Day off...

I didn't get to post yesterday, I was too busy!
The shop was mega busy all day and then I had to drive back to York last night, so I tried to chill out when I got in.
Mega lie in this morning, today is my day off so I always plan to do nothing but end up feeling guilty and then the pencils and paper come out. I've been working on my biro drawing on and off for the last few days, I've managed to get a fair bit done today but my pen has ran out of ink. Also I don't have my camera to show you my progress so this is kind of a pointless post... again...
My day in York always goes by really quick and I'm already feeling sad about leaving Chris and Jack again, I look forward to the day when I'm tattooing and able to spend more time with my little family, miss you two x

Today I've been tired, headachy and just generally feeling stressed, probably because of the headache!   It's hard to be to be happy and welcoming and patient and polite and nice to everyone especially when I'm not feeling my best (isn't it the same for us all?). I could have just curled up in a ball somewhere quiet and slept until the headache went away.... it's safe to say that to day has not been an inspired one!
My head still hurts now so I'm going to bed in the hope that I'll wake up feeling fresh as a daisy tomorrow. Tomorrow is also the day I get to go back to York so I'm looking forward to seeing Chris and my cat Jack :D

Biro drawing...

I didn't even get started on my biro drawings last night, inspiration was not my friend! So I had to start one today at the studio...

No pencil sketching at all, everything was sketched with the biro, so she's always going to have those lovely construction lines through her face! I really enjoyed doing it actually, I thought that if I couldn't get things sketched out and right with a pencil first I'd hate it. But it was fun and I'm actually looking forward to getting her a bit more finished now.

Biro pen 'homework'

So tired today, I think an early night is in order, so much for giving up sleep to paint!Today I mentioned that I wanted to try and do some biro pen drawings, so that instantly became my 'homework', I have to do one completely in biro, from sketch to finished piece (eekkk!) and one how I usually work with a pencil drawing as a starting point, this should be fun. Now, what to draw....
Update later?!

How I got my apprenticeship...

Well if I'm going to start a diary I may as well tell you a little bit about how I got my apprenticeship. I'd been trying to get into a tattoo studio, as an apprentice, for the better part of 2 years, before this I was working as a prop maker / painter at a workshop in York, it wasn't for me. I spoke with and visited a few tattoo studios, in and around the north of England, I had some good experiences and some bad but ultimately nothing came from this. I decided that the little portfolio of work I had wasn't good enough and that I'd work on my art until I felt ready to try for an apprenticeship again. My confidence grew and I took part in an art exhibition. Then in May / June last year I decided that I was going to book in for a tattoo with someone who's work I was a massive fan of, my friend had recently been for a tattoo from John and she seemed to think there might be space at the studio for an apprentice (thanks Pauline!). I was going to show him my artwork while I was there, I was skint but wanted to take the chance and nearly bottled the whole thing when I found out how honest he was rumoured to be, I still didn't have the confidence to ask about an apprenticeship! Luckily with the help of a pushy boyfriend (thanks Chris!) I showed John one of my paintings, it went down well and this is how I got my apprenticeship.
So currently I live in York, work in Seaham and stay with family most of the week in Hartlepool, I feel like I spend most of my time driving but I know how lucky I am, both with the apprenticeship and with having such a supportive family.
And since I feel like I've written an essay.... here is a painting that I've nearly finished, I feel like I've been working on it forever but since starting the apprenticeship there hasn't been a whole lot of time for painting (which I miss a lot, but drawing has taken over), I think I may give up sleep just so I have more painting time, I always feel more inspired on a night anyway....

 night night x

New year, apprenticeship diary?!

Well, it's now officially 2012, a whole year since I started blogging and last year I was so forgetful, this year I'm going to try and blog every day. I'd like to record my feelings and thoughts about my tattoo apprenticeship over the next year, I'm already 6 months in and I've never been so excited, confused and completely consumed by anything like this before. I'll also try and share as many new drawings, sketches and paintings as I can and hopefully soon I'll be able to share my tattoos too. Best wishes for 2012 everybody :) x

New sketches...

Ok, its been ages since I posted lasted, I've been so busy apprenticing!!
So I have two apprentice sketches for you, they're not my favourite but here they are...

I should also point out that the photographs are terrible, but there you go. I need to make more blogging time!!