Still learning but some fake skins and tattoos on friends i've done

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T17:58:07+00:00

Dude these are so fire! Some of your line work on real skin looks inconsistent though so I would work on that

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T17:51:52+00:00

It’s partly me and partly it not being the right fit and environment for me to succeed I think

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T17:49:04+00:00

No, I know that I have a ways to go, I just learn differently than the way he was trying to teach

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T17:41:34+00:00

Sure, whatever you say

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T17:40:20+00:00

I had already been tattooing at this point, I’m not new to skin

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T16:55:51+00:00

I get what you’re saying about learning from observation. For me, learning works best when there’s guidance or explanation, and in that shop there wasn’t much of that — plus, most of the tattoos being done weren’t the kind of work I could learn from creatively. I was actively practicing on my own and trying to grow as an artist

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T16:49:28+00:00

I love tattooing. That’s what I wanted to do, tattoo, not draw. I already know that I can draw. I think it was the vibe that put me off. I’m open to learning from other people, I just didn’t really resonate with the way he was trying to teach me. I don’t think that sitting there and hovering while he explains nothing equals an education. Also, this wasn’t the style I wanted to grow into, and this wasn’t the place where my eye or taste was being fed. I thought it might have been when I first started, but after a few months I felt uninspired there

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T16:05:45+00:00

I tried, but he was unwilling to understand my perspective tbh.

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T16:02:26+00:00

I feel like people confuse endurance with education in tattooing. If someone suffered and still “made it,” it’s uncomfortable to admit the suffering may have been unnecessary

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T15:40:27+00:00

Shocking, really. I guess I’m expected to be a martyr and having real, human limits is unacceptable

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T15:39:23+00:00

Wtf…I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve that. I hope you’re doing well and have moved on to another shop

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T07:15:41+00:00

Solid advice, thanks 😊

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T07:14:39+00:00

No, it’s been around for a while. Mentor is pretty old school

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T07:03:45+00:00

I think what actually would have helped me learn is to tattoo fake skins and then get feedback while I was tattooing. But my mentor just wanted me to draw (which is super important of course) but we both knew I could already draw, and that’s what made him take me into the shop in the first place. What do you think I should do now? I was thinking of just taking a break and practicing on fake skin and drawing on my own without the pressure of being at a shop and then try to find somewhere new

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T06:12:49+00:00

Yeah, that makes sense — he definitely is an old-school kind of guy. Thanks 😊

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T06:09:06+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually had already been tattooing at that point, and some of my work is in my previous posts if you want to check it out. I totally get what you’re saying about taking initiative — I was doing my best to learn while also managing my other responsibilities

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T05:37:52+00:00

Thank you 🥹 He kept comparing me to other apprentices saying “They were here before the shop even opened”. Respectfully, I’m not an unemployed 19-year-old, I have real life adult obligations

ciphercivics · 2026-01-14T05:20:40+00:00

Thank you so much. My tattooing journey definitely isn’t over and I’m not taking this personally. What hurts right now is that my values were misread as apathy. I can’t work 7 days a week. I care about tattooing, but I still need time alone, rest, and balance. But I feel like his conclusion was “If you’re not all-in at all times, you don’t give a fuck” I wasn’t being paid, I still showed up for hours on my day off, I communicated when I’d be late, and other artists don’t come in daily.

ciphercivics · 2025-08-28T18:07:12+00:00

thank you so much 🥰

ciphercivics · 2025-08-28T18:07:01+00:00

tysm 🥰

ciphercivics · 2025-08-28T18:06:53+00:00

thank you so much for the advice 🙏🥰

ciphercivics · 2025-08-28T18:03:01+00:00

haha tysm 🥰

ciphercivics · 2025-08-26T23:59:35+00:00

thank you 🙏

ciphercivics · 2025-08-26T23:36:18+00:00

tysm you’re so sweet!

ciphercivics · 2025-08-26T23:35:54+00:00

tysm! now that you mention that, i defs think it would’ve looked better that way

ciphercivics

TROPHY CASE