Apprentice Spotlight: How Joe Kendall Balances Two Jobs, Kids, and a Tattoo Career Path

Joe Kendall’s week is full. He works in the plumbing industry and drives a forklift at a distribution center. He has kids at home. Yet he’s nearly finished with Phase Two of Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship, and within a month or so, he’ll start tattooing real clients under supervision. 

What got him started? An online ad and a push from his wife. We sat down with Joe, who lives in Massachusetts and trains with Ink Different’s Rhode Island location, to hear how he makes it all work.

Who Is Joe Kendall?

Joe Kendall is a military veteran, an artist, a dad, and an Ink Different apprentice. He’s training with his Mentor, J Breeze, at F.I.N.A.O. Ink Tattoo Company, Ink Different’s location in North Providence, Rhode Island.

Art has been part of his life since sixth grade, when he won his first art competition. During his military service, his shipmates’ tattoos sparked his interest in tattooing. After he got out, he went to college for art. His charcoal and digital self-portraits were featured in a student show.

The first time he walked into F.I.N.A.O. Ink Tattoo Company, he says he felt “oddly at home.” The tattoo studio was clean, the Tattoo Artists were great, and everyone made him feel welcome.

Why Would a Busy Dad Start a Tattoo Career?

For Joe, tattooing is a way to do art for a living, and he wants to do all of it.

“I don’t really have a set style that I would gravitate towards more, just because all styles are art and I love art,” he says.

His roots are in American traditional, a style he fell for through his shipmates’ tattoos. But he doesn’t want to limit himself. He never wants a client to ask for something and hear him say, “Oh, it’s not really my thing.” His goal is to help everyone who comes his way.

He also wants to help clients be more creative. If someone brings in a design they found online, he’ll gently encourage them to make it their own, something “one of one instead of one of a million.”

And he has a big goal: “I just want to get up there with the big dogs.”

How Do You Balance Two Jobs, Kids, and Training?

Joe balances it all with a strong work ethic, support at home, and the right mindset.

He leaned on his wife’s support

His wife was the one who pushed him to pursue the tattoo apprenticeship after he saw the ad. That support made it possible to commit.

He stays open to feedback

Joe says you can’t come into this thinking you’re the best. “You have to have an open mind with this or you’re not going to be successful.”

He actually enjoys getting critiqued. “Anything art related is fun for me,” he says. When a seasoned Tattoo Artist praises his work, it feels great. When they suggest an improvement, he gets to work on it.

He accepts that skin is a new medium

Joe already had strong art skills, but tattooing is different. “A pencil is much different than a needle,” he says. “You have to be willing to learn a new skill set on top of your skill set.” Being a great painter doesn’t make you a great tattooer.

He’s learning patience

When he started Phase Two, his hand speed was too fast. He’s learned to slow down. “Definitely my patience,” he says of his biggest growth. “Taking my time, really trying to slow down and pinpoint where I need to put what needs to go where.”

What Does a Realistic Weekly Schedule Look Like?

Joe’s schedule follows a simple split.

• About three days a week: He works his jobs, one in the plumbing industry and one driving a forklift at a distribution center.
• The other four days: He focuses on his tattoo apprenticeship and caring for his kids.

Everyone’s schedule looks different. What matters is finding a rhythm that works for your life and protecting your training time within it.

Tip: Joe’s wife pushed him to start. Having people in your corner makes a full schedule much easier to manage.

How Does Starting Remote Make This Possible?

Phases One and Two of the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship happen online, so Joe could build his foundation without leaving his jobs.

He also gets quick, personal feedback. Instructors message him on Telegram, asking him to send a photo when he finishes an assignment so they can review it together right away. He compares it favorably to college, where you’re one of many students in a class. Here, he gets one-on-one attention.

Here’s what his online training looked like:

• Phase One: Drawing, stencils, and designing in American traditional, neo-traditional, new school, and Japanese. He used colored pencils for the first time. One assignment had him draw an anglerfish in three styles.
• Phase Two: Learning his machine and practicing line work, shading, needle depth, and pressure on synthetic skin. He says lines are the hardest part for everyone, but the key is not to quit. Roses and carnations have been his favorite assignments.

Safety is part of the training, including the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard. For gear, see the tools every beginner Tattoo Artist should know.

What Can You Expect From the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship?

Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is an 18 to 24 month, four-phase tattoo apprenticeship built for beginners. No prior art experience is required.

• Phase One: Art and design fundamentals, online.
• Phase Two: Machine practice on synthetic skin, online.
• Phase Three: Free and paid supervised tattoos in a tattoo studio.
• Phase Four: Building independence and preparing for licensing.

Joe also attended a seminar with Janine Pearson, Ink Different’s director of curriculum. She has three degrees in art education, including a master’s in curriculum development. She’s part of a team of about 14 or 15 people who support apprentices.

This is a career that comes with confidence. You’ll finish with job-ready skills, licensing support, and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios. The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is available at 60+ tattoo studios nationwide. Ink Different has trained Tattoo Artists for 15 years.

What Is the Master Mentorship Option?

Once you’ve built your foundation, Ink Different’s Master Mentorship connects you with Master Mentors, including Al Fliction, Liz Cook, Kyle Dunbar, Boneface, Jordi Pla, Marcel Oliveira, and Kara Gutierrez.

For someone like Joe, who wants to “get up there with the big dogs,” learning from Tattoo Artists at that level is a natural next step.

How Does Ink Different Make Training Accessible?

Ink Different makes training accessible with online early phases for busy schedules and Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego.

Joe’s advice for anyone thinking about it: if you’ve always wanted to be a Tattoo Artist but can’t get into a tattoo shop, or don’t want a tattoo apprenticeship where you sweep floors for six months, this is the way to do it.

Seats are limited, with only two apprentices per tattoo studio per Mentor.

Ready to Become a Tattoo Artist?

Joe Kendall is proof that a full life doesn’t have to stop you. He works two jobs, raises his kids, and is about to start tattooing real clients.

“If you want to get down on art, if you’re an artist and you want to do this, this is the way to do it,” he says. “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Ready to become a Tattoo Artist? Apply now to Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship and start building an AI-proof career with licensing support and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios. Prefer to test the waters first? Fill out our quick questionnaire to see if it’s right for you.