Art School Wasn’t for Me
So you tried art school and, for whatever reason, it wasn’t for you. Maybe it was the ever-increasing burden of horrific student loan debt? Maybe it was a structure that talked about “innovation” and “corporate disruption” but didn’t actually give you a roadmap to start your career? Whatever the reason was, you’re now in possession of student debt, some ill-defined credits, or a combination of both and feel no closer to the career in the arts you were seeking in the first place.
Trust us when we say that we’ve been there. Not only us, but every year a significant portion of our trainees come from art schools feeling jaded and without a clear trajectory to their goals. That makes it all the more exciting to be able to transform these skilled individuals into professional artists who can pay their bills and knock down that grotesque student loan debt with a career in the arts.
So with that in mind, let’s explore the top three reasons art school dropouts make amazing professional tattoo artists!

1. Your Love of Art
You love art. Simple. Your decision to drop out of art school wasn’t because you suddenly fell out of love with the creation and sharing of art. More likely it was because of some toxic art school culture, absurd bureaucracy that got in the way of creativity, or a financial outlook that wasn’t sustainable.
The good news is that your passion for art will get you far when it comes to becoming a professional tattoo artist! Any tattoo artist training worth its salt will train and test your skills before letting you put a needle to skin, and your love for art will get you through that process in record time. We start you on practical tattoo artist training from the moment you step inside one of our studios, so if you have the right mindset you can get to work, learning what you need to, right away!

2. You’ve got Skills
You’ve already got skills! While working as a professional tattoo artist requires a very particular type of training that’s unique to tattoos, a huge part of the equation is your ability to create gorgeous tattoo flash. If you’ve clocked the hours in art school, you’ll have a leg up and we won’t waste your time training you on something you already know. The faster you demonstrate your skills with tattoo flash the faster you move onto a tattoo machine.
3. You Are Ready for an Art Career
You can see the difference. We give guaranteed job offers to every single artist who completes our training. There are no positions you have to fight for. No grants or fellowships that decide your future. If you put in the work, you get the gig. It’s that straightforward. Unlike art school, we put our money where our mouth is and hire our graduates. So ditch the uncertainty and start working toward a rewarding art career that you’ll love (and will pay your bills!).
Get Started!
If you’re ready to get started, just join us at one of our tattoo workshops. You’ll meet your trainers, learn some insider tips about the tattoo industry, and even get some time on a tattoo machine. Our workshops are the best way to see how we’re transforming the world of tattooing and making it accessible to everyone. There’s never been a better way to land a paying career in the arts!