Looking for a place to learn to tattoo...for free? Whether you’ve never picked up a tattoo machine before, you’re a new tattoo artist looking for extra tattoo training, or you’re already working in a tattoo studio and simply need a refresher, you’ll find all the resources, tips, and advice you need to learn to become a successful tattoo artist right here.
A Message From Nathan
Thanks for visiting our Tattoo Learning Center. We hope our guides provide you with important skills and knowledge on your journey to learn to be a tattoo artist.
For people ready to take the next step, I’d strongly recommend joining the Tattooing 101 Facebook Group and signing up for our newsletter. They’re the best places to get new content and tips on a daily basis so you can learn to tattoo faster.
What You’ll Find...
Learning to tattoo at home doesn’t have to be an endless sea of Google searches and low-quality videos. The Tattoo Learning Center features step-by-step guides put together by professional tattoo artists that will help you master the skills you need to work in the tattoo industry from drawing tattoo designs to understanding needle depth, color packing, and more. Find illustrations, examples, and real experiences.
…And What You Won’t
Learning to tattoo online for free can quickly lead you to a lot of information that ranges from out of date to downright unsafe. Cross contamination and blood borne pathogens pose a massive risk if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why the Tattoo Learning Center features up-to-date practices that inspire creativity while keeping you - and your clients - safe.
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TATTOO ARTIST TRAINING COSTS
Becoming a tattoo artist means positioning yourself as a small business, and that includes startup costs. What costs are involved in becoming a tattoo artist? Get help planning for both the time commitment and the financials here.
TATTOO
EQUIPMENT
Every tattoo artist needs the right tools for the job. From stencil paper to ink, fake skin, and even the best paper towels… Learn about the equipment you need, how it works, and how you’ll use it every day as a tattoo artist.
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Our Most Popular Articles:
 | The term “tattoo placement’ simply means where on the body you put a tattoo. As a tattoo artist, placement can make or break your design because even incredible tattoos will look awkward with the wrong placement. By the end of this article, you’ll know where to place tattoos so your designs flow with the body, which means your tattoos will always look good. |
 | A tattoo’s style is determined by which aesthetic it falls under, and each style has guidelines artists can use to make sure their design works within their chosen style. By the end of this article, you’ll know all the different styles and the “rules” of the most popular tattoo styles so you can do them yourself. |
 | This article will break down the basics you need to know before you start tattooing people, how to get safe tattoo equipment, and how to start tattooing for the first time. We’ll also give you some beginning advice you can apply right away in every aspect of tattooing - from creating designs to shading techniques to finding clients. |
 | Whether you’re working on paper or moving to skin, this library of easy tattoo drawings for beginners is a great place to return to when you need designs that are simple to create and look amazing. Simple designs can help you get customers. These designs are perfect for people new to tattoos who want to start small. Having these designs on hand can help you land a few first clients and build solid portfolio pieces. |
 | A lot of new artists feel like picking their voltage is a guessing game. However, if you’re running your machine too fast or too slow, you could overwork the skin or leave a faded-looking tattoo. To help, our tattooing instructor, Brandon, explains how to set the voltage correctly for your style of tattooing in a hands-on tutorial. |
 | New artists often struggle to get clean lines and smooth shades. Picking the right stroke length is the difference between a busted tattoo that can’t be fixed and a tattoo composed of crisp lines and flawless blending. In this article, we'll be breaking down how to avoid shaky lines, needing multiple passes for lining, patchy shading, and causing too much trauma to the skin. |
 | While American Traditional designs are 2-D and look simple, if you’re an aspiring artist who has tried drawing it yourself, then you know it’s not as easy as it looks. In this article, we’ll break down the rules you need to know, go over popular themes and imagery, and explain how you can draw, paint, and tattoo in the American traditional style like a pro. |
 | If you want to become a tattoo artist, you probably know that there are a few different ways to learn. You can learn in a traditional apprenticeship program, go to an in-person tattoo school, or take an online course in your free time. In this article, we’ll be breaking down what you learn in a traditional apprenticeship in a tattoo shop vs. an online tattoo course. If you’re not sure which option is right for you, this article will clear a few things up and answer the most-asked questions about tattoo courses. |
 | Being able to correctly pack color is what brings a color tattoo to life. Without the right techniques for packing ink and blending out colors, your tattoos will look pale and patchy. In this article, we’ll be breaking down how to make sure your colors stay vibrant in the skin so you can create art that your clients will love for decades to come. |
 | In the past, all the artists who wanted to learn to tattoo had to apprentice in a shop. However, due to the rise of technology, the tattoo community is now seeing a giant wave of self-taught artists. In this article, we’ll aim to break down how you can become an established tattoo artist without an apprenticeship, as well as why online learning is the best way forward for most artists in the next generation of tattooers. |
| The term “tattoo placement’ simply means where on the body you put a tattoo. As a tattoo artist, placement can make or break your design because even incredible tattoos will look awkward with the wrong placement. By the end of this article, you’ll know where to place tattoos so your designs flow with the body, which means your tattoos will always look good. |
| A tattoo’s style is determined by which aesthetic it falls under, and each style has guidelines artists can use to make sure their design works within their chosen style. By the end of this article, you’ll know all the different styles and the “rules” of the most popular tattoo styles so you can do them yourself. |
| This article will break down the basics you need to know before you start tattooing people, how to get safe tattoo equipment, and how to start tattooing for the first time. We’ll also give you some beginning advice you can apply right away in every aspect of tattooing - from creating designs to shading techniques to finding clients. |
| Whether you’re working on paper or moving to skin, this library of easy tattoo drawings for beginners is a great place to return to when you need designs that are simple to create and look amazing. Simple designs can help you get customers. These designs are perfect for people new to tattoos who want to start small. Having these designs on hand can help you land a few first clients and build solid portfolio pieces. |
| A lot of new artists feel like picking their voltage is a guessing game. However, if you’re running your machine too fast or too slow, you could overwork the skin or leave a faded-looking tattoo. To help, our tattooing instructor, Brandon, explains how to set the voltage correctly for your style of tattooing in a hands-on tutorial. |
| New artists often struggle to get clean lines and smooth shades. Picking the right stroke length is the difference between a busted tattoo that can’t be fixed and a tattoo composed of crisp lines and flawless blending. In this article, we'll be breaking down how to avoid shaky lines, needing multiple passes for lining, patchy shading, and causing too much trauma to the skin. |
| While American Traditional designs are 2-D and look simple, if you’re an aspiring artist who has tried drawing it yourself, then you know it’s not as easy as it looks. In this article, we’ll break down the rules you need to know, go over popular themes and imagery, and explain how you can draw, paint, and tattoo in the American traditional style like a pro. |
| If you want to become a tattoo artist, you probably know that there are a few different ways to learn. You can learn in a traditional apprenticeship program, go to an in-person tattoo school, or take an online course in your free time. In this article, we’ll be breaking down what you learn in a traditional apprenticeship in a tattoo shop vs. an online tattoo course. If you’re not sure which option is right for you, this article will clear a few things up and answer the most-asked questions about tattoo courses. |
| Being able to correctly pack color is what brings a color tattoo to life. Without the right techniques for packing ink and blending out colors, your tattoos will look pale and patchy. In this article, we’ll be breaking down how to make sure your colors stay vibrant in the skin so you can create art that your clients will love for decades to come. |
| In the past, all the artists who wanted to learn to tattoo had to apprentice in a shop. However, due to the rise of technology, the tattoo community is now seeing a giant wave of self-taught artists. In this article, we’ll aim to break down how you can become an established tattoo artist without an apprenticeship, as well as why online learning is the best way forward for most artists in the next generation of tattooers. |
Our Most Popular Articles:
The term “tattoo placement’ simply means where on the body you put a tattoo. As a tattoo artist, placement can make or break your design because even incredible tattoos will look awkward with the wrong placement. By the end of this article, you’ll know where to place tattoos so your designs flow with the body, which means your tattoos will always look good. |
A tattoo’s style is determined by which aesthetic it falls under, and each style has guidelines artists can use to make sure their design works within their chosen style. By the end of this article, you’ll know all the different styles and the “rules” of the most popular tattoo styles so you can do them yourself. |
This article will break down the basics you need to know before you start tattooing people, how to get safe tattoo equipment, and how to start tattooing for the first time. We’ll also give you some beginning advice you can apply right away in every aspect of tattooing - from creating designs to shading techniques to finding clients. |
Whether you’re working on paper or moving to skin, this library of easy tattoo drawings for beginners is a great place to return to when you need designs that are simple to create and look amazing. Simple designs can help you get customers. These designs are perfect for people new to tattoos who want to start small. Having these designs on hand can help you land a few first clients and build solid portfolio pieces. |
A lot of new artists feel like picking their voltage is a guessing game. However, if you’re running your machine too fast or too slow, you could overwork the skin or leave a faded-looking tattoo. To help, our tattooing instructor, Brandon, explains how to set the voltage correctly for your style of tattooing in a hands-on tutorial. |
New artists often struggle to get clean lines and smooth shades. Picking the right stroke length is the difference between a busted tattoo that can’t be fixed and a tattoo composed of crisp lines and flawless blending. In this article, we'll be breaking down how to avoid shaky lines, needing multiple passes for lining, patchy shading, and causing too much trauma to the skin. |
While American Traditional designs are 2-D and look simple, if you’re an aspiring artist who has tried drawing it yourself, then you know it’s not as easy as it looks. In this article, we’ll break down the rules you need to know, go over popular themes and imagery, and explain how you can draw, paint, and tattoo in the American traditional style like a pro. |
If you want to become a tattoo artist, you probably know that there are a few different ways to learn. You can learn in a traditional apprenticeship program, go to an in-person tattoo school, or take an online course in your free time. In this article, we’ll be breaking down what you learn in a traditional apprenticeship in a tattoo shop vs. an online tattoo course. If you’re not sure which option is right for you, this article will clear a few things up and answer the most-asked questions about tattoo courses. |
Being able to correctly pack color is what brings a color tattoo to life. Without the right techniques for packing ink and blending out colors, your tattoos will look pale and patchy. In this article, we’ll be breaking down how to make sure your colors stay vibrant in the skin so you can create art that your clients will love for decades to come. |
In the past, all the artists who wanted to learn to tattoo had to apprentice in a shop. However, due to the rise of technology, the tattoo community is now seeing a giant wave of self-taught artists. In this article, we’ll aim to break down how you can become an established tattoo artist without an apprenticeship, as well as why online learning is the best way forward for most artists in the next generation of tattooers. |
