In the United States, the majority of tattoo artists are self-taught. Pick up any of the major tattoo magazines, read the artist biographies and you will find 2 out of 3, on average, are self taught. That means experimenting with Uncle Jimmy on the kitchen table.

The rest have apprenticed under a "master".

 

Apprenticing falls under the category of the most widely accepted method of learning and most traditional. This avenue has it's ups and downs. If the apprentice studies under a master who is professional, talented, able to teach and medically responsible, it can be a beautiful thing.

 

However, apprenticeships can quickly dissolve for a variety of reasons. Apprentices often do not handle a tattoo machine in their first year. Instead, they must perform routine shop duties and "earn" their right to tattoo. One of the more common woes is if the shop closes it's doors before your apprenticeship term is fulfilled. The term "refund" does not exist in apprenticeship agreements.

 

In the last few years a new way to learn the art of tattooing has arrived: licensed, registered tattoo trade schools.

 

Many old-time artists bristle at the notion of "school" and feel that tradition should prevail in the tattoo lifestyle.

But, like it or not, tattoo schools are here to stay and gaining popularity.