I've been designing flash art and tattooing for a little over a year and a half. I live in Port Angels, Wa and the main shop here (that isn't a hole in the wall run by a sketchy looking skinny guy) is all male. I have a contract with them for a notebook of my stuff. I turned that notebook in in October and they still don't have it out. I'd hate to say that they are sexist but it seems like they don't take me seriously. I've been looking for an apprenticeship since I was 19 ( I'm 30 now) and I still haven't found one. When I first asked I was told to basically stay out of tattooing but stick to flash. It'd be nice to get into a shop and grow and learn this art skill. It's different if you're a customer compared to being an artist trying to talk to another artist.