Something I dont hear much about is accessibility, as a disabled person I have found it near impossible to even get into a tattoo studio (no wheelchair access) in the past. I've heard of a couple of disabled friendly tattoo artists/studios more recently but it seems rare.
Damn I wasn't even aware this could be a possible problem. But can't you bring one of those things you can open up and put on to few stairs so you can roll over it instead of having to go up the stairs? I'm sorry, English is not my first language so I really do not know a better way to describe those thingies
I'd say it's an "aftereffect" related to tattooing that ends up impacting people with reduced mobility as collateral rather than just disregarding disabled people to begin with. I live in a country where all stores of any kind (from your local bakery or real estate office to the big supermarkets or tucked-away alley bar) have to get up to code for accessibility. And while most people are for it, implementation can be hard because of revenue and renting space. Prime renting space that would accomodate more floor space, or wider entrances and level (relative to the street) entryways is expensive. Tattoo shops don't tend (in general) to swim in money for such spaces.
I have a tattoo that says “this body is only temporary” because of how many people ask me “do you know those are permanent!?” They’re not, because I’m not permanent 😂 They’re biodegradable 😂😂😂
i’m a tattoo artist in portland, oregon where they have tattoo schools and without it i really don’t know how i would’ve gotten into tattooing professionally because i’ve never been good at “knowing the right people” or hustling or playing the game so to speak in order to get an apprenticeship. tattoo school was a great intro but the main drawback is that it’s so damn expensive, almost all of my fellow students had help from their parents, so it’s mostly people with generational wealth. if i did get a scholarship to PSU and use that money to help with tattoo school, i wouldn’t have been able to afford it. 🤪 and they would’ve missed out on a gay brown artist! lol
as someone who stopped tattooing, I can say that I would want to make it a safer place for women. I tattooed in a red state and all the men were incredible sexist, racist, and homophobic. My mentor constantly commented on my body and called me classy and thick, but then said I was like the sister his daughter never had. I even told him he was the same age as my mom and it didn't deter him. There were 3 apprentices at the time and I was the only full time one but he told me that the only reason I got more clients than the others was because of my cup size. There was also another male tattooer that would wrap his arms around me randomly while I was working on stuff, I think he thought this was okay because he was "conventionally attractive" and had alot of women fawn over him so he figured everyone would be okay with him draping himself on them. most of them didn't properly sterilize their stations and stole artwork from others. Not to mention, all the sexual harassment was made worse because there was a woman there that was my mentors "favorite" and when he started harassing me, she lashed out at me every chance she could.
@@night6724 Because conservatives agree with sexist, homophobic and racist ideals. Rebublicans are the reason places like Texas are taking away rights of women (abortion) and rights of queer people (anti-trans law). There's also things like the critical race theory law passed last year, which forbids schools from teaching anything about slavery, racism and sexism even existing, so their conservative parents can tell them they aren't real problems and it's just woke propaganda. So yeah, being a woman in a red state does matter to this conversation.
🐙 god, THANK YOU for bringing up race and diversity at the end. That was the number one thing I thought of during the Inked video. Also your counter argument to the bullshit argument about “skill over skin” is gold. As always, thanks for the perspective!!
If all you see is race or orientation guess what sugartits YOU'RE the arsehole 😉 I'm a skinhead dude gets on with everyone I'm also disabled it's like saying i only want to be tattood by spastics because I can only empathise with people who go through shit I do. You kids are awful people inside yourselves.
I think tattooing should be a part of beauty school; like hair stylist, nail technician, eyelash operator (idk the word sorry lol). It only makes sense since tattooing is permanent and involves pain and hygene. Not that it should be illegal to tattoo without having went, but that there should be some kind of license people can get.
I think a trades program/apprenticeship through schools would be fantastic for the industry. It could remove some of the struggles of apprentices being taken advantage of in shops and give students a chance for school loans to help them on their career path + give a clear timeline and goal to work towards, having something tangible to take home would add so much value to the experience and could justify unpaid labour (although i hope the apprentices would be paid it’s at least a start). In the meantime and hopefully always moving forward, I would love to see a certification as a barrier of entry. Nothing to do with the artwork itself, but something like a driving test where you set up a station, wrap a synthetic skin, and tear down the station, and if the artist can do all this in a sanitary and safe fashion then they are able to work on clients, monetize their craft, and start their career. 🐙
The point you shared at the end is also the biggest issue I see with the industry. I’ve always wanted a tattoo, but the styles I like only seem to be done on white skin. I don’t even bother to ask the artist if they’d consider tattooing my skin color cause I don’t wanna go through the potential awkward process. I understand some artists prefer not to tattoo darker skin in order to not “mess up”, but it won’t get them any practice or progress either. I think tattoo schools could also offer a good solution to this, but oh well. Great video as always! 🐙
Why should it be awkward tho? As you say, artists refusing to tattoo people with darker skin won't get any practice. But that's also true for artists who don't get the opportunity to begin with. It's a bit like hairdressers and barbers in a way. The type of skin is just like the type of hair, a component to discuss with the professional for a desired result. Some may refuse because they're twats, others may be honest and say "I'd like to but only if you're ok with the fact that I'm new to this". And others could very well be proficient, but you can't know if you don't ask. That being said, schools or well-made apprenticeships programs could help a lot indeed.
I live in North Dakota so there’s not a lot of opportunities to work with darker skins so I try to learn as much as I can whenever I get the opportunity. Experience is the absolute best teacher for this industry. I’m currently training my 4th apprentice and have had many people say I should start a school, which would be amazing because I think to create the kind of artists the industry growth is needing must have artists trained in multiple facets and master skills needed to not only give people tattoos but make their session comfortable, professional, fun, etc. I seriously have pretty much a business plan ready to go but I worry about the industry haters of schools would quash my dreams before I even got started.
If you live in the UK, I know a tattooing couple and they will tattoo anybody old enough, regardless of what colour or sexuality that person is. One of them is dark-skinned herself, both are experienced at tattooing dark skin.
honestly the process of being a tattoo artist kinda deters people from doing it. the fact that you have to give the shop hours of your life for minimal pay & are expected to be treated like dirt is so sad. But people will do it because they really want to pursue tattooing, but I just think it’s kind of fucked up that most people I know had to live at home with their parents and had to have another job while doing the apprenticeship. i feel like there should be a more structured way of becoming a tattoo artist. if no one in your area wants to take on an apprenticeship, then you’re kinda shit out of luck and it shouldn’t be that way. but i’m so glad my friend just started hers at her local tattoo shop where she’s gotten a majority of her tattoos and they have been treating her so well, and they’ve already started to get her to do hands on stuff like practicing with the machine using a pencil instead of ink, stencils etc. i’ve heard so many horror stories or people cleaning & doing consent forms for a year before they even got hands on. which is just a waste of time imo. yeah they could help with that stuff, but if it’s all they’re doing for a year of their life and not doing anything hands on, it’s kinda just a glorified assistant.
That’s the way life is buddy, you gotta eat lots of fucking shit before you can reap the rewards of the hard work you put in, nothing in life comes easy and people aren’t gonna give you anything in life. No free lunches.
@@OntarioBearHunter i work in construction and know how it is, all im gonna sag is that people have choices to do whatever they please & should not be entitled to anything they haven’t earned
@@OntarioBearHunter my bf works in construction and even in “training” he was paid a livable wage and we made good enough money to survive and go on vacation and such. On the other hand, my friend is a tattoo apprentice and she had to move back in with her parents to afford to live bc she wasn’t paid enough at shop yet.
I recently moved out of Portland, OR where education at a “tattoo school” is mandatory to become a professional in the industry (unless you’ve worked in another state for 2+ years already). I got a few tattoos there from recent graduates of these schools, and not one had anything positive to say about their experiences ☹️ Mainly the owners and instructors made a cushy business charging upwards of $12k just to attend and no longer even tattoo themselves. Despite that, the waiting list to attend can be as long as a year, so this is obviously a lucrative industry. I personally don’t see anything wrong with the concept of tattoo schools, and think it’s preferable to being mistreated and tortured at a traditional shop, but the lack of real shop experience and hefty price tag are pretty huge deterrents, especially considering that several of the artists said they still pursued an apprenticeship after graduating Bc they didn’t feel prepared to start working… I wish there was a solution somewhere in between paying a fortune and knowing someone in the industry who’ll let you in- so many talented artists just can’t find an opportunity as it is. I myself moved out of PDX for this reason.
Totally agreed about the tattoo school comments. They could be so great if diverse trained artists were running them instead of shaming them. The mentality that you have to suffer unnecessarily to become an artist is so weird to me.
I don't know what I would change about the industry. But this is perhaps due to the fact that I found an artist I love and she now does 90% of all of my tattoos. Before her though it was like shooting in the dark to find someone that I not only liked their style of work but also them as a person. I don't care what anybody says if I don't like you, I don't want to spend my money or time on you. So liking the artist is key for me.
11:02 I’m an illustrative and comic artist. Tattoos require such a specific skill set how is it not “high end”?! You have to take into consideration not just normal all art stuff like placement, composition, color palette, but also THE HUMAN BODY
I am pro tattoo school in general... But i have a fear, that those are going to be 1. mandataroy (I am for more freedom for choosing where and how to learn. Like choosing a studio over school and not being forced to do the other or forced to do a combination of both) and 2. similar to the dread lock situation in Germany.: I don't know if it came through and is a thing now, but there was a to-be-law here in Germany, where if you want to earn money by doing dreads, you have to learn it in a hair dresser apprenticeship. But at that time there was no apprenticeship that contained dread locks, so someone with no idea about how having dreads is like etc. made up a bunch of nonsense that should become the rule - even thogh they really had no idea what they are talking about (for example using those little rubber bands in dreads. For those who don't know: You almost can't take them out and they "melt" after a certain time of being in the sun and washing your hair etc and are sticky and smelly and ruin everything). With tattoos that would be even worse - possibly life threatening.
I left school early to do an apprenticeship in carpentry. I was bullied badly ,especially by my boss ,would put me down regularly and I already struggled with mental health issues. It’s very similar with the hazing and I had to clean up for the first two years! I was very suicidal
Tattoo schools are so fkn logical; I live tattooing and I’m pretty knowledgeable about the visual art world (more than tattooing) as my mum is a professional artist and teacher at art school (uni/colleg level art studies). Art school helps develop skills, style, knowledge of history and culture around art and through learning new skills they can a press themselves through more mediums, tattooing shouldn’t exclude itself from this kind of education. Some of mums students want to be tattoo artists and it’s great that they’re getting their fine art and artistic voice developed before starting tattooing but how cool if she could learn to tattoo alongside her education in art! Secondly as a healthcare student I’m always very particular watching my tattoo artists’ sterile field and completing the tattoo which is essentially a cosmetic medical procedure and the education and access to messing with the human body should be more regulated within access to tattooing (I understand there are laws etc but schools would make this more accessible, regulated and more comprehensive for safety. As that comment says, if you want to be respected you can’t then resist mainstream education. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.🐙
🐙 Hey that's me! Thanks for taking my suggestion for the video. I am looking forward to your video on tattoo schools now. It really seems like some set standards or a jumping off point for basics would do wonders for the industry.
i think tattoo schools are a good idea as long as theyre not mandatory. artists should have the freedom to choose whether they want to go through an apprenticeship or go to a tattoo school, or both. however, a lot more goes into it than just ”tattoo school will fix everything!” it needs to be an actual GOOD tattoo school that is well structured and developed and doesnt cost much or even anything (which in the us will never happen).
I know it's super frowned upon and I'm not for it, but now I see why some people who are enthusiastic about learning to tattoo resort to scratching. If they're having a hard time finding an apprenticeship or an opportunity, they're gonna make their own lane. Tattoo Schools should be a thing. 🐙
🐙 the artist that is working on my sleeve (the whole shop is douchy and entitled and a “you should have it as hard as I did” mind set, which makes me so uncomfy and wish I didn’t choose there to get a sleeve but that’s a story for a different time) she and the other artists in the shop were complaining about someone who tried to set up a tattoo school locally and called it a scam and saying it needs to be shut down and no one is gonna take any of the “students” on. I think it’s a weird mind set. I mean I had to go to school for 6 years just to get an entry level position in my job and I get paid less than half what they take home. Cosmetologists have to go to school and get a license? I think it goes along with the gatekeepy mindset that they don’t want it to be easy for new people to get into the industry and they don’t want to level the playing field because they feel threatened by it. There’s also the issue of student loans and how degrees are very scammy and having gotten two degrees myself that argument does hold up, but a trade school is different and I think a lot of people can picture something similar to programs cosmetologists go through and they take much less time and don’t cost loads of money. I think tattooing should go in this direction and the resistance to it is very cringy. I honestly would love for someone who is putting needles in my body to have gone to some type of schooling. They’re playing a roll of an esthetician not just the role of an artist.
🐙 It's very difficult to be tattoo artist but I am so glad they exist 🙂 Thanks to all the tattoos artists across the world ☺️ Thanks Celle for your videos 😁
Also as someone with a BFA I’ve been told by SEVERAL TATTOO ARTIST that they won’t appreciate me cause I have a bachelors in fine art. Cause tattoo artist don’t want “re-teach me how to draw” even when I show them my portfolio and have representation of my diversity of work. (my flash portfolio - not fine art paintings)
Most tattoo artists I’ve been to have acted rude and unprofessional. I was having a sleeve done by an artist and we would book a date and time for me to get worked on..I would even have the texts to prove it. Yet I would get calls on days I wasn’t even booked and they would be irritated I missed my appointment. They would book me then change the date and times completely without telling me then gaslight me saying we never said the date I had in my phone even though I had texts to prove it. and he never apologized. It happened about 4 different times. And when I would accommodate their unprofessional behavior the artist would sometimes stop after an hour because he had another customer booked. The drive was an hour to get to and an hour back. He wasted so much of my time. He also was sick with a cold once and kept coughing on my arm while getting tattooed and laughed about it. I’m flexible with my tattoos/not hard to work with and I really don’t waste time not knowing what I want too. I tip above what I’ve ever seen anyone else tip tattoo artists and I can sit hours with no breaks getting worked on. I feel I’m not hard to work with and I’m very generous. The disrespect was shocking. It was a year and a half and he never finished my sleeve because he kept making the appointments short and wasting my time. He is an owner of a shop and has a good reputation for some reason. I do my best to be nice and respectful so it was completely horrible what he did.
Hello Celle, I'm a newer viewer I'm 43 and I sit here and watch your videos and I'm desperately trying to soak up your calming nature, it's just so much of the person I want to be one. My life has been such a constant battle but I'm coming up on years where I can be me not just a mom who is grumpy raising teenagers and I can get back to my self and I want my soul to have the calm yours does. You really are inspiring me. Ok but I came here to say your art doesn't have to die. You can get your tattoos cut off and put it in formaldehyde. I've seen them for sale in oddity shops. You probably need to speak to doctors and morticians and find out laws in your state but I would've loved to have had my father's tattoos especially two of them but I hadn't thought of looked into it. That could be a whole other industry job, if love to do taking the tattoos preserving them beautifully and then giving them to the family that wants those. Kind of a way to share a piece of yourself with all your friends and loved ones. Maybe I need to get a LLC on this idea. I just didn't know others would be interested to see their loved ones beloved stories and art live on and be a art piece in their home.
I wanted to be an apprentice at one point, I respected the artist I went to, while she was blunt and told me like it was, I know her studio is private and won't apprentice people but I still felt crushed and even other artists I went to didn't seem welcoming for that either. Not only should there be more gay artists but transgender/non binary as well, so if you wanna talk diversity, also some artists I feel still act like they can't tattoo dark skin or even show it on their profile/portfolio..
I'd still love to be part of the tattoo industry somehow, I still want to go to the Hell City convention or Villain Arts, I'm still practicing drawing and painting, however money is always an issue.
Yes. It kinda feels like a shot in the dark when I go to a tattoo artist who doesn’t have poc in their portfolio. That’s the only reason I tend to go poc tattoo artists. I want color to pop on my skin and not disappear 🫠
I think something else that isn't really thought about or talked about is that a good artist needs to be able to tattoo over stretch marks. I get that it's not easy and can be difficult but it's a really important skill to have so that everyone is able to get good quality tattoos.
it's so frustrating how "scratching" is looked down upon, yet so many people that genuinely want to tattoo safely and learn properly are not given the option of traditional apprenticeships, especially due to race, sexuality, income, disability, or even just not knowing the right people. Then even if you do get an apprenticeship, there's a decent chance that you'll be abused, have your time wasted, and not learn much. What do they expect people to do? Tattooists create these problems by gatekeeping information and wanting it to be an underground practice. If there were respectable and accessible tattoo schools so many of these problems would be fixed. Ideally they would teach correct techniques, sanitation, and tattooing on all skin tones. It could be great to see a program at community colleges as a trade. there are some tattoo schools in my area, but they are all shitty cash grabs. any shops that are open to apprentices right now are by bad artists that don't actually care about helping you and that I wouldn't want to learn from anyway. i am seeing a slow change in the industry though, so I'm hopeful that things will get better
My tattoo artist has an autistic son, and so I felt really comfortable being open with him. Usually because of autism and social anxiety if I’m uncomfortable I won’t say anything, but since he has a very good idea of what it’s like, I didn’t feel like I had to hide
@@antilitytv6385 because he's white and male, obviously he didn't experience racism or sexism. That's also a part of why he doesn't see a problem with the industry.
I'm neurodivergent and LGBTQ, and I'm interested in possibly becoming a tattoo artist, but the part about how difficult apprenticeships can be makes me a bit nervous about that. 😅
Totally that’s difficult! What I would recommend is to look at the shop yelp reviews prior to going into the shop. Often times if they’re very accepting and open people will be saying that !
Why does all of that have to be known though for you to have a job? I personally don’t shout that in straight when looking for a shop. I’m a professional tattooer, I have gay coworkers, and she’s my best friend. But she’s never brought it up. She’s treated normal by everyone. I think when you bring up what you are or show bias views of anything else that’s not what you are into, that’s what gets weird af. Not trying to be a dick one bit. You do you. I’m neutral, when it comes to your sexual preferences, it’s actually super weird that people have to like bring it up all of the time. That’s your private life. Leave it at that. I’m not screaming my likes lol. And I’m not sayin you are. But I think that’s what gets people all twisted. I wouldn’t bring it up when looking. Not in a bad way. But just a professional view. Also if you want a good apprenticeship, start drawing like today. Brush up on actual art fundamentals, and learn different styles, before you approach any shop. The more you know about tattooers and fundamentals the more respect you’ll receive and most likely apprenticeship might just go smoothly. I suggest ya do not get a machine whatsoever. You will definitely be turned away. Also if you can produce your own art/flash that helps so much. Also I hope ya don’t get offended. I don’t mean to sound like a Dick. Gotta be difficult in ways. I’m cool with everyone. I’ve never understood how people care about others feelings and preferences? Like effecting them in what way? Absolutely no way. Anywhoosle, have a good one, and good luck. I’d love to answer any questions about shops etc if ya have any.
@@Tattootin i understand that you think that lgbt shouldn’t be brought up but people who are sometimes are intimidated and/or are more comfortable knowing that someone who is going to draw something that is going to permanently be on their body has a similar lifestyle to themselves. That aside us lgbt members have fought hard lives and need to be proud of who we are since it’s exhausting having to hide our true selves, and if you know your coworker is lgbt that means she told you at some point just showing you the other side of the glass so to speak
@@Areayea "or are more comfortable knowing that someone who is going to draw something that is going to permanently be on their body has a similar lifestyle to themselves." How is this not prejudice?
@@Tattootin I understand that, and I think it wouldn't and shouldn't be a big deal, but sadly in a lot of situations it is due to discrimination. And I'm trans, which happens to be more noticeable than being gay and also generally more hated. I really am just concerned about having a work environment that I feel safe in. It is a bit different when you are straight because everyone just assumes that you are so you don't have to tell anybody for them to know. I don't have any hard feelings towards you, I understand why you would think that and a lot of what you said makes sense. I don't plan to make it a big deal anywhere I work, I just want to make sure I am in a safe and accepting environment since I am LGBTQ. And thanks for the advice, I have been drawing my whole life and am currently taking art classes. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about tattooing also and becoming familiar with the different styles. I don't plan to look for an apprenticeship any time soon, but it is definitely something I am interested in looking into in the future. Thanks, and I hope you have a great day!
🐙: tattoo schools should be more common I think it would open many doors more established art schools should consider incorporating tattooing as well Ed Hardy went to an art school after all
as someone who is not in the tattoo industry whatsoever, i could be making an assumption here, but by the sounds of it there is not set protocols that a person/business has to follow when taking on an apprentice (or there are minimal protocols). so, much like what some of the people said here, a more professional and standardised procedure for taking on apprentices should be implemented. it seems to me that there is a lack of professionalism in the tattoo industry (this is a generalisation) as it is considered an art form, however, this is still peoples time, hard earned money, not to mention peoples BODIES, and as such there should be more professional standards around apprenticeships not only to respect their time and money, but the clients.
I actually think a school is a wonderful idea, here in Berlin we have the European school for tattoos and academies, including practice time (not sure how to translate it, but it's the Ausbildung mode that you have class and apprenticeship at the same time). A good tattoo artist needs to know a lot of technical things, skin structure and physiology, some art theory, etc., and all that can be taught in a school.
I think tattoo schools are a great idea. They should be reasonably priced and available to any artist who is interested in learning skin art. The attitude towards customers in tattoo shops still isn't that great, let alone someone new who has the audacity to want to tattoo.
In Austria there's a technical secondary school where they offer tattooing as part of the curriculum, or as a subject students can specialize in. That's really cool, and students are taught by actual tattoo artists.
They looked so uncomfortable when the camera person said they looked like they were from Harry Potter. I would be, too. That feels like such an awkward thing to say to a goth. 🐙
I don´t think being LGBTQ should have anything to do with artistry, i don´t get why people would reject an apprenticeship to someone just because their sexual orientation/perception of themselves is different
NGL hearing them be candid about inflated egos & how awful tattoo artists can be to clients, apprentices & newbies made me dislike the idea of even getting my first tattoo 🐙
🐙 love this videos. And I agree with you so much that the desperate need for more diversity was not talked about enough. We need more than just more women and gay people, we need BIOPIC, non binary, trans, queer, immigrant, indigenous, etc. people to be fully represented in the space.
I mean, we have schools for everything else, so why not tattoo schools too? I have the suspicion that tattoo artists who don’t like the idea of tattoo schools are also the same people who are okay with unpaid/less paid apprenticeships. Because as soon as everyone else around them is educated, they no longer have power over their would-be apprentices.
i think a tattoo career should kinda be set up like medical school but a lot cheaper obviously. you go to school for a bit then you apply to shops to intern at, and so when shops get apprentices they already know how to do the different styles of tattoos already and how to tattoo. so then they can find artists who specialize in what they want to specialize in. they work in their shop and shadow the artist for a certain amount of years. i feel like this way we’d have a lot better turnout of artists
I think the resistance to the school thing is because it’s not in a tattoo shop environment so you don’t become familiar with the environment and see how to handle clients and get mentored one on one on the art, I definitely think the school thing could help for teaching the set up and sanitary side of things though like maybe people could go for that end and the blood borne pathogens qualification and whatnot first and then take a portfolio around for the apprenticeship. Maybe then the people doing their own at home could have access to that and be more safe too. The diversity thing is so true, it has become better but it can definitely still improve more, when I was underage and got my first tattoo twelve years ago from some shady guy called Dave who didn’t ID and had biker tattoos I could never have imagined that I would have the options I do now. I actually haven’t been to a male tattoo artist since being able to get tattooed legally and the last tattoo I got was done at a queer owned and operated shop and I have also been tattooed in an all female shop before too. I know there is resistance from people who like the old school style shop but I am a big fan of these inclusive safe space shops, we even have one in the UK where the artists are majoritively neurodivergent and specialise in catering to neurodivergent clients. At the end of the day for me sure they can keep their old school shops too but I think it’s great that there is more options now for people to choose what kind of environment they would prefer.
🐙 Skateboarding kinda reminds me of tattooing in the way that a lot of skaters don’t like that skateboarding has become so commercialized and how big companies have taken over the skating scene, but there are other skaters that love how popular skating has become and how it’s taken more seriously as a sport, I can understand why people can be gatekeepy cus there are some people and cooperations that will take advantage of the scene or movement and make it more commercialized, like most things, it’s not just black and white, I love tattooing, I want it to be taken seriously as a form of art and I want it to be more accessible for people to get in the industry, but on the other hand I would hate it if big corporations and companies looked at tattoos as just a money making machine instead of an art or a craft, it would also suck if people got into tattooing not because they love tattooing but because they look at it as a way for some quick cash and don’t learn how to properly and safely tattoo.
I honestly think a tattoo should be a thing. So much undiscovered talent out there. I have seen way to many great artist give up because they didn't have the support they needed. I am an artist and honestly if it wasn't for school and fellow artist supporting my work, I would of given up. 🐙
I feel like you are going to be one heck of a great artist once you cross that threshold. Being well educated, comfortable and all around knowledgeable about the industry is key to succeed in this industry. You are so on the right path. Nice vid as well Celle. Much love.👾
7:52 I don’t think age limits is the way to go but I do think esp for young people that they need to understand what a tattoo is/does and then wait at least a few months to make sure they know it’s a design they want However I understand spontaneity. My tattoo was spontaneous and I love it. It spoke to me then it speaks to me now. So it’s more about the person being in tune with themselves
The community or art college that first creates a tattoo curriculum, will win big time! That will begin to transform the industry into a more professional industry with basic standards for technical skills, artistry and customer interface.
Hi Celle 🐙 (I couldn't find the right emoji!) I don't even have tattoos, but I love art and I've been loving your videos to learn about a whole artform that is new to me. It's also fun to see your journey to becoming an artist - I am working through a long process too (although a very different one) so it's fun to see an optimistic, longer-term project.. makes me feel optimistic. : ) Maybe one day you start your own tattoo school to fill this gap you're discussing here ;-) best wishes
My Wife is deaf and one thing about the ,Deaf community is they definitely do not discriminate, Well maybe a little bit of your hearing . This much is True I Swear
It shouldn’t be legal to tattoo teenagers under any circumstance. 21 is an appropriate age to start getting tattooed imo. Tattoo artists should have a code of ethics where it’s agreed you should always try talk individuals under the age of 25 out of getting face, neck & hand tattoos. Plastic surgeons have an official code of ethics. I don’t see why tattoo artists should be different 🐙
As someone who got their 1st tattoo at 16 (with parents consent) I'm a little biased 🤣 but I do agree that the youth should be talked out of face, neck and hand tattoos.
I'm not going to say I know everything about neuroscience, but I do have a psych degree and work as a researcher for cognitive development. What I've learned through my major and my job is that the idea that your brain stops growing at 25 is a myth. It grows and changes throughout your entire life. One of the reasons for this misconception is the lack of awareness about neural pruning. A part of the brain will finish "growing" and then continue to prune. It's a bit more complicated than that and there are separate factors but I feel like that's the quickest explanation.
🐙I wish there were tattoo schools. It would be a fantastic way to start people out with the absolute basics of hygene and technique so that there is a consistencey of service to the public.
I completely agree with the woman who said you should be 25 before you can get a tattoo. I think purchasing alcohol, tobacco, and joining the military should also be added to the list. Your impulse control and the part of the brain that controls addiction is not fully developed until 25. Studies show that people under the age of 25 are more likely to drink and drive, text while driving, have alcohol addiction, and drive significantly over the spend limit. This is the reason education will not fix the problem, because it has to do with biology. We always try to shift the blame to education instead of addressing the real cause of something. People always do the same thing when mentioning our high STD rate on college campuses by saying it's because we don't have good enough sex ed. Completely, ignoring the fact that 100% of 8 year olds know the phrase, "Wrap it before you tap it" and have access to thousands of articles and videos by trusted sources giving sex ed advice. No, the real problem is we have a culture of casual sex and getting drunk before having sex, which leads to people making poor decisions. It's not that people don't know they should wear a condom, but that they're drunk and decided to have a sex with a stranger and either forget or say screw it because it feels better without one. Which are both actions that show a lack of impulse control. I understand why you and other tattoo artists wouldn't agree, because you would lose out on a big chuck of clients and as you mentioned you wouldn't have most of your tattoos. I just couldn't get behind your explanation for why the law should remain the way it currently is. Education can't fix the problem!
The 25 thing isn't even true. This is just a misunderstanding that's been popularized. Also, there are a bunch of environmental factors that can affect a person's behavior. People with bad upbringings are more likely to engage in more risky behaviors. Also according to the NHTSA, 25-34 year olds are almost as likely as 21-24 year olds to drink and drive. So it's not just about being super young. Also, education can reduce STDs. I don't know what 8 year olds you know, but nobody told me to wrap it before you tap it when I was 8. There are tons of conservative parents who never talk about sex with their kids because they think it's inappropriate to discuss sex. Many parents think that not talking about sex will reduce the likelyhood of their kids becoming sexually active. There are also tons of studies which show that sex ed reduces the rate of STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Those studies also show that kids who only receive abstinence only education are more likely to have STDs and get pregnant.
Tattoo schools would be the same as piercing schools, way to short and expensive and not respected by the industry because people don't want to see a piece of paper saying someone can do something. Each studio has different vibes and practices about how they tattoo and part of an apprenticeship is seeing if you vibe with the studio aswell as learning skills and gaining experience. Tattooing isn't just a skill it has a few different factors to make a tattoo artist and an apprenticeship sees if you have these skills and also teaches you what your weaknesses are. I'm not a tattooist but this is the reason I think the industry is not in favor of tattoo schools.
I don't understand why the industry doesn't change. You have all these apprentices that are treated poorly and they just continue the tradition of misstreatment.
I dont understand the resistance against tattoo schools. Its actually kind of crazy that any kind of procedure where skin is broken happens without going to a school for it. Coming from the medical field I cant make it make sense.
Great video! I'm a fairly new subscriber so forgive me if you've done this idea before, but it would be cool to see you do a video on your top 3 favorite Ink Master contestants. I know in a previous video you mentioned you don't necessary love the show, but figured I'd mention it. Keep up the good work 🤙🏻
Tattoo schools are a legal requirement in some states (cities? I'm not familiar with licensing requirements). And regulation is how you end abusive practices. I know tattoo artists don't want to see the tattoo industry heavily regulated beyond what it already is, but I think if it were regulated like the cosmetology industry it would be a safer and less predatory industry. Plus artists who couldn't tattoo full time or regularly anymore due to age or injury could become licensed instructors. It's a lifetime career opportunity. And fuck no to no tattoos until 25. 18 is a fine age. Let people make mistakes, that's part of life. I have a 3 year laser plan and I'm not mad about it at all. I made the choices to get those tattoos and I'm fixing them. I'm EXCITED for the tattoos I'm going to get when I'm done with laser. Live and learn.
😂 at the term “tattitooed” I’m a nurse and we used to say the same about ppl who are just finished their nursing degree and catch “staffitis” - a condition that suddenly you know EVERYTHING and you’re just fresh out of uni! 😝 Also on the point of an tattoo apprenticeship not being paid etc- most “work placements” that you do with Uni is unpaid (it is in nursing and the hours are long, days and nights are expected to be worked for free) plus you have to pay your University fees to go thorough the course and get your degree…… so I feel like the not getting paid thing for a couple of years is what most ppl have to do to become qualified for a job these days.
i went to a tattoo school for about 5 months and the experience i have WILL absolutely not fit in a youtube comment i dont know how many different ones there are but my personal experience with it was absolutely NOT the way to go and i ended up quitting even tho there was some valuble knowledge fo;und there generally there were many red flags along the way especially having the tattoo artist i thought was going to9 be involved along the way being way more interested in his music career to even be there half the time to feeling like i was pretty much left to my own devices more often than not feeling too anxious to bother the tattoo artists that were there not being sure if they signed up to be a guiding light combined with the fact that they specifically were saying you dont need to know how to draw and teaching people to steal art for the sake of mass produced tattoo artists? they seem good on paper but my experience was rather iffy and figured id share being interested in your videos c:
I love how every single Tattooer featured in this video that I’ve met. Which is most, they all act the way they’re talking shit about lol especially Paul Booth!
🐙 I'm not totally against tattoo school or just a course on how to get started. Once I learned it was a huge disadvantage I didnt look more into it. Im a new PMU artist but maybe would like to learn tattooing. I just didnt know where to start. Thank you for your videos.
I’m glad the industry is becoming more respectful of women tattoo artist. However, I don’t think that respects is given to women apprenticeships or looking for apprenticeships. When I had an apprenticeship I realized all the artist wanted to was to sleep with me. When COIVD hit I was dropped. I’m glad the industry is beginning to change but I feel like we are stuck between old and new tattoo artist.
Re: the more pink comment, *at conventions was put in Asterix at the top left…so I think he meant artist booth set ups being lots of pastel themes…which I am here for!…as well as more diversity, LGBTQ+ & women in tattooing and a focus on client care & comfort 💜
I hope my kids will wait until 25 to get tattooed tbh haha that's when the frontal cortex finishes developing. I got tattooed when I was 18, although I don't regret them I'd get different ones if I'd waited
I will join an intensive course on tattooing this autumn, one of the only ones in Sweden, if you were to do a video on a "tattoo school" I'd love go comment on how it went afterwards.
I know I'm far from the only one who would have just done a stick and poke in my room if the age limit were 25. I'm someone who loves to take time researching and deciding on big things like that (even back then) but many people between 18 and 25 do not have that dedication and interest in research. Many people already find 18 to be a long wait, but there are good reasons for the wait at least, making it 25, I think would cause more issues than it'd solve.
🐙 My last tattoo the artist joked with me that because I am anthropology student I would probably end up being a tattoo artist lol. Now I'm considering it.
Yoo I’m 30 and my mom always said she doesn’t think I should get tattoos until I was 25 and showing her the beautiful person at 7:30 agreeing with my conservative mom was such a great moment for me😂😂😂
The first statement felt like pandering. Because when getting Tattoo I could careless about the artists sexual preference. I care about the quality of work that they can do. That seems to be the most important thing one should be concerned with, especially getting something blasted in to your flesh that will be around for years. And the industry is full of people of color, WTF are they talking about? Unless they mean just for TV then I guess the first two statements would make sense.
There are other Inked RUclipss dealing with this same subject that get more into having more diversity amongst tattoo artists. They just didn’t deal with that topic much in this one.
Interesting how after the first girl said “more gays and people of colour”, the chick next to her and yourself ignored the “people of colour” statement.
I think tattoo schools should be apart of learning. Just likendrs go to school, and then do internships at hospitals....imahine if a dr aprenticed with just one persons knowledge.. instead of combined knowledge of many people
Something I dont hear much about is accessibility, as a disabled person I have found it near impossible to even get into a tattoo studio (no wheelchair access) in the past. I've heard of a couple of disabled friendly tattoo artists/studios more recently but it seems rare.
Damn I wasn't even aware this could be a possible problem. But can't you bring one of those things you can open up and put on to few stairs so you can roll over it instead of having to go up the stairs? I'm sorry, English is not my first language so I really do not know a better way to describe those thingies
Yesss
@@nihalnihal9356 no that wouldn't work most of the time anyway
I'd say it's an "aftereffect" related to tattooing that ends up impacting people with reduced mobility as collateral rather than just disregarding disabled people to begin with. I live in a country where all stores of any kind (from your local bakery or real estate office to the big supermarkets or tucked-away alley bar) have to get up to code for accessibility. And while most people are for it, implementation can be hard because of revenue and renting space. Prime renting space that would accomodate more floor space, or wider entrances and level (relative to the street) entryways is expensive. Tattoo shops don't tend (in general) to swim in money for such spaces.
I’ll pick your chair up for you homeboy
Tbh I’ve noticed that quite a few of the artists who are in these Inked Magazine videos themselves sound quite entitled and douchey
Everyone that I’ve met that are in this video are egotistical pricks
Yeah I agree. All the artists that I’ve encountered have either been super cool or egotistical douchebags.
americans
@creekemery-rowe7228 as an American l think you are right. The competition aspect is really highly promoted in the US.
💯
I have a tattoo that says “this body is only temporary” because of how many people ask me “do you know those are permanent!?”
They’re not, because I’m not permanent 😂
They’re biodegradable 😂😂😂
love that
Facts
Lol 😂😂
LMFAO
Love this❤
i’m a tattoo artist in portland, oregon where they have tattoo schools and without it i really don’t know how i would’ve gotten into tattooing professionally because i’ve never been good at “knowing the right people” or hustling or playing the game so to speak in order to get an apprenticeship. tattoo school was a great intro but the main drawback is that it’s so damn expensive, almost all of my fellow students had help from their parents, so it’s mostly people with generational wealth. if i did get a scholarship to PSU and use that money to help with tattoo school, i wouldn’t have been able to afford it. 🤪 and they would’ve missed out on a gay brown artist! lol
as someone who stopped tattooing, I can say that I would want to make it a safer place for women. I tattooed in a red state and all the men were incredible sexist, racist, and homophobic. My mentor constantly commented on my body and called me classy and thick, but then said I was like the sister his daughter never had. I even told him he was the same age as my mom and it didn't deter him. There were 3 apprentices at the time and I was the only full time one but he told me that the only reason I got more clients than the others was because of my cup size. There was also another male tattooer that would wrap his arms around me randomly while I was working on stuff, I think he thought this was okay because he was "conventionally attractive" and had alot of women fawn over him so he figured everyone would be okay with him draping himself on them.
most of them didn't properly sterilize their stations and stole artwork from others. Not to mention, all the sexual harassment was made worse because there was a woman there that was my mentors "favorite" and when he started harassing me, she lashed out at me every chance she could.
Why did you mention being in a "red state"? That is an odd detail
@@night6724 Because conservatives agree with sexist, homophobic and racist ideals. Rebublicans are the reason places like Texas are taking away rights of women (abortion) and rights of queer people (anti-trans law). There's also things like the critical race theory law passed last year, which forbids schools from teaching anything about slavery, racism and sexism even existing, so their conservative parents can tell them they aren't real problems and it's just woke propaganda. So yeah, being a woman in a red state does matter to this conversation.
@@night6724 You didn't know that all Republicans are homophobic sexist baby eating Nazis? You must not be on the internet much lol.
Yoooo wtf, i would have punched them on the first day, how do you stay there without losing your marbles
@@night6724because red states tend to be worse with that kind of stuff.
🐙 god, THANK YOU for bringing up race and diversity at the end. That was the number one thing I thought of during the Inked video. Also your counter argument to the bullshit argument about “skill over skin” is gold. As always, thanks for the perspective!!
If all you see is race or orientation guess what sugartits YOU'RE the arsehole 😉 I'm a skinhead dude gets on with everyone I'm also disabled it's like saying i only want to be tattood by spastics because I can only empathise with people who go through shit I do. You kids are awful people inside yourselves.
I think it's skill that is the most important. Race and sexuality have nothing to do with it.
I think tattooing should be a part of beauty school; like hair stylist, nail technician, eyelash operator (idk the word sorry lol). It only makes sense since tattooing is permanent and involves pain and hygene. Not that it should be illegal to tattoo without having went, but that there should be some kind of license people can get.
That is a super interesting point and I quite like that idea 😊
I think a trades program/apprenticeship through schools would be fantastic for the industry. It could remove some of the struggles of apprentices being taken advantage of in shops and give students a chance for school loans to help them on their career path + give a clear timeline and goal to work towards, having something tangible to take home would add so much value to the experience and could justify unpaid labour (although i hope the apprentices would be paid it’s at least a start). In the meantime and hopefully always moving forward, I would love to see a certification as a barrier of entry. Nothing to do with the artwork itself, but something like a driving test where you set up a station, wrap a synthetic skin, and tear down the station, and if the artist can do all this in a sanitary and safe fashion then they are able to work on clients, monetize their craft, and start their career. 🐙
The point you shared at the end is also the biggest issue I see with the industry. I’ve always wanted a tattoo, but the styles I like only seem to be done on white skin. I don’t even bother to ask the artist if they’d consider tattooing my skin color cause I don’t wanna go through the potential awkward process. I understand some artists prefer not to tattoo darker skin in order to not “mess up”, but it won’t get them any practice or progress either. I think tattoo schools could also offer a good solution to this, but oh well. Great video as always! 🐙
Why should it be awkward tho? As you say, artists refusing to tattoo people with darker skin won't get any practice. But that's also true for artists who don't get the opportunity to begin with. It's a bit like hairdressers and barbers in a way. The type of skin is just like the type of hair, a component to discuss with the professional for a desired result. Some may refuse because they're twats, others may be honest and say "I'd like to but only if you're ok with the fact that I'm new to this". And others could very well be proficient, but you can't know if you don't ask.
That being said, schools or well-made apprenticeships programs could help a lot indeed.
I live in North Dakota so there’s not a lot of opportunities to work with darker skins so I try to learn as much as I can whenever I get the opportunity. Experience is the absolute best teacher for this industry. I’m currently training my 4th apprentice and have had many people say I should start a school, which would be amazing because I think to create the kind of artists the industry growth is needing must have artists trained in multiple facets and master skills needed to not only give people tattoos but make their session comfortable, professional, fun, etc.
I seriously have pretty much a business plan ready to go but I worry about the industry haters of schools would quash my dreams before I even got started.
If you live in the UK, I know a tattooing couple and they will tattoo anybody old enough, regardless of what colour or sexuality that person is. One of them is dark-skinned herself, both are experienced at tattooing dark skin.
(They are based in Leeds but they do travel a bit too)
honestly the process of being a tattoo artist kinda deters people from doing it. the fact that you have to give the shop hours of your life for minimal pay & are expected to be treated like dirt is so sad. But people will do it because they really want to pursue tattooing, but I just think it’s kind of fucked up that most people I know had to live at home with their parents and had to have another job while doing the apprenticeship. i feel like there should be a more structured way of becoming a tattoo artist. if no one in your area wants to take on an apprenticeship, then you’re kinda shit out of luck and it shouldn’t be that way. but i’m so glad my friend just started hers at her local tattoo shop where she’s gotten a majority of her tattoos and they have been treating her so well, and they’ve already started to get her to do hands on stuff like practicing with the machine using a pencil instead of ink, stencils etc. i’ve heard so many horror stories or people cleaning & doing consent forms for a year before they even got hands on. which is just a waste of time imo. yeah they could help with that stuff, but if it’s all they’re doing for a year of their life and not doing anything hands on, it’s kinda just a glorified assistant.
That’s the way life is buddy, you gotta eat lots of fucking shit before you can reap the rewards of the hard work you put in, nothing in life comes easy and people aren’t gonna give you anything in life. No free lunches.
Ever talk to a on call plumbing service, not new construction, apprentice?
@@OntarioBearHunter i work in construction and know how it is, all im gonna sag is that people have choices to do whatever they please & should not be entitled to anything they haven’t earned
@@CC-di6mx not asking for free shit lol 😂 just some apprentices don’t even get paid while they’re doing shop work, which shouldn’t be legal.
@@OntarioBearHunter my bf works in construction and even in “training” he was paid a livable wage and we made good enough money to survive and go on vacation and such. On the other hand, my friend is a tattoo apprentice and she had to move back in with her parents to afford to live bc she wasn’t paid enough at shop yet.
I recently moved out of Portland, OR where education at a “tattoo school” is mandatory to become a professional in the industry (unless you’ve worked in another state for 2+ years already). I got a few tattoos there from recent graduates of these schools, and not one had anything positive to say about their experiences ☹️ Mainly the owners and instructors made a cushy business charging upwards of $12k just to attend and no longer even tattoo themselves. Despite that, the waiting list to attend can be as long as a year, so this is obviously a lucrative industry.
I personally don’t see anything wrong with the concept of tattoo schools, and think it’s preferable to being mistreated and tortured at a traditional shop, but the lack of real shop experience and hefty price tag are pretty huge deterrents, especially considering that several of the artists said they still pursued an apprenticeship after graduating Bc they didn’t feel prepared to start working…
I wish there was a solution somewhere in between paying a fortune and knowing someone in the industry who’ll let you in- so many talented artists just can’t find an opportunity as it is. I myself moved out of PDX for this reason.
I would be much more interested in getting into tattooing if there were schools. My anxiety keeps me from even considering seeking an apprenticeship.
Teaching yourself is still still option. F*** these gate keepers.
Drives me crazy when I see shops posting about openings repeatedly but then only wanting established artists and refuse to take on new apprentices.
Totally agreed about the tattoo school comments. They could be so great if diverse trained artists were running them instead of shaming them. The mentality that you have to suffer unnecessarily to become an artist is so weird to me.
I don't know what I would change about the industry. But this is perhaps due to the fact that I found an artist I love and she now does 90% of all of my tattoos. Before her though it was like shooting in the dark to find someone that I not only liked their style of work but also them as a person. I don't care what anybody says if I don't like you, I don't want to spend my money or time on you. So liking the artist is key for me.
11:02 I’m an illustrative and comic artist. Tattoos require such a specific skill set how is it not “high end”?! You have to take into consideration not just normal all art stuff like placement, composition, color palette, but also THE HUMAN BODY
I am pro tattoo school in general... But i have a fear, that those are going to be 1. mandataroy (I am for more freedom for choosing where and how to learn. Like choosing a studio over school and not being forced to do the other or forced to do a combination of both) and 2. similar to the dread lock situation in Germany.:
I don't know if it came through and is a thing now, but there was a to-be-law here in Germany, where if you want to earn money by doing dreads, you have to learn it in a hair dresser apprenticeship. But at that time there was no apprenticeship that contained dread locks, so someone with no idea about how having dreads is like etc. made up a bunch of nonsense that should become the rule - even thogh they really had no idea what they are talking about (for example using those little rubber bands in dreads. For those who don't know: You almost can't take them out and they "melt" after a certain time of being in the sun and washing your hair etc and are sticky and smelly and ruin everything).
With tattoos that would be even worse - possibly life threatening.
I left school early to do an apprenticeship in carpentry.
I was bullied badly ,especially by my boss ,would put me down regularly and I already struggled with mental health issues.
It’s very similar with the hazing and I had to clean up for the first two years!
I was very suicidal
Also the majority of my favourite artists are female !
Teresa Sharp and Christina Christie for example
Unfortunately that was the way it was in the 60s a rite of passage so to say.
Tattoo schools are so fkn logical; I live tattooing and I’m pretty knowledgeable about the visual art world (more than tattooing) as my mum is a professional artist and teacher at art school (uni/colleg level art studies). Art school helps develop skills, style, knowledge of history and culture around art and through learning new skills they can a press themselves through more mediums, tattooing shouldn’t exclude itself from this kind of education. Some of mums students want to be tattoo artists and it’s great that they’re getting their fine art and artistic voice developed before starting tattooing but how cool if she could learn to tattoo alongside her education in art! Secondly as a healthcare student I’m always very particular watching my tattoo artists’ sterile field and completing the tattoo which is essentially a cosmetic medical procedure and the education and access to messing with the human body should be more regulated within access to tattooing (I understand there are laws etc but schools would make this more accessible, regulated and more comprehensive for safety. As that comment says, if you want to be respected you can’t then resist mainstream education. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.🐙
🐙 Hey that's me! Thanks for taking my suggestion for the video.
I am looking forward to your video on tattoo schools now. It really seems like some set standards or a jumping off point for basics would do wonders for the industry.
i think tattoo schools are a good idea as long as theyre not mandatory. artists should have the freedom to choose whether they want to go through an apprenticeship or go to a tattoo school, or both. however, a lot more goes into it than just ”tattoo school will fix everything!” it needs to be an actual GOOD tattoo school that is well structured and developed and doesnt cost much or even anything (which in the us will never happen).
There are tattoo schools in the us that are exactly that - structured, low cost, and trains you to work in an actual shop. Also pays you as you learn.
I know it's super frowned upon and I'm not for it, but now I see why some people who are enthusiastic about learning to tattoo resort to scratching.
If they're having a hard time finding an apprenticeship or an opportunity, they're gonna make their own lane.
Tattoo Schools should be a thing.
🐙
More diversity helps every single industry.
🐙 the artist that is working on my sleeve (the whole shop is douchy and entitled and a “you should have it as hard as I did” mind set, which makes me so uncomfy and wish I didn’t choose there to get a sleeve but that’s a story for a different time) she and the other artists in the shop were complaining about someone who tried to set up a tattoo school locally and called it a scam and saying it needs to be shut down and no one is gonna take any of the “students” on. I think it’s a weird mind set. I mean I had to go to school for 6 years just to get an entry level position in my job and I get paid less than half what they take home. Cosmetologists have to go to school and get a license? I think it goes along with the gatekeepy mindset that they don’t want it to be easy for new people to get into the industry and they don’t want to level the playing field because they feel threatened by it. There’s also the issue of student loans and how degrees are very scammy and having gotten two degrees myself that argument does hold up, but a trade school is different and I think a lot of people can picture something similar to programs cosmetologists go through and they take much less time and don’t cost loads of money. I think tattooing should go in this direction and the resistance to it is very cringy. I honestly would love for someone who is putting needles in my body to have gone to some type of schooling. They’re playing a roll of an esthetician not just the role of an artist.
🐙
It's very difficult to be tattoo artist but I am so glad they exist 🙂
Thanks to all the tattoos artists across the world ☺️
Thanks Celle for your videos 😁
Also as someone with a BFA I’ve been told by SEVERAL TATTOO ARTIST that they won’t appreciate me cause I have a bachelors in fine art. Cause tattoo artist don’t want “re-teach me how to draw” even when I show them my portfolio and have representation of my diversity of work. (my flash portfolio - not fine art paintings)
Most tattoo artists I’ve been to have acted rude and unprofessional. I was having a sleeve done by an artist and we would book a date and time for me to get worked on..I would even have the texts to prove it. Yet I would get calls on days I wasn’t even booked and they would be irritated I missed my appointment. They would book me then change the date and times completely without telling me then gaslight me saying we never said the date I had in my phone even though I had texts to prove it. and he never apologized. It happened about 4 different times. And when I would accommodate their unprofessional behavior the artist would sometimes stop after an hour because he had another customer booked. The drive was an hour to get to and an hour back. He wasted so much of my time. He also was sick with a cold once and kept coughing on my arm while getting tattooed and laughed about it. I’m flexible with my tattoos/not hard to work with and I really don’t waste time not knowing what I want too. I tip above what I’ve ever seen anyone else tip tattoo artists and I can sit hours with no breaks getting worked on. I feel I’m not hard to work with and I’m very generous. The disrespect was shocking. It was a year and a half and he never finished my sleeve because he kept making the appointments short and wasting my time. He is an owner of a shop and has a good reputation for some reason. I do my best to be nice and respectful so it was completely horrible what he did.
Hello Celle, I'm a newer viewer I'm 43 and I sit here and watch your videos and I'm desperately trying to soak up your calming nature, it's just so much of the person I want to be one. My life has been such a constant battle but I'm coming up on years where I can be me not just a mom who is grumpy raising teenagers and I can get back to my self and I want my soul to have the calm yours does. You really are inspiring me. Ok but I came here to say your art doesn't have to die. You can get your tattoos cut off and put it in formaldehyde. I've seen them for sale in oddity shops. You probably need to speak to doctors and morticians and find out laws in your state but I would've loved to have had my father's tattoos especially two of them but I hadn't thought of looked into it. That could be a whole other industry job, if love to do taking the tattoos preserving them beautifully and then giving them to the family that wants those. Kind of a way to share a piece of yourself with all your friends and loved ones. Maybe I need to get a LLC on this idea. I just didn't know others would be interested to see their loved ones beloved stories and art live on and be a art piece in their home.
I wanted to be an apprentice at one point, I respected the artist I went to, while she was blunt and told me like it was, I know her studio is private and won't apprentice people but I still felt crushed and even other artists I went to didn't seem welcoming for that either. Not only should there be more gay artists but transgender/non binary as well, so if you wanna talk diversity, also some artists I feel still act like they can't tattoo dark skin or even show it on their profile/portfolio..
I'd still love to be part of the tattoo industry somehow, I still want to go to the Hell City convention or Villain Arts, I'm still practicing drawing and painting, however money is always an issue.
Yes. It kinda feels like a shot in the dark when I go to a tattoo artist who doesn’t have poc in their portfolio. That’s the only reason I tend to go poc tattoo artists. I want color to pop on my skin and not disappear 🫠
I think something else that isn't really thought about or talked about is that a good artist needs to be able to tattoo over stretch marks. I get that it's not easy and can be difficult but it's a really important skill to have so that everyone is able to get good quality tattoos.
it's so frustrating how "scratching" is looked down upon, yet so many people that genuinely want to tattoo safely and learn properly are not given the option of traditional apprenticeships, especially due to race, sexuality, income, disability, or even just not knowing the right people. Then even if you do get an apprenticeship, there's a decent chance that you'll be abused, have your time wasted, and not learn much. What do they expect people to do? Tattooists create these problems by gatekeeping information and wanting it to be an underground practice. If there were respectable and accessible tattoo schools so many of these problems would be fixed. Ideally they would teach correct techniques, sanitation, and tattooing on all skin tones. It could be great to see a program at community colleges as a trade.
there are some tattoo schools in my area, but they are all shitty cash grabs. any shops that are open to apprentices right now are by bad artists that don't actually care about helping you and that I wouldn't want to learn from anyway. i am seeing a slow change in the industry though, so I'm hopeful that things will get better
BS. No one cares about race or gender. That's not a factor
My tattoo artist has an autistic son, and so I felt really comfortable being open with him. Usually because of autism and social anxiety if I’m uncomfortable I won’t say anything, but since he has a very good idea of what it’s like, I didn’t feel like I had to hide
Awesome. Anxiety is real.
12:34 the white guy doesn’t think he’d change anything…shocking.
why does his skin colour matter to you?
@@antilitytv6385 because he's white and male, obviously he didn't experience racism or sexism. That's also a part of why he doesn't see a problem with the industry.
I'm neurodivergent and LGBTQ, and I'm interested in possibly becoming a tattoo artist, but the part about how difficult apprenticeships can be makes me a bit nervous about that. 😅
Totally that’s difficult! What I would recommend is to look at the shop yelp reviews prior to going into the shop. Often times if they’re very accepting and open people will be saying that !
Why does all of that have to be known though for you to have a job? I personally don’t shout that in straight when looking for a shop. I’m a professional tattooer, I have gay coworkers, and she’s my best friend. But she’s never brought it up. She’s treated normal by everyone. I think when you bring up what you are or show bias views of anything else that’s not what you are into, that’s what gets weird af. Not trying to be a dick one bit. You do you. I’m neutral, when it comes to your sexual preferences, it’s actually super weird that people have to like bring it up all of the time. That’s your private life. Leave it at that. I’m not screaming my likes lol. And I’m not sayin you are. But I think that’s what gets people all twisted. I wouldn’t bring it up when looking. Not in a bad way. But just a professional view.
Also if you want a good apprenticeship, start drawing like today. Brush up on actual art fundamentals, and learn different styles, before you approach any shop. The more you know about tattooers and fundamentals the more respect you’ll receive and most likely apprenticeship might just go smoothly. I suggest ya do not get a machine whatsoever. You will definitely be turned away. Also if you can produce your own art/flash that helps so much.
Also I hope ya don’t get offended. I don’t mean to sound like a Dick. Gotta be difficult in ways. I’m cool with everyone. I’ve never understood how people care about others feelings and preferences? Like effecting them in what way? Absolutely no way. Anywhoosle, have a good one, and good luck. I’d love to answer any questions about shops etc if ya have any.
@@Tattootin i understand that you think that lgbt shouldn’t be brought up but people who are sometimes are intimidated and/or are more comfortable knowing that someone who is going to draw something that is going to permanently be on their body has a similar lifestyle to themselves. That aside us lgbt members have fought hard lives and need to be proud of who we are since it’s exhausting having to hide our true selves, and if you know your coworker is lgbt that means she told you at some point just showing you the other side of the glass so to speak
@@Areayea "or are more comfortable knowing that someone who is going to draw something that is going to permanently be on their body has a similar lifestyle to themselves."
How is this not prejudice?
@@Tattootin I understand that, and I think it wouldn't and shouldn't be a big deal, but sadly in a lot of situations it is due to discrimination.
And I'm trans, which happens to be more noticeable than being gay and also generally more hated. I really am just concerned about having a work environment that I feel safe in.
It is a bit different when you are straight because everyone just assumes that you are so you don't have to tell anybody for them to know.
I don't have any hard feelings towards you, I understand why you would think that and a lot of what you said makes sense. I don't plan to make it a big deal anywhere I work, I just want to make sure I am in a safe and accepting environment since I am LGBTQ.
And thanks for the advice, I have been drawing my whole life and am currently taking art classes. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about tattooing also and becoming familiar with the different styles.
I don't plan to look for an apprenticeship any time soon, but it is definitely something I am interested in looking into in the future.
Thanks, and I hope you have a great day!
🐙: tattoo schools should be more common I think it would open many doors more established art schools should consider incorporating tattooing as well Ed Hardy went to an art school after all
as someone who is not in the tattoo industry whatsoever, i could be making an assumption here, but by the sounds of it there is not set protocols that a person/business has to follow when taking on an apprentice (or there are minimal protocols). so, much like what some of the people said here, a more professional and standardised procedure for taking on apprentices should be implemented. it seems to me that there is a lack of professionalism in the tattoo industry (this is a generalisation) as it is considered an art form, however, this is still peoples time, hard earned money, not to mention peoples BODIES, and as such there should be more professional standards around apprenticeships not only to respect their time and money, but the clients.
I actually think a school is a wonderful idea, here in Berlin we have the European school for tattoos and academies, including practice time (not sure how to translate it, but it's the Ausbildung mode that you have class and apprenticeship at the same time). A good tattoo artist needs to know a lot of technical things, skin structure and physiology, some art theory, etc., and all that can be taught in a school.
I think tattoo schools are a great idea. They should be reasonably priced and available to any artist who is interested in learning skin art. The attitude towards customers in tattoo shops still isn't that great, let alone someone new who has the audacity to want to tattoo.
In Austria there's a technical secondary school where they offer tattooing as part of the curriculum, or as a subject students can specialize in. That's really cool, and students are taught by actual tattoo artists.
They looked so uncomfortable when the camera person said they looked like they were from Harry Potter. I would be, too. That feels like such an awkward thing to say to a goth. 🐙
I did do my research but I feel so lucky to find a talented tattooer who is also super nice
I don´t think being LGBTQ should have anything to do with artistry, i don´t get why people would reject an apprenticeship to someone just because their sexual orientation/perception of themselves is different
That is literally the problem, you don’t understand how this would happen but it DOES
It doesn't
NGL hearing them be candid about inflated egos & how awful tattoo artists can be to clients, apprentices & newbies made me dislike the idea of even getting my first tattoo 🐙
🐙 love this videos. And I agree with you so much that the desperate need for more diversity was not talked about enough. We need more than just more women and gay people, we need BIOPIC, non binary, trans, queer, immigrant, indigenous, etc. people to be fully represented in the space.
I mean, we have schools for everything else, so why not tattoo schools too? I have the suspicion that tattoo artists who don’t like the idea of tattoo schools are also the same people who are okay with unpaid/less paid apprenticeships. Because as soon as everyone else around them is educated, they no longer have power over their would-be apprentices.
i think a tattoo career should kinda be set up like medical school but a lot cheaper obviously. you go to school for a bit then you apply to shops to intern at, and so when shops get apprentices they already know how to do the different styles of tattoos already and how to tattoo. so then they can find artists who specialize in what they want to specialize in. they work in their shop and shadow the artist for a certain amount of years. i feel like this way we’d have a lot better turnout of artists
I think the resistance to the school thing is because it’s not in a tattoo shop environment so you don’t become familiar with the environment and see how to handle clients and get mentored one on one on the art, I definitely think the school thing could help for teaching the set up and sanitary side of things though like maybe people could go for that end and the blood borne pathogens qualification and whatnot first and then take a portfolio around for the apprenticeship. Maybe then the people doing their own at home could have access to that and be more safe too. The diversity thing is so true, it has become better but it can definitely still improve more, when I was underage and got my first tattoo twelve years ago from some shady guy called Dave who didn’t ID and had biker tattoos I could never have imagined that I would have the options I do now. I actually haven’t been to a male tattoo artist since being able to get tattooed legally and the last tattoo I got was done at a queer owned and operated shop and I have also been tattooed in an all female shop before too. I know there is resistance from people who like the old school style shop but I am a big fan of these inclusive safe space shops, we even have one in the UK where the artists are majoritively neurodivergent and specialise in catering to neurodivergent clients. At the end of the day for me sure they can keep their old school shops too but I think it’s great that there is more options now for people to choose what kind of environment they would prefer.
Your channel so underrated and it’s necessary more than ever
Great opinions great content we’re definitely going to support your content 👸🏻
🐙 i love how you speak and present your points with so much class in every video
🐙 Skateboarding kinda reminds me of tattooing in the way that a lot of skaters don’t like that skateboarding has become so commercialized and how big companies have taken over the skating scene, but there are other skaters that love how popular skating has become and how it’s taken more seriously as a sport, I can understand why people can be gatekeepy cus there are some people and cooperations that will take advantage of the scene or movement and make it more commercialized, like most things, it’s not just black and white, I love tattooing, I want it to be taken seriously as a form of art and I want it to be more accessible for people to get in the industry, but on the other hand I would hate it if big corporations and companies looked at tattoos as just a money making machine instead of an art or a craft, it would also suck if people got into tattooing not because they love tattooing but because they look at it as a way for some quick cash and don’t learn how to properly and safely tattoo.
I honestly think a tattoo should be a thing. So much undiscovered talent out there. I have seen way to many great artist give up because they didn't have the support they needed. I am an artist and honestly if it wasn't for school and fellow artist supporting my work, I would of given up. 🐙
I feel like you are going to be one heck of a great artist once you cross that threshold. Being well educated, comfortable and all around knowledgeable about the industry is key to succeed in this industry. You are so on the right path. Nice vid as well Celle. Much love.👾
7:52 I don’t think age limits is the way to go but I do think esp for young people that they need to understand what a tattoo is/does and then wait at least a few months to make sure they know it’s a design they want
However I understand spontaneity. My tattoo was spontaneous and I love it. It spoke to me then it speaks to me now. So it’s more about the person being in tune with themselves
The community or art college that first creates a tattoo curriculum, will win big time!
That will begin to transform the industry into a more professional industry with basic standards for technical skills, artistry and customer interface.
Hi Celle 🐙 (I couldn't find the right emoji!) I don't even have tattoos, but I love art and I've been loving your videos to learn about a whole artform that is new to me. It's also fun to see your journey to becoming an artist - I am working through a long process too (although a very different one) so it's fun to see an optimistic, longer-term project.. makes me feel optimistic. : ) Maybe one day you start your own tattoo school to fill this gap you're discussing here ;-) best wishes
My Wife is deaf and one thing about the ,Deaf community is they definitely do not discriminate, Well maybe a little bit of your hearing
. This much is True I Swear
It shouldn’t be legal to tattoo teenagers under any circumstance. 21 is an appropriate age to start getting tattooed imo.
Tattoo artists should have a code of ethics where it’s agreed you should always try talk individuals under the age of 25 out of getting face, neck & hand tattoos.
Plastic surgeons have an official code of ethics. I don’t see why tattoo artists should be different 🐙
As someone who got their 1st tattoo at 16 (with parents consent) I'm a little biased 🤣 but I do agree that the youth should be talked out of face, neck and hand tattoos.
I'm not going to say I know everything about neuroscience, but I do have a psych degree and work as a researcher for cognitive development. What I've learned through my major and my job is that the idea that your brain stops growing at 25 is a myth. It grows and changes throughout your entire life. One of the reasons for this misconception is the lack of awareness about neural pruning. A part of the brain will finish "growing" and then continue to prune. It's a bit more complicated than that and there are separate factors but I feel like that's the quickest explanation.
9:00 ~chills~
🐙I wish there were tattoo schools. It would be a fantastic way to start people out with the absolute basics of hygene and technique so that there is a consistencey of service to the public.
Tattoo school sounds like the right idea… Like cosmetology school but just as if not more important
I got my first tattoo when I turned 18 a few months ago 😭 I don’t want to wait til I’m 25!
I completely agree with the woman who said you should be 25 before you can get a tattoo. I think purchasing alcohol, tobacco, and joining the military should also be added to the list. Your impulse control and the part of the brain that controls addiction is not fully developed until 25. Studies show that people under the age of 25 are more likely to drink and drive, text while driving, have alcohol addiction, and drive significantly over the spend limit. This is the reason education will not fix the problem, because it has to do with biology. We always try to shift the blame to education instead of addressing the real cause of something. People always do the same thing when mentioning our high STD rate on college campuses by saying it's because we don't have good enough sex ed. Completely, ignoring the fact that 100% of 8 year olds know the phrase, "Wrap it before you tap it" and have access to thousands of articles and videos by trusted sources giving sex ed advice. No, the real problem is we have a culture of casual sex and getting drunk before having sex, which leads to people making poor decisions. It's not that people don't know they should wear a condom, but that they're drunk and decided to have a sex with a stranger and either forget or say screw it because it feels better without one. Which are both actions that show a lack of impulse control. I understand why you and other tattoo artists wouldn't agree, because you would lose out on a big chuck of clients and as you mentioned you wouldn't have most of your tattoos. I just couldn't get behind your explanation for why the law should remain the way it currently is. Education can't fix the problem!
The 25 thing isn't even true. This is just a misunderstanding that's been popularized. Also, there are a bunch of environmental factors that can affect a person's behavior. People with bad upbringings are more likely to engage in more risky behaviors. Also according to the NHTSA, 25-34 year olds are almost as likely as 21-24 year olds to drink and drive. So it's not just about being super young.
Also, education can reduce STDs. I don't know what 8 year olds you know, but nobody told me to wrap it before you tap it when I was 8. There are tons of conservative parents who never talk about sex with their kids because they think it's inappropriate to discuss sex. Many parents think that not talking about sex will reduce the likelyhood of their kids becoming sexually active. There are also tons of studies which show that sex ed reduces the rate of STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Those studies also show that kids who only receive abstinence only education are more likely to have STDs and get pregnant.
Tattoo schools would be the same as piercing schools, way to short and expensive and not respected by the industry because people don't want to see a piece of paper saying someone can do something. Each studio has different vibes and practices about how they tattoo and part of an apprenticeship is seeing if you vibe with the studio aswell as learning skills and gaining experience. Tattooing isn't just a skill it has a few different factors to make a tattoo artist and an apprenticeship sees if you have these skills and also teaches you what your weaknesses are. I'm not a tattooist but this is the reason I think the industry is not in favor of tattoo schools.
I don't understand why the industry doesn't change. You have all these apprentices that are treated poorly and they just continue the tradition of misstreatment.
I dont understand the resistance against tattoo schools. Its actually kind of crazy that any kind of procedure where skin is broken happens without going to a school for it. Coming from the medical field I cant make it make sense.
10:31 that was deep 🤯
Great video! I'm a fairly new subscriber so forgive me if you've done this idea before, but it would be cool to see you do a video on your top 3 favorite Ink Master contestants. I know in a previous video you mentioned you don't necessary love the show, but figured I'd mention it. Keep up the good work 🤙🏻
Tattoo schools are a legal requirement in some states (cities? I'm not familiar with licensing requirements). And regulation is how you end abusive practices. I know tattoo artists don't want to see the tattoo industry heavily regulated beyond what it already is, but I think if it were regulated like the cosmetology industry it would be a safer and less predatory industry. Plus artists who couldn't tattoo full time or regularly anymore due to age or injury could become licensed instructors. It's a lifetime career opportunity.
And fuck no to no tattoos until 25. 18 is a fine age. Let people make mistakes, that's part of life. I have a 3 year laser plan and I'm not mad about it at all. I made the choices to get those tattoos and I'm fixing them. I'm EXCITED for the tattoos I'm going to get when I'm done with laser. Live and learn.
😂 at the term “tattitooed”
I’m a nurse and we used to say the same about ppl who are just finished their nursing degree and catch “staffitis” - a condition that suddenly you know EVERYTHING and you’re just fresh out of uni! 😝
Also on the point of an tattoo apprenticeship not being paid etc- most “work placements” that you do with Uni is unpaid (it is in nursing and the hours are long, days and nights are expected to be worked for free) plus you have to pay your University fees to go thorough the course and get your degree…… so I feel like the not getting paid thing for a couple of years is what most ppl have to do to become qualified for a job these days.
A piercing and tattoo school actually sounds awesome I would apply to learn how to pierce
really appreciated these artists takes and your take 🐙
i went to a tattoo school for about 5 months and the experience i have WILL absolutely not fit in a youtube comment i dont know how many different ones there are but my personal experience with it was absolutely NOT the way to go and i ended up quitting even tho there was some valuble knowledge fo;und there generally there were many red flags along the way especially having the tattoo artist i thought was going to9 be involved along the way being way more interested in his music career to even be there half the time to feeling like i was pretty much left to my own devices more often than not feeling too anxious to bother the tattoo artists that were there not being sure if they signed up to be a guiding light combined with the fact that they specifically were saying you dont need to know how to draw and teaching people to steal art for the sake of mass produced tattoo artists? they seem good on paper but my experience was rather iffy and figured id share being interested in your videos c:
8:49 when he says 'prophetic' he means 'profound'.
I love how every single Tattooer featured in this video that I’ve met. Which is most, they all act the way they’re talking shit about lol especially Paul Booth!
I think I would like to see more women tattooing
🐙 I'm not totally against tattoo school or just a course on how to get started. Once I learned it was a huge disadvantage I didnt look more into it. Im a new PMU artist but maybe would like to learn tattooing. I just didnt know where to start. Thank you for your videos.
I’m glad the industry is becoming more respectful of women tattoo artist. However, I don’t think that respects is given to women apprenticeships or looking for apprenticeships. When I had an apprenticeship I realized all the artist wanted to was to sleep with me. When COIVD hit I was dropped. I’m glad the industry is beginning to change but I feel like we are stuck between old and new tattoo artist.
Re: the more pink comment, *at conventions was put in Asterix at the top left…so I think he meant artist booth set ups being lots of pastel themes…which I am here for!…as well as more diversity, LGBTQ+ & women in tattooing and a focus on client care & comfort 💜
Boi really hit me with the Existential Christ 😂😭
I hope my kids will wait until 25 to get tattooed tbh haha that's when the frontal cortex finishes developing. I got tattooed when I was 18, although I don't regret them I'd get different ones if I'd waited
I will join an intensive course on tattooing this autumn, one of the only ones in Sweden, if you were to do a video on a "tattoo school" I'd love go comment on how it went afterwards.
I love this, tattoos for everyone 👏🏻
Same thing in music industry as well
Omg one moment of skin e for the coffin earring I 💕
I know I'm far from the only one who would have just done a stick and poke in my room if the age limit were 25.
I'm someone who loves to take time researching and deciding on big things like that (even back then) but many people between 18 and 25 do not have that dedication and interest in research.
Many people already find 18 to be a long wait, but there are good reasons for the wait at least, making it 25, I think would cause more issues than it'd solve.
🐙 My last tattoo the artist joked with me that because I am anthropology student I would probably end up being a tattoo artist lol. Now I'm considering it.
Fun videos, gonna find yer art portfolio! Cheers
Would love to hear your opinion on tattoo schools!! I've just started to get into tattooing and considering a tattoo school
Keep up the good work Celle!
I adore Paul he's hilarious
Omg we die and the art dies with us!
Yoo I’m 30 and my mom always said she doesn’t think I should get tattoos until I was 25 and showing her the beautiful person at 7:30 agreeing with my conservative mom was such a great moment for me😂😂😂
It's true!
The first statement felt like pandering.
Because when getting Tattoo I could careless about the artists sexual preference. I care about the quality of work that they can do. That seems to be the most important thing one should be concerned with, especially getting something blasted in to your flesh that will be around for years. And the industry is full of people of color, WTF are they talking about? Unless they mean just for TV then I guess the first two statements would make sense.
They should’ve had Oba in this video; because he would’ve talked all about that!
They literally have bartending schools, but no tattoo schools?
There are other Inked RUclipss dealing with this same subject that get more into having more diversity amongst tattoo artists. They just didn’t deal with that topic much in this one.
Interesting how after the first girl said “more gays and people of colour”, the chick next to her and yourself ignored the “people of colour” statement.
Most of the tattoo artists I’ve met have been very arrogant so I would love to find a way to change that
I think tattoo schools should be apart of learning. Just likendrs go to school, and then do internships at hospitals....imahine if a dr aprenticed with just one persons knowledge.. instead of combined knowledge of many people
The US is so weird to me. You are able to permanently modify your body and own a gun(!) Years before you can try a beer.... switch those ages imo
The tattoo industry needs more talented people