Tattoo courses are still considered a “new” way to learn in the tattoo industry.
Taking an online course through a tattoo school makes more sense for many aspiring artists who can’t take the time off to do a full-time tattoo apprenticeship or want to learn at their own pace.
However, it can be difficult to figure out what exactly you’ll be getting from a beginners course - and whether it’ll be enough to help you become a professional tattoo artist.
To help, this article will give you a sneak peek inside our flagship program, the Artist Accelerator, and everything it teaches so you can see if online learning is right for you.
In this article, we’re breaking down:
The Artist Accelerator Program’s Tattooing Course
Tattooing 101 Students
The reason our students are able to work full-time in tattoo shops is because the Artist Accelerator not only teaches them how to tattoo, but also how to thrive in the tattoo world.
Inside, you’ll find lessons on how a tattoo shop works, tattoo design, how to work with clients, and even how to start your own tattoo business.
Since the Artist Accelerator is modeled after a 3-year traditional tattoo apprenticeship, the course is broken down into three “Years.” However, you can complete each “year” in a matter of weeks, depending on your time and availability.Mindset, Sanitation, and Shop Knowledge
Screenshots from “Year One” of Tattooing 101’s Artist Accelerator Program
In traditional apprenticeships, most of your first year is learning how to clean the shop and help it run properly. That is why “Year One” is dedicated to lessons on:
Drawing, Painting, and Equipment
Screenshots from “Year Two” of Tattooing 101’s Artist Accelerator Program
When an apprentice is in the second year of their apprenticeship, you’ll find them constantly drawing, painting flash, and having basic techniques explained to them by their mentor.
Year two is also when most mentors allow their apprentices to pick up a tattoo machine for the first time.
Because of this, “Year Two” of the Artist Accelerator Program is dedicated to learning how to:
Lining, Shading, and Getting Into a Shop
Screenshots from “Year Three” of Tattooing 101’s Artist Accelerator Program
As an apprentice gets to the end of their apprenticeship, they’ve learned how to line, shade, and pack color so that they can perform solid tattoos for every client. Some mentors will allow their apprentices to practice their new tattoo techniques on fruit or fake skin first before doing their first tattoo on human skin on themselves.
The apprentice will then be allowed to tattoo friends in the shop, and they will start tattooing clients (usually small tattoos at a discounted “apprentice” price). At this point, they’ll be ready to start putting together a professional portfolio of their work.
In the same way, “Year Three” of the Artist Accelerator covers:
Additional Training
Screenshots from Tattooing 101’s Advanced Lining and Japanese Catfish Masterclass
Most of the time, a tattoo apprentice will be able to walk around the shop and check out the work of other artists. This is a great way to learn new techniques and figure out what tattoo styles they are interested in learning more about.
This is why the Artist Accelerator has bonus masterclasses from a variety of artists so you can get a look at advanced skills.
In most street shops, more experienced artists will hand off walk-ins or tattoos they don’t want to do to the apprentice. Being able to handle whatever is thrown at you is how apprentices build their skills.
To get the same experience, the Artist Accelerator has a module dedicated to “walk-ins,” where you will create a tattoo according to what your “customer” wants.
In a traditional apprenticeship, an aspiring artist will learn what they can about tattoo design before approaching a tattoo shop. They’ll put together a portfolio of their best tattoo art and show it to a potential mentor.
If you’re learning online, you’re skipping that step. However, it’s still important to get that background in the art of tattooing and to take a look at different styles of tattoos.
This is why the Artist Accelerator comes with the 30-Day Flash Challenge for free. Each day, you’ll create a piece that will teach you about a different style of tattooing or a different medium to help expand your skills and build a portfolio of designs.
While apprentices do get to learn from the artists in their shop, it’s rare that they are able to travel to learn from masters all over the world. This is why the Artist Accelerator has a section devoted to talking to established artists worldwide about tattooing and building their skills.
There are also interviews with artists from other mediums, as well as business professionals so you can get advice on how to set up your own tattoo business in the future.How Students Practice from Home
You should not practice tattooing real people in your home. Instead, Artist Accelerator students practice on fake skin until they have the opportunity to find or create a sterile environment. Additionally, within the program, students take quizzes and have homework and challenges to help keep them on track and improve their skills.
How Students Get Feedback and Ask Questions
In the past, the main drawback of trying to learn at home or become a “self-taught” artist is that there was no way to request feedback from professional tattoo artists. However, without the knowledge of what you’re doing wrong, it takes much longer to fix mistakes and start tattooing professionally faster.
This is why the Artist Accelerator comes with access to the Tattooing 101 Mastermind community. This is where our professional tattoo artists give students feedback and answer questions, as well as where students encourage one another, share knowledge, and document their learning experience.
Ready to Start Tattooing With the Artist Accelerator Program?
Having a career in tattooing is not only fulfilling, but it’s also the most stable way to make a living as an artist. However, for decades, the process to become a tattoo artist has been notoriously difficult.
The apprenticeship process requires aspiring tattoo artists to work 50-60 hours a week without pay for 2-4 years. That, combined with the toxic culture of abusing apprentices, makes getting into the industry almost impossible for newcomers.
That’s why we created the Artist Accelerator Program. Our online course provides a simple, structured way of learning to tattoo that has been proven to work by over 2500 successful students, with many of them having gone on to open their own shops all around the world.
Inside the program, we’ll take you through every step of the tattooing process in 9 clear, easy-to-follow modules and support you along the way within the Tattooing 101 Mastermind online community.
In the Mastermind group, you’ll collaborate with other students, get answers to your questions, and receive personalized video feedback on your artwork and tattoos from professional tattoo artists. With this friendly community of both new and experienced tattoo artists, you’ll never be stuck again.
When you join the Artist Accelerator Program, you’ll have instant lifetime access to the full course and the Mastermind community, as well as our 30-Day Flash Challenge and recorded interviews with tattoo artists from all over the world.
Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.
