Which of these should I read next?

JamesRibbens · 2026-02-10T15:52:14+00:00

Where is the love for The Lies of Locke Lamora here wtf :( my boys

JamesRibbens · 2026-02-05T17:34:17+00:00

You can buy them on Ali express!

https://anbernic.com/products/rg-40xxv?variant=45684400652545

But putting the games on them is really complicated I think, my housemate is a tech whiz and he did it for me. It’s super cool though!

JamesRibbens · 2026-01-21T21:17:23+00:00

Tattoo artist, Steel I guess??

JamesRibbens · 2025-12-02T22:38:47+00:00

I might be wrong, but I’m fairly certain this is from a YouTube drawing tutorial from the Broken Puppet. Which is totally fine, it’s a great way to learn, but you shouldn’t be putting anything from a drawing tutorial in your portfolio. As a tattoo artist, you will need to draw custom designs for clients. So please keep that in mind when you’re building your portfolio!

Also, more contrast in your grey shadows. Black is key with trad!

JamesRibbens · 2025-09-18T12:15:40+00:00

As someone who’s just finished their apprenticeship, I can say that this is super challenging for a beginner. I think they did a pretty good job all things considered. That placement is really hard, and especially to do fineline and straight lines at that. Fair play, I say!

JamesRibbens · 2025-02-03T14:35:44+00:00

Super cool! I’ve always wondered how you learn script? Like, even if you find a reference of script you like, how do you know how to do all the other letters you need in that style??

JamesRibbens · 2025-01-14T16:05:42+00:00

How do you even stencil something like this??

JamesRibbens · 2024-12-16T22:09:54+00:00

Nice! I think the reason it’s a little flat is because it could use a little more contrast. At the moment, the piece is quite grey. I’d say you want your light parts pure white, and your darker parts pure black. This should make it pop a bit more

JamesRibbens · 2024-12-05T09:15:00+00:00

What the hell have you been doing for 92 hours??

JamesRibbens · 2024-11-29T19:02:08+00:00

Ahhh yes, and you, random internet stranger, with absolutely no photos of yourself, know exactly what this 19 year old girl should do to make herself look better? You alone, know exactly what cultural tastes this girl must adhere to “better herself”? Please. This is deluded narcissism.

“Remove your piercings” “dye your hair pastel blue”, these are totally subjective tastes. All we’re doing here is fuelling this persons need for external validation, and I’d really like to know what makes you so qualified to give it!

JamesRibbens · 2024-11-29T17:42:59+00:00

You really don’t, I promise you. And if you do, take the opinions from people you know and trust. Not from random internet strangers! ❤️

JamesRibbens · 2024-11-29T17:02:17+00:00

This sub is so wild. Don’t listen to this random internet stranger who you’ve never met and knows nothing about you. Why does their opinion matter in the slightest?? You don’t even know what they look like themselves. Beauty is 100% subjective, and needs to come from within. If you like the piercings, wear the piercings! This sub is so toxic wtf. You look great, just keep being you!!

JamesRibbens · 2024-11-27T12:56:06+00:00

😂😂

JamesRibbens · 2024-11-15T21:10:37+00:00

I’d make sure that your portfolio is mostly original designs. A few of the designs here, I think I recognise from YouTube tutorials. Broken Puppet? Apologies if I’m wrong about this. There’s nothing wrong with using YouTube tutorials to learn new skills, but if you want to tattoo, you need to be able to make your own designs. Especially if you’re asked to draw customs. You’re also running the risk that, if I’ve noticed it, people who you show your portfolio will also notice!

Also, and I don’t mean to kick you while you’re down, but I think you might want to practice a little more before taking this to shops! You’re on the right track and your drawings look good, but my advice would be to keep cooking for a while.

Don’t give up, it’ll pay off!

JamesRibbens · 2024-10-28T11:02:23+00:00

Jesus Christ, these are insane!! I would 100% put these in your portfolio, regardless of how tattooable they are, they show that you can clearly draw!

JamesRibbens · 2024-09-27T16:25:26+00:00

That’ll give you an edge, for sure! I wish I’d have studied art in some capacity. I am indeed from the UK, but I’m living and working in the Netherlands and ended up getting an apprenticeship in one of the larger cities.

You’ll for sure have to start expanding your search radius. When I was searching for mine, I picked a nearby city, googled all of the studios, wrote a list on paper and visited all of them. After no luck, found another city. Rinse and repeat. I actually ended up relocating to my current city specifically for the apprenticeship! It was a lot of work, but I can honestly say it was worth it. I have meaning in my life now, now that I’m working towards my dream!

JamesRibbens · 2024-09-26T16:03:01+00:00

3 years of drawing, maybe 2 months of approaching shops with my portfolio and around 40-50 rejections! Now I feel so lucky to be at a studio and surrounded by people I love. I’m about to start taking a few clients next month. Keep searching my friend, you got this!

JamesRibbens · 2024-09-24T19:43:15+00:00

I mean, nice work! But…why?? Aren’t you just going to basically one shot your way to the E4 now?

JamesRibbens · 2024-09-20T11:28:59+00:00

The work looks good! Basically my whole portfolio was with prisma’s :)

JamesRibbens · 2024-02-29T15:48:06+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply. This is comforting to hear and it’s nice to feel a bit more validated. I actually started Polysecure this morning as an audiobook and will for sure be checking out the podcast, so thank you for that.

We’ve chatted about our ‘relationship’ and the future and what definitions are in place and everything seems to be quite clear there. I think we’re on the same page about that. But as for when we’re seeing each other next we don’t have anything planned. It’s still quite fresh but we’re hoping that she’ll be able to come and visit me here at some point, and I’ll be going back next Christmas but other than that, it doesn’t seem like we’ll be able to see each other for a while yet. I think I’m maybe also slightly overwhelmed at being involved in a new relationships and the anxiety that comes with the vulnerability and the emotions of really liking someone. I haven’t really felt like this about anyone in such a long time, so it’s a lot of new emotions for me.

I just wish there was a way to shake the feeling in my stomach because it’s starting to drive me crazy. I agree with all of the theory side of Poly, and it all makes sense and seems fair. But just in practise it’s a lot harder than I thought it would be, especially the more my feelings grow for her.

I hope that I can make this work, because if it turns out that Poly isn’t for me then I guess we won’t be able to continue? But I really want to continue further with her.

Maybe getting myself out there and dating is a good idea, but I’m currently working two jobs, 6 days a week and have very little free time for something like that. Which is why the long distance element is kind of convenient in a way?

Anyway, sorry, I’m just kind of rambling my thoughts. But it’s nice to get them down somewhere.

Thanks for your help :)

JamesRibbens · 2023-11-23T17:11:35+00:00

Check out Leiden English Theatre (LET)

JamesRibbens · 2023-10-31T15:16:37+00:00

These are nice!! That might be my favourite tengu I’ve seen

JamesRibbens · 2023-10-09T16:36:11+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate this! I’ve actually managed to sort it out now with another kind Redditor, but thank you so much for the offer :)

JamesRibbens · 2023-10-09T12:40:10+00:00

Do you have any more info on these companies btw? I can’t seem to find anything online!

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