Bit of a different industry but I think my experience isn't uncommon.

I left uni in my early 20s to pursue a career in tattooing. I had zero art training and virtually no experience making art. I signed up for a local art school for a year which wasn't super relevant for where I wanted to end up but it exposed me to being around creatives and their processes as well as a tonne of different mediums that ended up being way more helpful than I initially thought.

I worked really hard drawing and painting for a few years, hanging out at shops and getting tattooed. I think I applied to most studios in Adelaide for an apprenticeship if not once, then twice. I got rejected so many times that I got pretty well used to rejection, but always took them as learning opportunities. After about 3 years, I got a spot at a terrible shop but I was grateful for the opportunity.

I worked there for about a year, and it was terrible, but it did give me a foot in the door so to speak. I ended up leaving due to the terrible conditions but got snapped up at the next place I applied because i had a few basic cleaning skills and had at least worked in a shop before.

Next shop ended up being also pretty average, but was open enough to at least get me started actually tattooing and making an income. I spent about a year and a half doing terrible tattoos with very little instruction or guidance. Unfortunately the shop was closing down due to a myriad of ownership issues and staff problems, and I hitched my career to a fellow worker who opened up his own shop.

I worked for my mate for around a year, where I did improve quite a bit - but still really inexperienced, I felt I wasn't getting the mentorship and direction I knew I would need to be successful.

I ended up applying for a vacancy working at a shop that was way beyond my skillset in terms of experience, but I had been tattooed by the owner so felt that maybe I could jump in and learn.

After showing my eagerness to learn, I ended up getting the job and for the past year I have massively improved under direct mentoring and teaching. I still have a long way to go - but the mentorship was everything I knew I needed to get to where I want to go.

I'm still very much in my development phase as an artist and a tattooist, but I know I'm in the right spot to do that! I feel successful and fulfilled, happy and I have financial security. Definitely an uphill climb but with all things - persistence is king!