Apprentice Spotlight: From 10 Years in Medicine to Tattoo Apprentice, Ashley Pietkiewicz’s Story
Ashley Pietkiewicz has worked as a medical assistant for 10 years. She loves medicine, but it never gave her the creative outlet she wanted. For years, she drew designs for friends to get tattooed. Eventually, her husband, friends, and family started telling her to cut out the middleman and become a Tattoo Artist herself. Today, she’s in Phase One of Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship, working toward Ink Different’s New Haven location in Connecticut. She’s doing it while working in medicine and raising a young daughter. We sat down with Ashley to hear how she found her way here.
Key Takeaways
Who: Ashley Pietkiewicz is a medical assistant of 10 years and a tattoo apprentice training toward Ink Different’s New Haven location.
Why she’s switching: Medicine is fulfilling, but it didn’t fill her cup creatively.
Her second chance: She applied, stepped away, and came back months later, ready to commit.
Learning from others: Seeing more experienced apprentices’ work in class inspires her and shows her what’s possible.
Her balance: She fits training around work, motherhood, and marriage, and she says she looks forward to it every day.
Who Is Ashley Pietkiewicz?
Ashley Pietkiewicz is a medical assistant and Ink Different tattoo apprentice. She was born and raised in Queens, New York.
She earned her medical assistant license in New York after a year-long program and externships. For the past 10 years, she’s worked in medicine, including LGBTQIA+ care.
She says the work is very fulfilling, but it doesn’t fill her cup all the way. It doesn’t have the creative outlet she wants in her life.
Her medical background still helps. She already understands sanitation, which is a big part of tattooing.
Why Would Someone Leave Medicine for Tattooing?
For Ashley, it came down to passion, burnout, and wanting to love what she does.
She’s always loved art. When friends asked her to draw pieces for their tattoos, she found she really enjoyed it. The more she did it, the more the people around her encouraged her to try tattooing.
Not everyone agreed at first. Some people questioned leaving a stable career she’d had for 10 years and could keep for many more. But Ashley had to tell herself, and them, that she wanted something she was more passionate about.
She also saw tattooing as a lasting field. It’s been around for a very long time, and she believes people will always want the experience of working with a Tattoo Artist. As we explain in why tattoo artists are still essential, it’s a human craft that AI won’t replace.
Reality check: Ashley didn’t stop loving medicine. She just realized she needed a creative outlet, too.
How Do You Push Past the Fear of Starting Over?
You push past it with support, and by giving yourself permission to try again.
Ashley sat on the idea of tattooing for a while. She researched different ways to become a Tattoo Artist and found Ink Different. She started an application to learn more, then fell off. She stopped checking her emails and didn’t move forward.
Months later, the inspiration came back. A few things pushed her:
Her husband encouraged her constantly.
Burnout made it hard to give 100% to her medical job, even though she felt she had to.
The people who supported her gave her the confidence to go for it.
She reached back out, and Ink Different set up a meeting almost immediately. She submitted her art, and the process moved quickly. She says it felt great to be chosen.
How Did Ashley Start Her Tattoo Apprenticeship?
Ashley started with online classes and a bit of nerves.
Step 1: Applying and committing
After coming back to her application, Ashley met with the Ink Different team and submitted her artwork.
Step 2: Her first class
She admits she was a little shy at first, with a lot of new faces. The classes aren’t huge, but there’s a decent group. Her very first class was with Martin, and he made the space comfortable and welcoming. She left that class excited and signed up for another one the next day.
Step 3: Learning from other apprentices
Classes include apprentices at different stages. Ashley could see work from people finishing Phase One, which showed her where she was headed. She says it’s better than looking for inspiration online. You see exactly what’s required and the whole creative process, from the first red pencil sketch to the finished piece.
Now she’s further along, and she enjoys watching newer apprentices share their first pressure sheets.
Step 4: Balancing it all
Ashley still works in medicine and is a wife and mom to a young daughter. Even with her busy schedule, she takes as many classes as she can. Coming home, sitting down to draw, and joining class has become something she truly looks forward to.
If you’re thinking about your own move, read about career change through a tattoo apprenticeship.
What Does the Apprenticeship Actually Teach You?
Phase One of the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship teaches the major tattoo styles, first on paper and then digitally.
Here’s the order Ashley has followed:
American traditional: Old-school sailor tattoos. She loves how feminine subjects look in such a bold style.
Neo-traditional: More fine detail. She’s amazed by the neo-traditional work other apprentices create.
Digital work: Apprentices move to the iPad, starting with American traditional again.
New school: Funky and imaginative, with many directions to take it.
Japanese traditional: She really clicks with this style and loves working with its colors. Apprentices can choose paper or digital, so she did one piece of each.
Three styles, one subject: A review that applies everything so far.
Freestyle: Her next step. Some apprentices revisit styles they found hard, while others lean into what they love.
New school pushed her the most. She had never drawn anything like it. With help from classmates’ examples, her own research, and her Mentors, she ended up loving her results. She says she’d get two of her new school pieces tattooed on herself.
She’s learned from several Mentors, including Martin, Jake, and Julian. Each has a different approach, and she sometimes chooses who to learn from based on what she needs. She knows Julian will give her the constructive criticism that helps her improve. Seeing her Mentors’ own work inspires her, too.
Later phases cover hands-on tattooing, safety, and professional standards, including the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard. For gear, see the tools every beginner tattoo artist should know. To grow your audience, see our guide to platforms to help tattoo artists build their brand.
When Is It Too Late to Change Careers?
It’s never too late. Ashley is making the switch after a decade in medicine, while working and raising a family.
She also sees parallels between her two careers. Becoming a medical assistant meant a year of school followed by externships. The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship works in a similar way. You take classes, then move into a tattoo studio for supervised work, including a junior artist phase.
But she says tattooing feels very different in the best way. It’s more fun, more fulfilling, and less detached. She loves how interesting and creative everyone in her classes is.
Ashley also has something in common with Charmaine, the Tattoo Artist at Ink Different’s New Haven location. Charmaine, also from New York, spent about 10 years in medicine before returning to tattooing with Ink Different.
Get Serious About Your New Career With Ink Different Tattoos
Ink Different has trained Tattoo Artists for 15 years, helping career changers like Ashley build creative futures.
What You Can Expect from Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship
Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is an 18 to 24 month, four-phase tattoo apprenticeship that takes beginners to job-ready Tattoo Artists.
Online foundations: Phases One and Two happen online, so you can train around work and family.
In-studio training: Phases Three and Four take place in a tattoo studio under a Mentor’s supervision.
Beginner-friendly: No prior art or tattoo experience required.
Licensing support: Guidance through your state’s requirements.
A guaranteed job offer: You’ll receive a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s tattoo studios.
A Career That Comes With Confidence
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 tattoo studios nationwide.
Mentorship That Pushes Your Brand and Skills Further
Once you’ve built your foundation, Ink Different’s Master Mentorship connects you with Master Mentors, including Al Fliction, Liz Cook, Kyle Dunbar, Boneface, and Jordi Pla.
Making Tattoo Training Accessible for Everyone
Ink Different offers Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, New York City, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego. You’ll also join a “Good Humans” culture, a supportive community from day one.
Remember: Seats are limited, with only two apprentices per tattoo studio per Mentor.
Ready to Become a Tattoo Artist?
Ashley Pietkiewicz is proof that you can make a big change while still holding down a job and raising a family. Her daughter gets to watch a parent go after what she loves.
Ashley says once you take the leap, it becomes so worth it.
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. Not sure yet? Fill out our quick questionnaire to see if it’s right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior tattoo or art experience to apply?
No. Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is built for beginners and teaches fundamentals from the start.
How long does the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship take?
It takes 18 to 24 months across four phases, with licensing support and a guaranteed job offer.
Can I keep my job during the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship?
Yes. Ashley still works in medicine and fits online classes around her job and family during Phases One and Two.
What styles do you learn in Phase One?
American traditional, neo-traditional, new school, and Japanese traditional, both on paper and digitally.
Is it too late to change careers?
No. Ashley started her tattoo apprenticeship after 10 years as a medical assistant.
Will I be part of a community or learning alone?
You’ll be part of a community. Ashley says seeing other apprentices’ work in class has been one of the most helpful parts of her training.
