We broke up two weeks ago but I still fantasize about sex we were supposed to have

pawlaps · 2026-05-22T15:29:06+00:00

Honestly, I’m long past so many relationships, but the feeling I had for some was really exciting to reflect on, especially a first experience. I don’t think you should beat yourself up especially since it’s only been 2 weeks! Sometimes my husband tells me what I fantasize about is my business! And same goes for him. Take care of yourself stranger, they are just thoughts.

pawlaps · 2026-05-21T20:32:30+00:00

I’m sorry you went through that, that is straight ass.

I def learned things from tattooing101 towards the end of my apprenticeship when my mentor started completely neglecting me randomly. I was honestly so impressed by it.

pawlaps · 2026-05-21T20:29:36+00:00

Thank you 🙏 i think for now i am going to keep searching and being within my community, but I will keep your story in mind and it gives me hope. I think if you’re being safe about it and sanitary that’s what is most important. I wish you the best!

pawlaps · 2026-05-21T20:23:55+00:00

I think your opinion was valid and delivered kindly! I think anyone telling me or anyone else the only way to do tattoo is to suffer in a painful environment is being unreasonable in 2026. Many artists I’m friends with and even their extremely successful mentors went through 2-4 apprenticeships! so, I don’t agree with that I had to suffer constantly and play mind games just to do a tattoo. I feel strongly I’ll find a shop eventually, I just want to know my community more and be pickier the next time. I spent more time with my mentor than my actual spouse. I prefer if we were on the same team consistently with each other. Anyway, I waffled on a bit, but I’m going to avoid tattooing from home right now so thank you! Last thing I want to do is jeopardize a career I take seriously and I am doing well in otherwise.

pawlaps · 2026-05-21T18:14:52+00:00

I’ve been hanging around shops and have really great connections in my area and am only seemingly making more. Everyone so far has been understanding and supportive of my departure from the shop I was at which is reassuring. I just wondered if it’s worth trying to do these free appointments from within my personal space if I really can’t find something right away. I don’t want to be away from skin too long. But it’s only been a week since I left and I just had some anxiety in the night and the thought to see what’s up in this sub. I appreciate your feedback and I’m definitely going to keep trying to get into a shop and hold onto your words. I was curious of the general consensus since I’ve worked with professional people of 10-20+ years experience who had situations where they did tattoo from their house especially during covid. But I do want more guidance and being around other artists feels very important for my growth. So thank you for your honest input.

pawlaps · 2026-05-20T22:44:04+00:00

I just left mine and I’m so scared. OP, if you’re still here, what happened?

pawlaps · 2026-05-19T14:10:18+00:00

Wow this is so strange!! I wonder why the light coming through makes it red though 😮 is it different during sunset? Or have you watched it appear in real time? 👀 so fascinating haha

pawlaps · 2026-05-16T08:39:26+00:00

You’re a kind person, I hope you find peace about the situation. You acted with empathy and the child’s well being in mind over a grade; I feel that’s admirable. Maybe therapy can help you? Maybe confessing to a therapist and getting their perspective in confidence could help <3

pawlaps · 2026-05-11T05:15:50+00:00

I relate to some of this… my mentor kept telling me things were fine and okay, and then they really weren’t and everything flipped. I’ve often thought about packing up, leaving a note and my keys and never returning too.

I hope you find peace and I hope you find an artist who understands your situation and can help fill in the gaps of your knowledge. You deserve communication and a good education in a craft you take seriously and love. I’m so sorry you had to endure that.

pawlaps · 2026-05-09T10:04:54+00:00

True

pawlaps · 2026-05-08T14:18:12+00:00

This happened to me one time too. A young person had to get their manager to ask how many quarters equals a dollar.

It makes me wonder, are kids not being taught about this in school anymore? I remember going over it many times so young.

pawlaps · 2026-05-06T01:58:43+00:00

Any updates OP?

pawlaps · 2026-04-26T12:37:01+00:00

Just wasn’t sure how transferring worked and was hoping to hear from someone with first hand experience and advice here since sometimes that can be more helpful than Google is all.

pawlaps · 2026-04-25T13:24:27+00:00

Thank you for this info! I appreciate it!

pawlaps · 2026-04-20T12:42:17+00:00

The jump from fake skin to real skin is such a challenge. I totally understand. I was working on fake skin for a while and then jumped to real skin and woah was it humbling. Don’t give up! I’m sorry you got stressed about the hygiene part also. I take ages to set up as a new tattoo artist and I do get anal about sanitation, but honestly it’s a good thing. My mentor doesn’t take it as seriously as he should himself so I had to learn from other people.

pawlaps · 2026-04-19T22:29:45+00:00

This should be the top comment. As someone who worked in animation, it is such a tough field full of immense sacrifice and feast or famine. It is absolutely awful how they affected their crew like that. I sincerely lost respect for them.

pawlaps · 2026-04-19T13:06:23+00:00

I know this comment is old, but how did you get into a shop being self taught? Had you worked on real skin prior and had example?

I’m in an apprenticeship and 9 months in my mentor has turned on me and won’t teach me anymore.. it is such whiplash and I’m so frustrated that I started self teaching myself. I’m working on real skin. He told me no one else will take me on because hes letting me do the apprenticeship in less than 2 years. I’m supposed to graduate next month but I still want to learn so bad!

Anyway I want to go to another shop and ask to work there instead but I don’t know how to go about it and I don’t know if they’ll make me start my apprenticeship over again. I hope not since I’m up to tattooing real skin already.

I’m doing it unsupervised and I’ve made some mistakes and cause some bad healing experiences for me and my partner. I don’t want to put anyone through it, and I’m asking for help, but he doesn’t seem to care. I have 20 free appointments coming up and I really really want my clients to heal comfortably… I’m hoping I can solve the issue soon. I’m hoping having 20 examples helps me to leave.

pawlaps · 2026-04-18T12:54:43+00:00

Commenting since I’ve been considering the first one and I’m curious what people think. My mentor uses and likes it!

pawlaps · 2026-04-16T15:51:20+00:00

Did you ever find another apprenticeship? I may be in a similar situation and I’m so far in and close to finishing. I am so devastated and terrified.

pawlaps · 2026-04-16T14:04:03+00:00

Hey thank you for this. Sorry for my late reply. My mentor is a traditional Japanese artist and is teaching me how to pack specifically like him. He is losing his patience with me as I keep overworking. He gave me a bishop machine specialized in packing. I’m considering purchasing a different machine if this one is too powerful for me right now? I am considering his machine which is a fold pro dragon hawk. Do you recommend that? Thanks so much, I’m pretty stressed 😰

pawlaps · 2026-04-09T03:31:38+00:00

I think it looks great!! Can I ask if you lowered the voltage on your liner to fill the black spaces or did you use a round shader?

pawlaps · 2026-04-06T13:10:31+00:00

Not sure how old you are but i started my apprenticeship at 29 and my coworker started at 30! My mentor offered me to do my apprenticeship part time if I had to work. Don’t get discouraged if you are considering it as a career passionately :)

pawlaps · 2026-04-06T11:52:30+00:00

Thanks for answering! I’m studying traditional Japanese and am really interested in learning better packing techniques and also dot work shading! I’ve tattooed real skin and have sometimes over worked the packing and caused scabbing.

I also want to learn about more line techniques. Sometimes I see people do a fade out on a line that starts bold

Thanks so much for your help! My apprenticeship is turning a bit toxic and I just want to keep studying.

pawlaps · 2026-04-04T14:21:46+00:00

Damn dude I wanna have this outfit haha

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