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When booking a tattoo, you might notice that artists are sometimes described as apprentice, junior artist or senior artist. But what does that actually mean?
At Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio in Oakleigh, every artist is working at a professional standard appropriate to their stage of career. The difference usually comes down to experience, speed, confidence and specialisation.
It does not mean that one artist is “good” and another is “not good enough.” It means they are at different points in their tattooing career.
Here’s a simple breakdown to help you choose the right artist for your tattoo.
Tattoo by Jamie (Junior Artist)
What is an apprentice tattoo artist?
An apprentice tattoo artist is at the beginning stage of their professional tattoo career.
Before tattooing paying clients, an apprentice will usually spend a significant amount of time learning the foundations of tattooing. This includes fake skin practice, line work, shading, colour theory, hygiene, machine control, stencil placement, client care and free tattooing under supervision.
At Eleven Pillars, our apprentice Cristian has completed his first year of apprenticeship and is now in his second year, tattooing clients under the strict supervision of his mentor, Chris Sinclair.
Cristian is already building a loyal client base and producing very solid work. He is currently practising all styles, with a strong interest in traditional, realism and illustrative tattooing.
Choosing an apprentice can be a great option if you are open to supporting an artist at the beginning of their career and you are comfortable with the process taking a little longer. Apprentice tattoos are still done in a safe, professional studio environment, but the pricing reflects that the artist is continuing to build speed, experience and confidence.
Apprentice pricing guide
At Eleven Pillars, apprentice tattoos start from around $100, with apprentice day rates capped at $400.
This makes apprentice work a more accessible option for clients, while still allowing the artist to grow properly, safely and professionally.
By Cristian (Apprentice)
What is a junior tattoo artist?
A junior tattoo artist has usually completed a minimum two-year apprenticeship and has moved into the next stage of their career.
This means they are now a professional tattoo artist with strong foundations in tattooing. They can take on a variety of pieces, but they are often beginning to specialise in a particular style.
For example, our junior artist Jamie works across different styles, but is quickly becoming known for anime and colour tattoos. She is especially skilled at packing solid colour and has a deep love of anime, gaming and pop culture, which helps her execute those pieces with real knowledge and care.
Our junior artist Luke is currently pushing further into realism. He has also been mentored by Chris Sinclair, which gives him a strong foundation in detailed, high-impact work.
A junior artist may still take a little more time than a senior artist, especially on larger or more detailed tattoos. That does not mean their work is low quality. It simply means they are still building pace, confidence and experience across a wider range of projects.
Junior artist pricing guide
At Eleven Pillars, junior artist tattoos generally start from $150, with day rates capped at $800.
This can be a great middle ground for clients who want professional work at a more accessible rate, especially if they are open to giving the artist the time needed to complete the piece properly.
By Luke (Junior Artist)
What is a senior tattoo artist?
A senior tattoo artist has been tattooing professionally for several years and has demonstrated a high level of technical skill, consistency and industry experience.
At Eleven Pillars, our senior artists have generally been in the industry for four or more years. Many have won awards, built strong reputations and developed a clear specialist style.
Chris Sinclair is known for black and grey realism, horror realism, opaque grey technique, Greek mythology, portraits and large-scale detailed pieces. He has won awards and is highly sought after for clients wanting bold, cinematic and realistic work.
Nathan Kennedy is well known for neo traditional and Japanese tattooing, with a strong industry reputation and award-winning work.
Toni is a fine line specialist known for delicate, detailed and soft illustrative pieces.
Hayley has recently moved from junior artist to senior artist and is known for her steady hand, eagle eye and research-heavy approach. She loves tattooing animals, insects, ornamental work and illustrative pieces, while still being highly sought after for fine line tattoos.
Senior artists are often best suited to larger projects, highly detailed work, specialist styles and tattoos where experience and precision are especially important.
Senior artist pricing guide
At Eleven Pillars, senior artist tattoos generally start from $200, with day rates ranging up to $1400 depending on the artist, style, size and complexity of the tattoo.
Each senior artist has their own pricing based on experience, demand and the type of work they specialise in. Below is a breakdown by artist at our studio:
Hayley - $1,000
Toni - $1,000
Nathan - $1200
Chris - $1400
Tattoo by Chris (Senior Artist)
Why do tattoo prices change between artists?
Tattoo pricing is based on a mix of factors, including:
- Artist experience
- Style and technical difficulty
- Size and placement
- Colour or black and grey
- Design time
- Detail level
- How long the tattoo is expected to take
A senior realism artist working on a large black and grey piece will usually be priced differently from an apprentice working on a smaller traditional design.
That price difference reflects time, experience, skill level and demand. It also helps match clients with the right artist for their budget and their tattoo idea.
Is it safe to book with an apprentice or junior artist?
Yes, when you are booking through a safe, professional tattoo studio.
At Eleven Pillars, apprentices and junior artists work in a hygienic council-approved tattoo studio in Victoria with proper processes, supervision and support. Apprentice work is not rushed, and our team makes sure each artist is working within their current skill level.
The main thing to understand is that an apprentice or junior artist may take longer, and some pieces may need to be completed across more than one session. In exchange, clients receive a more accessible rate while supporting an artist as they grow.
Which artist level should I choose?
If you want a smaller tattoo, a simple design, or you are working within a tighter budget, an apprentice may be a good fit.
If you want a professional tattoo at a more accessible rate and you are open to an artist who is still developing their speciality, a junior artist could be the right choice.
If you want a large-scale piece, specialist work, award-winning experience or a highly detailed custom tattoo design, a senior artist is likely the best match.
The best option always depends on the tattoo you want.
Want help choosing the right artist?
If you are not sure whether your idea is best suited to an apprentice, junior artist or senior artist, send us a brief description of what you are after. Feel free to include inspo images, size, placement and whether you prefer colour or black and grey.
We can then recommend the best artist for your tattoo and give you an exact quote. You can request a quote here.
Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio is a custom tattoo studio in Oakleigh, South East Melbourne, just minutes from Chadstone Shopping Centre. We are close to Malvern East, Carnegie, Bentleigh, Oakleigh South and Clayton, with 2-hour street parking in Oakleigh, free parking at Oakleigh train station one minute away and paid all-day parking at Oakleigh Central.
Tattoos tailored to you.
