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One of my biggest supporters for my art is my grandma. Whenever I went to her house, she always had markers and paper for me to draw. She would hang all of my drawings on her kitchen wall, even the ugly ones. Sometimes she'd even frame them. I think her unconditional support is the reason I never gave up on drawing. There has been many times where I wanted to quit art as a whole, but I never did. I thank her for my resilience today.

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I remember back when I was 12, I started doing art commissions. I did a lot of realism work with graphite and coloured pencils. That's what I used to specialize in. Then one time, one of my mom's friends wanted me to draw up a tattoo for them. I was so nervous because I didn't do illustration or draw with ink. This was out of my comfort zone. But after I finished it, I realized that I enjoyed this new medium, and illustration was something I wanted to explore more. And the fact that someone wanted to pay me for this made me think, "damn, maybe I could do this one day." Long story short, they never paid me. But even though I didn't gain anything financially out of this, I did gain new knowledge on myself and what I wanted to do with my life.

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I think grade 3 was the first time I'd ever taken an art class. I always liked to draw as a kid, and my mom thought an after school art class might be something I'd be interested in. I would go every Wednesday, and I could draw anything I wanted, with the help of my teacher. I got to use professional art supplies and work with other young artists. I absolutely fell in love with that atmosphere. My teacher would always push me out of my comfort zone and urge me to try drawing realism. Now, realism is something I really like doing, I don't think I would've tried it if it weren't for that class. Because of that class, I realized drawing was more than just a hobby, it was a passion!

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Growing up, my mom has always loved tattoos, despite the disapproval of everyone else around her. I remember one time she came home with a new script piece reading, "believe you're beautiful." She has a bunch of other tattoos as well, but I could tell this one meant a lot to her. My mom has always been a bit self conscious, but after this tattoo she started showing off her arms more; you could just tell she felt more confident. I've heard stories like this before, how tattoos can change how one views their body. Stories like these made me realize how much I'd love to be a part of that process for someone.

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This isn't really a singular event, but this past year I've had a lot of support from certain teachers in the building when it comes to my tattoo oriented work. My art teacher is always willing to help me with my portfolio and give me tips. And I've had multiple teachers already ask me when I'll start tattooing so they can get pieces done by me. Their support has given me a lot of hope for my tattoo career, and makes me want to chase this dream even more. There's a some adults in my family who aren't too supportive of my career choice, so knowing that there's even a few who support me really helps keep me motivated and determined.

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Age 18 - Complete the final copy of my tattoo apprenticeship portfolio

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Age 18 - Complete the final copy of my tattoo apprenticeship portfolio

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Portfolios are an important way to show potential mentors your artistry and technical skills. They are necessary for attaining an apprenticeship, and gives your mentor an idea on what tattoo styles you wish to specialize in. I have been working on my portfolio for a year now, and I believe I can finish it before the end of summer. This portfolio will be needed when I approach potential mentors and artists at tattoo shops. Portfolios are always evolving, but I think it is a good idea to have at least one final copy complete by this time.

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By this age, I see myself having an apprenticeship with a mentor at a tattoo shop. Apprenticeships are important to learn the proper way to tattoo, how to work with clients, and sanitization methods. Self taught tattooing is often frowned upon in the industry, and people that take this route are commonly referred to as 'scratchers.' The traditional way of learning the craft, through apprenticeships, is much more respected. I want to take the apprenticeship route to build up my respect as an artist, to learn under an experienced artist, learn the ins and outs of the industry, and get to work with other artists.

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This is depending on how long my apprenticeship is. Apprenticeships are different for everyone, depending on your studio, mentor, and location. They are usually 1-3 years, and during that period it is required that artists are certified by the Health Department before they can tattoo. This is possible by passing the Body Modification Exam, which will grant you a Body Modification Technician Certificate. which is usually valid for 3 years. Tattooing is a lot more than drawing on skin; you are working with/ modifying the human body. It is important that you are well educated in proper health and safety measures and blood borne pathogens to ensure the safety of you and your client. There is a lot of debate in the industry on the validity of this exam. Many report it being too easy, and argue that anyone with common sense could pass, which is what allows 'scratchers' into the industry. No matter what the opinion around it is, it's still mandatory for tattoo artists.

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Age 30 - Full Time Tattoo Artist in a Studio

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Age 30 - Full Time Tattoo Artist in a Studio

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By this age, I want to have made the transition from apprentice to experienced tattoo artist, in a shop with my own designated studio space. I expect to have a stronger skill level and have developed a loyal clientele. I expect to have honed in on certain tattoo styles, like neotraditional and traditional. This is an important goal because experienced tattoo artists have more clients and a more stable income and schedule. I would like to work in a studio in Winnipeg.

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By this age, I am thinking of going back to school. I can't afford to go to post secondary after I graduate, so I'm hoping that by this time, I'll be able to afford it. The fine arts courses and painting courses at UofM really intrigue me, as well as the graphic design course at Red River. Artists never know everything, there's always room for improvement no matter how old you are. You can never stop improving your craft or honing your skills. I'm hoping these courses will help with that.