shops about 20 miles away each from my apartment. Not apprenticeships...jobs. I looked at their work and while they're very eager to have me, alot of their work is even below what I can do now (One shop is HORRIBLE. The art I've seen there is gawdawful and they should be ashamed of themselves).

I want to tattoo so badly it hurts. I want to be BETTER than I am now. I want to improve and be challenged. I want my art to reflect what I can do on paper. However, I look at their work and I'm torn. On one hand, I'd be working in a shop again. My dream. On the other hand, what could I possibly learn? I'm already a better artist on paper and skin. Seriously, NOT BRAGGING, but everything I have done is better than most of the best they produce. To add to the issues, I work a slave job during the evening, my husband is severely disabled and unable to get around much, I don't see my kid much these days anyway and our van would probably not last long driving it back and forth so much. Not to mention the gas costs. I am torn and not sure what I should do. Take it and see if it's going to be worth the sacrifices or wait for a better chance...if I EVER get another chance, that is.

Opinions, anyone? Please advise me.

wow...I wouldnt even begin to be able to offer an opinion, I wish you the very best of luck in whatever you decide to do with this and hope it all turns out for the best!!!!

wow...I wouldnt even begin to be able to offer an opinion, I wish you the very best of luck in whatever you decide to do with this and hope it all turns out for the best!!!!

Yeah, it's a sucktacular situation. I may never get another chance especially at this age. I've already had a shop here in town tell me a few years ago (and I quote). '"Yeah, I love your artwork. You could be a flash artist for us. But you're too fat, too old and not pretty enough to work for me"'.
Everyone here has a fucking Miami/LA/NY Ink mentality and only want glam in their shops. NOT art. NOT talent. Just a set of tits that looks good.
And seriously, it's not like I'm a freakin' troll or anything, either!

LOL...I hear ya. Im 45yrs. YOUNG, yes, i started this late in life, but who cares, your never too old to try something new for change! Hang in there, something will develop sooner or later. I dont know if you have ever looked into it but have you thought of just opening your own shop? I look at office space for rent on Craigslist alot and you can get some pretty good deals and what not on rent. I got a really good friend that did that, his rent is like $300, he does that in a days time, its just him in the shop so very low overhead, and he is really doing very well with it. I know you would like to learn some more but it looks like you are doing pretty well already, i bet you would do just fine with it.

LOL...I hear ya. Im 45yrs. YOUNG, yes, i started this late in life, but who cares, your never too old to try something new for change! Hang in there, something will develop sooner or later. I dont know if you have ever looked into it but have you thought of just opening your own shop? I look at office space for rent on Craigslist alot and you can get some pretty good deals and what not on rent. I got a really good friend that did that, his rent is like $300, he does that in a days time, its just him in the shop so very low overhead, and he is really doing very well with it. I know you would like to learn some more but it looks like you are doing pretty well already, i bet you would do just fine with it.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. There's so much I want to learn though and I suck at lettering still. And I've thought about that, too and using my cell phone as a business phone to cut back on expenses and the such. I haven't found any cheap office space yet, but still looking. Then there's the licensing, etc etc etc. I figure I'd need at least a couple grand to get started, although I already have a shiteload of flash (big stacks of it!) and most everything I'd need to run a shop. Still not giving up. And haven't you heard that 40 is the new 20? Seriously, I feel like I'm 20 (and luckily, don't look 44!). NOT giving up. Or giving in. Ever. Just frustrated as all hell.

rock steady.........