The Artist Altar

EP:3 How to Choose a Tattoo Apprenticeship: 9 Paths Compared

In this episode, I’m breaking down the nine different ways you can learn tattooing. What each path really looks like, the pros and cons, the hidden costs and the outcomes you can realistically expect. I wanted to make this because so many aspiring tattoo artists feel overwhelmed trying to figure out where to begin. Apprenticeships can feel mysterious, gatekept, or confusing, and I want to lay everything out clearly so you can make an informed decision that actually supports your life, your learning style and your long-term goals. We walk through traditional shop apprenticeships, paid programs, tattoo schools, online education, hybrid mentorship models, self-taught paths and multi-path learning. I also talk about the importance of structure, mentorship and proper hygiene education, especially bloodborne pathogen safety, because those foundations directly affect your career, your clients and your reputation. This episode isn’t about declaring one path as the only right choice. It’s about understanding what each option really involves so you can move forward intentionally, avoid major gaps in your education and build confidence in your skills. My goal is to help you feel empowered, informed and supported as you choose the tattoo education path that fits you best. What We Cover * The 9 main tattoo apprenticeship paths explained * Hidden costs behind “free” apprenticeships * Why mentorship quality matters more than price * Education gaps and how they affect your career * Tattoo schools vs. traditional shop learning * Hybrid models that combine structure and hands-on mentorship * The realities and risks of self-teaching tattooing * Bloodborne pathogen safety and hygiene standards * Choosing a path that aligns with your goals and lifestyle If you want deeper guidance, I share a free guide for aspiring tattoo artists to help you decide if tattooing is the right path and how to prepare for it. I also created a tattoo activation toolkit with materials, resources and hygiene fundamentals to support your early learning. I’d love to hear from you tell me in the comments which apprenticeship path resonates most with you, or share your own experience if you’ve already been through one. Let’s keep the conversation going and support each other in making informed decisions. Thanks for being here.  Here are my free resources mentioned in the video. Get instant access to the FREE MASTERCLASS & FREE TATTOO PREP TOOLKIT [https://www.earthaltaredu.com/programs]  Connect with Me: Instagram: @earthaltaredu [https://www.instagram.com/earthaltaredu/] Website: earthaltaredu.com [http://www.earthaltaredu.com] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@earthaltaredu@earthaltaredu [https://www.youtube.com/@earthaltaredu]

EP:2 A Collaborative Tattooing Experience: Chat With Thea + Alex

In this episode, I sit down with tattoo artist Alexandra Husmann and Joy Practitioner Thea Monyee to reflect on a deeply collaborative, intuitive tattooing journey we’ve been creating together over time. What began as a subtle, gentle first layer evolved into a living, breathing practice of trust, improvisation, and shared authorship where skin became a canvas for “jazz,” duality and embodied truth. We talk about what it means to let tattooing be a conversation rather than a plan, how collaboration can dissolve boundaries between artists and clients, and why the most meaningful creations often require us to slow down, pause, and live with the work before adding more. This episode opens up the inner world behind intuitive tattooing where consent, vulnerability, and listening to the body become the real art. Thea weaves in her work around joy and grief as coexisting forces, reminding us that joy is not surface-level happiness but a metric of aliveness and that anticipatory grief is often what keeps us from fully expressing who we are. Together, we explore tattoos as portals for visibility, healing, and becoming, and why choosing to create (and live) out loud can feel both terrifying and liberating. In this episode we talk about: ✨ Collaborative tattooing as jazz, call and-response and improvisation ✨ What intuitive tattooing really means beyond aesthetics ✨ Why blank spaces on skin and in life are essential for creation ✨ Navigating duality: softness and structure, flow and geometry, joy and grief ✨ Consent as a nourishing, pleasure-centered practice ✨ Tattoos as embodied markers of transformation and becoming visible Plus, Thea shares more about her joy-centered work, including her free joy assessment and upcoming joy immersion experiences and Alex talks about her approach to collaborative, intuitive tattooing and finding harmony within existing forms. This conversation is an invitation to trust the process, to honor not knowing, and to allow creativity to be a living relationship rather than a fixed outcome. Like jazz, like life, like a tattoo that keeps unfolding. Connect with Thea Monyeé Instagram: @theamonyee [https://www.instagram.com/theamonyee/] Connect with Alex: Website: alexandrahusmann.com [https://www.alexandrahusmann.com]  Instagram: @alexhtattoos [https://www.instagram.com/alexhtattoos/?hl=en] Connect with Me: Instagram: @earthaltaredu [https://www.instagram.com/earthaltaredu/] Website: http://www.justinealmaraz.comearthaltaredu.com [http://www.earthaltaredu.com] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio@earthaltaredu [https://www.youtube.com/@earthaltaredu]

EP : 1 Why I Stopped Making Art for Two Years and why I had to sacrifice my art practice

In this episode, I’m sharing what it’s been like to step away from my personal art practice and what it means to come back. After two years focused on building a tattoo education system with my husband, Luis, I reflect on the sacrifices, growth, and clarity that came from putting my own painting on pause. We created an in-person, curriculum-based apprenticeship model that honors tattooing as a serious art form while helping artists learn more efficiently. This episode is really about identity giving yourself permission to call yourself an artist, even after breaks, pivots, or life changes. Being an artist doesn’t disappear just because your focus shifts. This also marks the beginning of my return to painting, and I’m inviting you to join me in the process of the rust, the rebuilding, and the joy of creating again. What We Cover * Taking a break from your art without losing your identity as an artist * Building a tattoo apprenticeship model that actually works * Mentorship vs. traditional art school * Developing a recognizable, signature style across mediums * Tattooing as an extension of fine art * Returning to your creative practice after time away Schedule your meeting with me here:::: RESEARCH INTERVIEW BOOKING [https://www.earthaltaredu.com/book-project-2026-research-interviews] Thanks for being here. Connect with Me: Instagram: @earthaltaredu [https://www.instagram.com/earthaltaredu/] Website: http://www.justinealmaraz.comearthaltaredu.com [http://www.earthaltaredu.com] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio@earthaltaredu [https://www.youtube.com/@earthaltaredu]

TEASER

Hi, I’m Justine Almaraz, and I’m so glad you’re here! This podcast is a safe space for artists who want to grow, thrive, and develop their unique creative voice all while building a fulfilling, sustainable career. In this teaser episode, I share a bit about myself and what this podcast is all about: pulling back the curtain on the world of fine art tattooing, creative entrepreneurship, and developing an iconic style that supports your life and your soul. Here’s what I’ll be covering: * Turning my fine art into a tattoo career * What the tattoo world is really like * My journey as a creative entrepreneur * Developing your style, getting seen, and getting paid * Building a fulfilling, purpose-driven creative career This podcast is for artists who want to grow their creativity, transition into tattooing or other creative careers, and create a life that feels good while serving their community. I’m here to share my experiences, interview other artist experts, and help you root your soul in your truest creative life. I’m excited to share this journey with you. Thank you for being here! Connect with Me: Instagram: @earthaltaredu [https://www.instagram.com/earthaltaredu/] Website: http://www.justinealmaraz.comearthaltaredu.com [http://www.earthaltaredu.com/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JustineArtStudio@earthaltaredu [https://www.youtube.com/@earthaltaredu]

EP: 20 Free-falling Into Transformation: A New Chapter of Her Ink Empire

In the Finale episode, I reflect on the powerful closing of Season One of Her Ink Empire and the deeply transformative new season I’m stepping into. Turning 40, moving to a new city, and redefining what creativity, health, and balance mean to me, I open up about releasing old patterns, healing my nervous system, and creating from a place of calm and clarity. From revisiting body image and self-worth to detoxing physically, mentally, and spiritually, I share how stepping out of “hustle mode” is unlocking a whole new wave of creativity. This episode is an invitation to explore your own rebirth to question what still fits, what needs to be released, and what desires are ready to be claimed in this next chapter of life. In this episode, I talk about: ✨ Closing the first chapter of Her Ink Empire and embracing uncertainty ✨ Turning 40 as a catalyst for deep reflection and renewal ✨ Healing the nervous system and finding creativity through rest ✨ Releasing hustle culture and returning to intuition ✨ Redefining identity as an artist and creator of your own life ✨ Relocating from Los Angeles to Orange County and the energy shift that came with it ✨ Building the Earth Altar Tattoo Collective and expanding Earth Altar Education ✨ Allowing desire and transformation to guide the next creative evolution I’ve learned that transformation often begins with surrender with the courage to unravel, to release what no longer fits, and to trust the unfolding. This episode is an open invitation to freefall into your own becoming, to honour your growth and to create from a place of alignment, energy and truth. Connect with Justine Art work: Instagram: www.instagram.com/justineartstudio [ www.instagram.com/justineartstudio] Website: www.justinealmaraz.com [www.justinealmaraz.com] YouTube: www.youtube.com/justineartstudio [www.youtube.com/justineartstudio ] Connect with Justine Tattoo Education: Instagram: www.instagram.com/earthaltaredu [www.instagram.com/earthaltaredu] Website: www.earthaltaredu.com [www.earthaltaredu.com] YouTube: www.youtube.com/@earthaltaredu [https://www.youtube.com/@earthaltaredu] Thank you for listening to Her Ink Empire. Your empire is already unfolding one aligned, intentional mark at a time. Stay tuned.