Midget_Angel writes, “I’m ten years old and this is the first tattoo I’ve done!” She’s apprenticing right now at Marked For Life Tattooz in Geary, New Brunswick, Canada (see also: six year old tattoo artist, which links to several other entries on children learning to tattoo under their parents’ guidance).
Comments
75 responses to “Starting Young”
God, I wish I had parents like that!
I have to say I agree with Warren. This child is too young to be exposing herself and her subject to the myriad dangers of bloodborne pathogens and accidents which could occur while she has that gun in her hand.
I homeschooled my kids. We took on a number of activities during that time, some more mature than others, but I never exposed them to life-threatening situations. They learned how to handle maturity more easily but were not thrown into it in an attempt to seem more like mommy & daddy.
I don’t give a shit how talented a kid is, there no fucking way I’d let a 16 year old perform surgery on me, some 12 year old treat my pet medically, or a ten year old ink me.
If this is being done in a home environment…as in inside her own home…I’m getting nauseous. This “home” is a disgusting cesspool of many different people’s blood. That child is in serious and very real danger of contracting HBV or worse.
I wouldn’t let anyone, in those conditions tattoo me, not even Ed Hardy or Aaron Bell. But I’m educated and understand the body art industry safety standards. I guess if I didn’t know what I know it might not matter to me.
I also believe that a 10 year old SHOULD BE ABLE to apprentice. I agree with Warren though that a 10 year old shouldn’t be tattooing yet. Not even on a family member under supervision of the “master” artist. It’s just too much risk for someone so young.
Make stencils, draw flash, break down and re-build new machines (notice I didn’t say “used” machines), mix pigments, etc. But she’s too young to be doing anything that falls under the OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen standards.
Everyone keeps saying how this is just at home with her dad, and at the studio where she apprentices would be fine.. There is no studio, that IS marked for life tattooz, it’s run from there home.
Haha.. yes.. only in NB, Pierre..
/wave
I wish I had a chance to learn to tattoo.
Cute little Canadian girlie, she’s got quite the oppourtunity.
I’m sure that Da’ is keeping her well looked after…
*thumbs up*
Looking forward to seeing if she keeps it up… maybe I’ll take a roadtrip in 8 years or so. *laughs*
Everyone who has a problem with this just sounds really bitter.
“Unethical? (I guess in theory an HIV infected child in Africa could bite the kid…which is as miniscule in odds of happening as this little girl’s issue with blood and her too-big gloves.)”
Quoted for truth and hilarity!
I don’t have a problem with a ten year old tattooing, if it is an orange, or the practise faux skin that can be ordered; however, there is a serious risk of needlestick injury. Children do not have the fine motor skills of proffessional tattoo artists. “Oh daddy, i just tattooed my finger a little.” Um, yes needlestick injuries do happen. I don’t care how wonderful of an experience this is for the family, putting your child at risk is bullshit.
John EXACTLY…If she’s interested in tattooing there’s A LOT she can be doing to learn, besides ACTUALLY tattooing a family member, friend,etc.
#50: “Some parents choose to take their children with them to undeveloped countries in mission/charity work.
Unethical? (I guess in theory an HIV infected child in Africa could bite the kid…which is as miniscule in odds of happening as this little girl’s issue with blood and her too-big gloves.) ”
To a country oversaturated with HIV Infected individuals, TO A COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS HIGH LEVELS OF DOCUMENTED(AND MOSTLY UNDOCUMENTED) RAPES ANNUALLY…
So much so that they actually developed the “Anti-Rape” condom FOR the women of Africa.
But regardles of AIDS & HIV,etc as that is the LEAST to worry about in the realm of Tattooing and Piercing.
Hepatitis…Which a pin drop can last for roughly 60 days on a surface and infect MANY from that tiny lil pin drop.
Or better yet…MRSA which is now coming about and more cases diagnosed daily.
The simple fact is HER PARENTS SHOULD KNOW BETTER…You cannot deal with worldly outside issues(freak car accident,etc) but a parent should at least have the fuckin brains to know better in this scenerio.
#54: I’m sad to hear you say that…But it also gives those of us, in the Tattoo & Piercing worlds, more reasons to try and work with our governments in putting stricter regulations on our industries.
Because if that IS their home shop environment, I think I just threw up a lil in my mouth.
I have tattoos done by adults after a year of apprenticing that suck way worse than that…..
The crumpled up paper towels next to her should be in a garbage can, but that’s about all I have to say about that.
I’ve been tattooed in houses and hotel rooms by famous American tattoo artists, and it’s super fun to get tattooed in all different environments. Plus, if I’m in a hotel room, why the fuck would I care if we splatter blood all over the wall…..haha
warrens comment made me smile
jus tbecause a 10 year old girl wants to do tattoos when she is older
doesn’t mean you let her go to town with a gun
i mean if your 10 year old wants to be a doctor
do you let her start doing sugeries and treating people
or if your 10 year old wants to be a hairstylist
do you give her a scheers and let her go to town on your head?
HELL NO
my daughter did my tattoo when she was 6. There was a lot of people who didnt like that. I say, why not. Its great, keep up!! Great tattoo by the way, really well done.
50- i don’t think you get AIDS from being bitten by african children. unless they’re bleeding from the teeth.
um#47, even crappy schools *do* give the kids animal corpses to dissect and examine, like earthworms, frogs, cats, etc. and they also go to cadaver labs.
True most kids don’t know what they want to do at 10, but if she doesn’t stick with it, at least she’ll already know something she *doesnt* want to do!
Man, I wish my parents were smart enough to nurture my talents at a young age, I’d be one hell of a musician I’ll tell you that.. This girl is type AWesome in my book.
I like it. She’s really good for her age, and looks happy doing it.
ok some of u people have serious issues pickin on a 10 year old no it wasnt her father she was tattooing it was her uncle and he asked her to do it for him as far as the paper towel and other things you asses are so worried about everything was cleaned when she was done .ive tattooed out of my house for 15 years and without complaint from any of my customers as far as the big shops being safe ok maybe some are but i know alot that arent they still use the stainless steel tube (sterilized so they say ) on each and every customer that comes in whos to say they got the ink out of the tubes from the last person they tattooed everything i use is single use and is disposed of after each and every tattoo ive done ALOT of tattoos in my 15 years and im self taught i just wish i had someone back then to teach me and i think it is damn right awesome that my little girl is showin an interest in tattooing and has since she was 2 and no matter what you people with issues think or say im gonna stand by her and teach her wether you like it or not and father more u can ask anyone of my customers ive never had a complaint about health issues ever so the way i see it is opions are like assholes everyone has one so now i guess we all know your opions All i see in these negative comments is a bunch of low lifes jelous of a 10 year old that she has more talent than they do
This goes to all you whining assholes who have something bad to say about her tattooing…I know her personally because her Dad tattooed my back and shoulders…she likes it and puts a lot of time into learning the art. If you people don’t have anything positive to say shut the fuck up and just read what others write. She is farther ahead than most people twice her age…so for those that this apply to take a look at yourselves and see if its a 10 year old tattooing thats bugging you or if you life sucks so bad you have to rag on someone else. Think about it…
To the people who give praise to this young girl Thanks, she deserves it for the hard work she puts in.
well i am so glad all u negative people have so much time on their hands to bash a 10yr old girl i think before people open their mouths with negativity they should have the facts i know you are entitled to ur opinion as am i so by the looks of the picture it is an adult bein inked and if they decide they want a 2yr old to tat them it is not our business,risks or not.and i am sure anyone reputable enough to have a successful business such as this girls father are well aware of the risks and has passed this knowledge on to her so instead of stomping on someone why 4 1nce cant we just be happy that another of our younger generation may do well for themselves instead of becme a juvinile delinquint or something and like someone said i a previous post i she doesnt stick with this it is 1 less thing she hs to eliminate off her career choices so all the power to u great job and keep it up if u choos to do so
futher more if u guys who got issues need to say something to someone feel free to say it to me instead of tryin to destroy a little girls dreams must make you feel tough to pick on a little girl or is it that your a loser in life so you dont want to see anyone else make it well ill tell ya this she will make it and ill stand behind her all the way till the end and if in the end she decides not be a tattoo artist that is her choice but at least i can say this she wasnt afraid to try well ill wait it out cause i know you will get back to me ,so for all who show support for my little tattoo artist hats off to you and thanks for your support and to those who dont support her she will charge you double when she is famous ,in putting her pics on here i did it to make her feel proud of what she did but of course like everywhere there are asshole like mostly you warren who try to shatter peoples dreams out of jelousy or is it that if you are an artist yourself that your are offended because she is only 10 and already she is better than you
that can’t be legal but it is awesome
Seriously this is not a big deal to let a young child tattoo you. First off,because there is technically danger in letting your kid handle a tattooing machine, im sure that the parents have gone over ’safety’ with the child. More so for their kid than themselves.
Second off, I dont know how many of you have actually talked to kids that have tattooed parents before, but most of them will tell you that as much fun as it was to get to tattoo, they didnt enjoy it alot. The machines are heavy, their arms and hands get sore. They get bored of it. They get tired. Most kids that tattoo their parents do it for the parents, not for themselves obviously, and after the first time most of them arnt begging to do it again.
Most people I bet that are so against this are most likely with out children of their own, and the people that say its encouraging the child to have tattoos, if anything its encouraging the child to be accepting of everyone no matter how they choose to modify themselves. And if you still think its a bad example for kids, why then by being a parent and just having tattoos let alone your child tattooing you, would that not be a bad example?
Another point, most parents would not let their child tattoo some one other than themselves or some one they trust immensley, let alone any one with AIDS or HIV. I cant belive that most people on here assume because your letting you child tattoo you that your that ignorant towards your childs saftey.
And in response to number 72. there really arent any regulations or laws telling you who is allowed to tattoo and who is not. as long as your shop meets certain health codes and building inspections the law dosnt give a fuck.
How many times does it need to be said that the shop and his house are one in the same?
I believe it was stated that HIS daughter is tattooing HIM
I think that is WELL within the limits of accepted risk.