Ink Different Partners With Deville Tattoo on San Diego Apprenticeship Program

Ink Different Tattoos and Deville Tattoo have formalized a San Diego apprenticeship program led by artist and mentor Nemo One, also known as Jeromy Hunt, offering aspiring tattooers an 18-to-24-month structured path from beginner to licensed tattoo artist, with a guaranteed job offer upon successful completion.

The program plants Ink Different's traditional apprenticeship model inside Deville Tattoo, one of Southern California's more established shops, where apprentices train in a fully functioning studio environment. That means prepping stations, observing live sessions, and eventually putting ink to skin under supervision, not watching tutorials from a laptop. The format centers on one-on-one mentorship with Nemo One, practical studio hours, and what Ink Different describes as ongoing support throughout the full duration of the program.

Paul-Anthony Surdi of Ink Different was direct about why Deville Tattoo made sense as a partner location. "Nemo One and Deville Tattoo are a true part of San Diego's tattoo DNA. The culture, consistency, legacy, and creative energy are exactly what we look for in a studio partner," Surdi said. "With Nemo leading the way, this isn't just a great apprenticeship location; it's a gateway to gigantic career potential for artists who are serious about their future."

The positioning Ink Different has built around the program is worth noting if you're evaluating it against other routes into the industry. They're explicit that this isn't a weekend course or an online certification: "This apprenticeship isn't a shortcut or a side hustle. It's a fully guided career path for those who want to become a Tattoo Artist, ready to put in the work and build a future in tattooing." For anyone who's seen the flood of at-home tattoo kits and abbreviated "professional courses" marketed to beginners, that framing carries some weight.

The structure follows what Ink Different calls a step-by-step path toward licensure, though specific California licensing board affiliations or curriculum milestones were not detailed in the announcement. What is explicit: the program runs inside a professional shop, under the direct guidance of an experienced working artist, for up to two years. That's closer to the traditional apprenticeship model that produced most of the respected artists working today than anything resembling an accelerated program.

Enrollment is currently open in San Diego. Details on tuition or compensation, class size, and formal application steps were not included in the announcement and are worth confirming directly with Ink Different before committing.