By Mish Rivera | October 2026
Eight months ago, I started a tattoo apprenticeship.
Which is still a weird sentence to type, honestly.
Eight months ago, I walked into a completely new world with a lot of excitement, a healthy amount of delusion, and absolutely no idea how much I was about to learn.
Not just about tattooing. About myself.
And holy shit, what a ride it’s been.
Starting Over When You’re Already a Grown-Ass Adult
There’s something uniquely humbling about becoming a beginner when you’re almost 42.
You spend years figuring out who you are, getting comfortable with what you’re good at, and learning how to navigate life. Then you willingly sign up to do something you’re not particularly good at yet.
In front of other people.
With permanent consequences.
Seems reasonable.
When I started my apprenticeship in February, I knew I loved art. I knew I wanted to create something meaningful. And I knew I was tired of letting fear make decisions for me.
What I didn’t know was just how much tattooing would challenge me.
Drawing is one thing. Putting that drawing on someone’s actual skin, knowing they’re going to walk around with it forever? That’s an entirely different kind of pressure.
Suddenly, every line matters. Every decision matters.
And you can’t exactly hit Command + Z.
From My First Tattoo to Actual Clients
On April 22, I tattooed my first piece on skin: a traditional Sailor Jerry swallow.
I still remember what a huge deal that felt like.
There’s this moment when something you’ve spent so much time imagining becomes real. When you’re actually holding a tattoo machine, working on skin, and realizing that you’re doing the thing you’ve been dreaming about.
And then you immediately notice about 47 things you want to improve.
Welcome to tattooing.
Since then, I’ve been steadily building my skills, working with clients, learning from experienced artists, and discovering that tattooing requires a level of patience and attention to detail I never fully appreciated before.
Every tattoo teaches me something.
Sometimes it’s technical. Sometimes it’s about working with a client. Sometimes it’s realizing I need to get out of my own head and trust the skills I’ve been practicing.
Progress doesn’t always look dramatic.
Sometimes it’s just pulling a cleaner line than you did last week.
And that’s enough.
The Part Nobody Really Talks About
Tattooing is hard.
Not just the technical side, although there’s plenty of that.
It’s the mental side.
The comparison. The pressure. The temptation to measure your progress against artists who’ve been tattooing for years.
Social media makes that especially easy.
You see gorgeous tattoos, flawless lines, incredible compositions, and artists making it all look effortless.
Meanwhile, you’re sitting there trying to figure out why that one curve is kicking your ass.
But I’ve been learning something important:
Being new at something doesn’t mean you’re bad at it. It means you’re learning.
I’m not supposed to have 25 years of experience after eight months.
I’m supposed to be better than I was eight months ago.
And I am.
More Than Just Learning to Tattoo
One of the biggest surprises of this experience has been how much I love the people side of tattooing.
I genuinely love getting to know my clients.
I love hearing why they chose a design, what it represents, or why they finally decided to get that tattoo they’ve been thinking about for years.
Sometimes it’s deeply meaningful.
Sometimes it’s just something they think looks cool.
Both are completely valid reasons to get tattooed, by the way.
There’s something pretty incredible about being trusted to make permanent art for another human being.
I don’t take that lightly.
I want people sitting in my chair to feel comfortable, welcomed, and genuinely excited to be there.
I want them to feel like they can be themselves.
Because for me, tattooing has never been just about putting ink in skin.
It’s about helping people express who they are.
Finding My Place at N’Vious Tattoo Gallery
A huge part of these eight months has been finding my place at N’Vious Tattoo Gallery in Cookeville, Tennessee.
I’ve had the opportunity to learn under Rik Sharp, who brings more than 25 years of tattooing experience to the table.
I’ve also been surrounded by artists with different styles, perspectives, and approaches to their craft.
Being in that environment has taught me that there’s no shortcut to becoming a good tattoo artist.
You practice. You study. You listen. You make adjustments.
And then you practice some more.
I’ve also gotten to experience the business side of tattooing through helping manage the shop, connecting with our community, and being part of the move into our new studio.
It’s been a lot.
But seeing the work that goes into building a space where artists and clients genuinely enjoy being has made me love this industry even more.
Breaking Up With Fear
If you’ve followed me for a while, you probably know that a big theme in my life has been becoming.
Breaking up with fear and building a life I actually want.
That’s not just some cute phrase I put on social media.
It’s something I’ve been actively trying to live.
And tattooing has become one of the biggest ways I’ve challenged myself to do exactly that.
Because starting something new is scary.
Being publicly inexperienced is scary.
Putting your work out there and knowing people will have opinions about it? Also scary.
But I’ve spent enough of my life letting fear keep me from trying things.
I’m not interested in doing that anymore.
I don’t need to be fearless.
I just need to keep showing up.
Eight Months Down. A Lifetime of Learning Ahead.
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in eight months.
I’m proud of the tattoos I’ve done, the clients who’ve trusted me, the skills I’ve developed, and the relationships I’ve built.
I’m also very aware of how much I still have to learn.
And strangely enough, that doesn’t bother me like it used to.
I don’t need to rush through being an apprentice.
I don’t need to pretend I know everything.
I want to get good at this. Really good.
And that takes time.
Eight months ago, I was someone who wanted to become a tattoo artist.
Today, I’m an apprentice who is actually tattooing people, building a client base, learning a craft I love, and slowly becoming the artist I want to be.
That’s pretty damn cool.
To everyone who’s booked with me, shared my work, encouraged me, trusted me with their skin, or simply followed along while I figure this whole thing out:
Thank you. Seriously.
You are part of this story, too.
Here’s to eight months of growth, questionable levels of caffeine, a whole lot of practice, and a future I’m genuinely excited about.
I’m just getting started.
— Mish
Want to Get Tattooed by Me?
I’m currently tattooing at N’Vious Tattoo Gallery in Cookeville, Tennessee, offering $60 apprentice flash tattoos while I continue developing my skills.
My available designs are posted on my social media, and I’m currently booking for November.
These apprentice prices won’t be around forever, so if you’ve been thinking about getting something, now is a great time.
Follow my journey and see my latest work on Instagram and TikTok at @mishxtattoo.
Ready for some new ink? Send me a DM and let’s get you booked.