Sample Second Tattoo

Sample First Tattoos

Sample First 9 Tattoos

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Lead Artist Jingxi offers an apprenticeship program for artists who strive to be one of the best tattoo artists in the world.

Jingxi's training is very technical, detailed and in-depth. The result is that artists in six months are able to create higher skilled work compared to their peers in other apprenticeship programs and will be in a position to attract followers who want higher end tattoo work.

If you're looking to learn how to do lining and simple shading then start tattooing on human skin right away, there is nothing wrong with that, but this apprenticeship is not a good fit for you. Most other tattoo studios have these type of training programs and we recommend reaching out to them.

The apprenticeship at Patch Tattoo Therapy is a long term program that is designed specifically for artists who want to build the skills necessary to be within the top 5% of all tattoo artists in their tattoo style. This requires artists to spend more time thoroughly learning concepts, practicing under guidance, and continuously improving.

The location is in the Los Angeles studio and the apprenticeship program consists of Two Training Stages.

Stage 1 Training (Fake Skin only)

A 2 month constructive full stack course of basic tattoo techniques, including but not limited to:

• Lining Skills
• Whip Shading / Dot Work Skills
• Shading Skill 
• Coloring Skills
• 4 to 6 topic trainings on chosen tattoo styles (apprentice choice)

For more details, please review the Beginner Course.

Every skill will be explained in depth with respect to theory and application divided into a group of small practices so they are very clear and easy to understand. The right way of doing practice will be shown to the apprentices and a certain amount of practice is required to obtain the basic skills.

Besides tattoo techniques, Stage 1 Training also includes:

• Introduction to the tattoo industry
• Tattoo styles and tattoo artist analysis
• Sanitization knowledge
• Tattoo license guidance
• 1 to 1 career path consulting 

By completing Stage 1 Training, apprentices will obtain an understanding of most mainstream tattoo styles, what techniques it takes to make those styles, and how to apply most of the tattoo techniques on fake skin.

High achieving artists will be able to analyze and make very good pieces of tattoos on fake skin in nearly any tattoo style. 

Patch Tattoo Therapy will provide all supplies including tattoo machine, ink, fake skin, and needles.

Stage 2 Training (Fake Skin + Human Skin)

After course completion, this is a journey of 5 to 7 months with a 1:1 guide for building up the skills to create high quality tattoos on real skin. This includes but is not limited to: 

• Detailed and additional training on fake skin for the chosen personal style
• Practice in a real working environment, e.g. set up/ take down work stations
• Build up of good working habits for health and safety
• More education on real skin techniques
• Supervision on tattooing for the first 5 real skins
• Customer service training
• Marketing and social media skills training
• Video/Photography training

Apprentices will obtain a solid skill set for the chosen personal style on fake skin, work on real skin for clients, charge clients for tattoo work, and build their own social media account for career growth.

After graduating from Stage 2 Training, apprentices will be given the artist title and have the opportunity to be a resident artist at Patch Tattoo Therapy. As a resident artist, artists will enjoy further benefits, such as social media support and free advanced workshops.

Stage 2 Training follows the timeline of:

1. A total of 5 to 7 months of in-shop training where the first 3 to 4 months is practice on fake skin and the last 2 to 3 months is practice on real skin.
2. Apprentices must be in the shop for at least 2.5 days a week including 2 days for study and 0.5 days for other training. 

Stage 2 Training has a Self-Managing System:

1. Apprentices will not be micromanaged. Instead of passively receiving knowledge, apprentices must be an independent and proactive learners. Without that mindset, becoming a top tattoo artist is not achievable.
2. Apprentices make plans for themselves, set their own goals and complete their goals every 3 weeks. The goals are broken down into tattoo skills, art skills, design skills, marketing skills, and time management that all follow the training frame.
3. The mentor will have a meeting every 3 weeks with apprentices to review their goals, help to adjust the goals and make sure the goals are following a good path and pace for healthy career growth.
4. Apprentices will write down and record videos for all their questions during their own practice and proactively ask for help if they need any. The more you ask, the more you learn.
5. The Mentor will provide 30-60 min. per person per week to answer questions and provide feedback/ give further suggestions on tattoo practice.
6. The Mentor provides extra hours to demonstrate new skills when apprentices are ready, e.g. applying stencil to human skin.
7. The Mentor makes suggestions on external training if needed, e.g. certain art skills. Apprentices will find their own resources and learn on their own.
8. Apprentices are encouraged to seek external information, e.g. tattoo skills shared by other artists, and talk to the Mentor about any conflicts or confusion as sometimes there are many different ways to achieve the same outcome.
9. The Mentor will post apprentice artwork on highly visible social media accounts (only if the artworks are good enough). This will help expose apprentices to followers for the first batch of clients. 
   

If you’re interested in the Apprenticeship Program, reach out to us at training@patchtattootherapy.com. We are happy to discuss your goals with you.

For those who are just looking to begin their tattooing journey and can't make it in person, please check our tattoo online course program.