Learning the Trade: A Tattoo Apprentice’s Story
Apprenticeships used to be the common method of learning a trade, be it carpentry, masonry, or fiber arts. While apprenticeships in those fields are no longer commonplace, the apprentice/mentor relationship is very much alive and well in the world of tattoo art. Tim Phillips, an apprentice in his second year, has taken some time to talked to Inked Talk about his experience apprenticing under Tony of Tony’s Tattoos in Hartsville, SC.
Inked Talk: How did you come to work in the tattoo industry? What got you interested in tattooing?
Tim Phillips: Well, I’ve always been into art, and I’ve been drawing since I was a little kid. All I did in school was draw. I took advanced art classes in high school and always excelled in them. I also attended a graphic design school in Arizona and some art courses in a community college in Ohio. One day a friend of mine asked me if I could do tattoos. I replied that I’d give it a shot, so he bought some equipment off of the internet and I practiced on him! I loved doing it, but I didn’t want to do it like that. I wanted to be professional. I got online and did some research and asked a lot of questions. The tattoo artists were very reluctant to give out any useful information other than “get an apprenticeship.”
IT: How did you get into your apprenticeship?
TP: South Carolina had just legalized tattooing, and a man named Anthony Howland had an ordinance passed allowing the use of tattoo shops in my county. I followed the story in the local newspapers and come to find out the shop was opening right down the street from my house. I gathered up the nerve to stop in and ask about an apprenticeship. Well, apparently so had every other hack-master in the county and all were turned away! He asked me if I’d brought any art work with me, to which I said “No.” He then snapped back, “Well, how the hell are you gonna get an apprenticeship without any artwork!?!”
I quickly went home and returned with a portfolio that I had prepared for such an occasion. To make a long story short, it turned out we were both from Ohio, very much into art, and he liked my work so he agreed to teach me!
IT: What has been the progression of your apprenticeship? Where did you begin?
TP: Of course I had to learn the procedures of sterilization and cleaning the shop. As far as tattooing, first I did countless hours of nothing but drawing and watching. I watched the application process over and over and over. On top of that, I listened. Tony does a lot of talking, and I do a lot of listening. He is a goldmine of information and he is always teaching me something new. It’s sometimes the things that seem like meaningless tidbits of info that turn into valuable advice when faced with a certain situation.
Well, finally it was time to get my feet wet, and I must say that the first few tattoos I did out of the shop I was a nervous wreck! I was scared to death, and if you’ve never done a tattoo in a professional environment it’s hard to explain how it feels, but it was very stressful, although you must appear to be completely confident so as not to make the client uncomfortable. Tattooing - the “hands on” experience - is the only way to learn how to tattoo. There are so many variables that make a tattoo difficult to do: Everyone’s skin is different. Every part of the body is different on everyone. It is a big transition from drawing on a hard surface with a pencil (and an eraser!) to tattooing permanent marks on someone’s delicate skin. On paper it’s up, down, left, and right on a flat surface. But an arm, for example, is cylindrical and the skin goes in and out according to the pressure of the needle, and your hands. The skin must be stretched tight. Watch out for moles, scars, sensitive skin, waxy skin, fat spongy areas, thin bone-covering areas of skin, and so on. And I’m not even going to go into setting the machine according to the skin type and lining and shading!
In South Carolina, by state law, an apprenticeship consists of one thousand hours of supervised tattooing, meaning physical tattooing, not just working in the shop. So I must keep a log of all my tattoos. Once I reach one thousand hours, I’m considered by the state to be an “experienced tattoo artist.”
I now am involved in every aspect of the shop’s business from customer guidance, through tattooing, and to aftercare instruction, and some consultation. I have as of right now over 860 hours of tattooing time and done over 520 tattoos in the last year and a half. I know that some apprentices in the state were simply “given” their thousand hours by their experienced tattoo artist shortly after opening so as not to be deemed apprentices. I however, am proudly going through all of the proper steps and fulfilling all of the requirements necessary to get a real apprenticeship. I still learn every day, and plan to for as long as I tattoo.
I’ve heard so many horror stories and see on television how apprentices are treated, however Tony has treated me more like a son, and has always been good to me and my family. I respect him a lot for that.
IT: Tattoo kits are available for sale to the general public on the web, on eBay, and so forth. What, in your opinion, is the value of apprenticeship?
TP: Self-taught tattoo artists learn from trial and error. Unfortunately, when it comes to tattoos every error is a permanent one, and that’s not including diseases and infections that can be transmitted if the procedures are not done properly. Apprenticeship, having a personal teacher, is very important. You need to surround yourself with it and be indulged. Being a tattoo artist is a lifestyle and is not a simple 9 to 5. Either you’re in or you’re out, and if your only influence is a web site, book, DVD, or backyard scratcher you will never be a “tattoo artist.” In the same way that you cannot learn karate by simply buying a black belt, you cannot be a tattoo artist, without a good instructor, by simply buying equipment.
IT: Is there a particular piece or project that you have done yourself that you are especially proud of?
TP: It is a tattoo on the calf of my mentor, Tony. It is a controversial piece depicting the devil whispering into the Pope’s ear, and the Pope has his hand on a young boy’s shoulder, and the little boy is crying. However it’s not so much the subject matter that makes it one of my favorite pieces. I am pleased with the way it looks and is probably the best tattoo I’ve done yet. It’s one of my favorites simply because it’s one thing that I could give Tony as a token of my appreciation for all that he’s taught me, and done for me. I am happy that he is proud of it, and in turn proud of me. That’s why it’s probably my favorite.
IT: Do you have any advice for someone who is interested in learning tattooing but isn’t sure where to begin?
TP: Draw, paint, draw, color, draw, trace, and draw. Then find a reputable shop in your area, bring your portfolio, and ask HUMBLY for an apprenticeship. If given the opportunity, take full advantage. No matter what you think you know about tattooing, assume that you don’t know anything, because you don’t. Ask questions, observe, and most importantly shut up and listen! Finally, work hard. There is no replacement or way around hard work and dedication. Jump in with both feet, and see how much you will learn!
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Tim. Readers, be sure to visit Tony’s Tattoos on Myspace (and definitely check out the tattoo pictures he has uploaded - you will NOT be disappointed - there is some great stuff in there!). When you are done there, visit Tim Phillips’ own Myspace page - he too has some amazing work.
If you are in the Hartsville, South Carolina area, be sure to check out Tony’s Tattoos - you can see from the pictures in their Myspace pages that their custom work is amazing! (843) 383-0555.
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Time to plug another 451 Press Blogger’s work: Check out Cinema Hype’s neat piece on Persepolis.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
just to let all interested artist tim (my apprentice)has worked very hard and is an exception to the rule not everyone is going to learn as fast as he and your work may not progress as fast ,but know hard work and dedication will take you far so work hard close your mouth and open your ears!!!