DrawWithMike.net

Every time and then I’m practicing colour mixing, techniques, and hand speed vs Voltage setting
If something doesn’t work ~ I’m trying anything else
Therefore this progress is slow, and maybe too messy, but this is how I’m getting experience

You're taking to this like a duck to water!

It's really difficult to believe you've had so little practice, relatively speaking, yet you can achieve this quality of work.

I'm really looking forward to the day that you start to develop your own designs. I know you can, and I know you will.... and they're going to be outstanding.

Mike Sibley wrote: Tue Jan 28, 2025 10:00 pm You're taking to this like a duck to water!

It's really difficult to believe you've had so little practice, relatively speaking, yet you can achieve this quality of work.

I'm really looking forward to the day that you start to develop your own designs. I know you can, and I know you will.... and they're going to be outstanding.

Beautiful compliments ~ thank you for believing in me Mike

another sweetheart.

LindasPencils wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 9:53 am another sweetheart.

Thank you so much dear Linda

You have a real talent for portraying babies and young children. I can already tell how charming this will be!

Laurene wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 6:23 pm You have a real talent for portraying babies and young children. I can already tell how charming this will be!

Thank you so much for your kindness

Morning dear friends.
The time flies by so fast…
I kept promising myself to post any update like tomorrow, or next day off or else - now I’m sure it’s been months I didn’t do nothing about it!

I’m very sorry This is the girl and the dog that I’ve finished about a week ago…
It took me long long time - because if I’m in the tattoo shop, I’m helping with everything really, so many times I really didn’t bother to get back to it, what for?
If I set up my ink cups and station, moments after someone needs my support etc…
It’s annoying, so I rarely were getting back to it.
Until now, because we’ve got two new apprentices, so I’m not doing everything on my own anymore
Thus is how I’ve found time to finish this practice piece eventually

I don’t have many clients, nothing is changing since you remember.
I have client occasionally.
Some coming back for next tattoo, some tattoos I do are larger, and short time in a day, so I’m carrying on to finish them in few sessions.
It’s good though, because I can practice on same person for few times, stress free, we know each other, you know…
Sort of comfort zone

I’ll try update you with other tattoos I’ve done so far, so you can see what I’m doing

My linework is poor though.
I’ve never been practising lines at all, so it’s always stressful to make them, and lack of confidence, because I’m aware I can’t make lines look decent…

Most probably this is the reason I’m still not charging for my effort…
Luke, the shop owner is waiting to see my line improvement to let me start charging people.
The improvement hardly shows, so 7 months of practicing on people, about 10 tattoos done so far, some in progress …

Yes it’s bothering me, because it’s a bit weird, even if I mention to my clients it’s for free, they willing to pay me somehow anyway, cause they understand how expensive is to go elsewhere for tattoo…

So it is weird, but if Luke doesn’t say so, I can not ask for money.

I don’t worry too much.
I have full time job, bills paid on time.
I’m purchasing everything by myself, inks, needles and everything necessary to make tattoo, but it’s makes not difference to me.

If I wasn’t in the tattoo shop, I’d still spent this money to practice on fake skin at home, isn’t it?

But I do benefit anyway.
I’m practicing on real people
This is the only way to keep improving my skills, and it’s offered to me for free of charge

Now sweeping, mopping floors, bins and supporting other artists it’s much easier since there’s two more apprentices in the shop
I have more time to keep practicing while I’m in the shop

So I don’t bother if I’m not making money yet.
The most important to me is the fact, I can keep practising on people for free instead of sitting home, and the fake skin as an only option to have…

I hope you’re all very well my friends…
Mike, Laurene and Linda…
I’m very sorry not keeping in touch for long time

*I’ve just noticed the photo quality dropped down for some reason [ED: Fixed!], maybe due resizing process…
I’m sorry some details are missing, like the hair or the fur texture…

Artur's back!!!

I think your practice piece is absolutely superb. And I've no doubt you've found the medium that best works for you. There are going to be many very grateful future clients displaying your artwork - especially when you begin to design your own. As I'm certain you will.

I'm also certain you'e finding it quite frustrating at present, but I know you and I know you'll stick with it until you emerge from the other end as a top-flight tattooist. No question of that not coming true at all.

Keep us posted, Artur. I, for one, find your new art form fascinating.

Hi Artur! It’s good to hear from you.

The word that often comes to mind when I think of your artwork featuring children and babies, is adorable,, You can paint or draw or tattoo any subject, and that’s a rare thing.

Stick with it, as long as you’re enjoying the challenge, and I know you’ll succeed. You have 5he talent and the drive. We’re all cheering for you!