The Tattoo Learning Center offers a modern approach to an age old craft
Albany, NY (April 20, 2009)
Unless you've been living under a rock for the last decade you have witnessed the explosion of ink on just about everyone.
Teachers are sporting them, doctors, lawyers, architects have them, even your grandma probably has one.
Tattoo ink seems to know no limits.
Who is putting this ink on people? Tattoo artists all around the world. Where did they learn how to do it?
Well, that depends.
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.
Jeff Looman, owner of The Tattoo Learning Center, operates and owns a tattoo school in Upstate NY. He and his partner have hosted and taught students from around the globe for the last 6 years. There are only a handful of registered tattoo schools in the U.S. and even less abroad.
Looman says "Tattoo schools are a great way for people to learn how to tattoo safely, effectively and responsibly". He adds "Being self-taught myself, I can vouch for how difficult and unsafe learning tattooing can be. When dealing with blood borne pathogens and bodily fluids it is very important to be safe."
Looman explains that there are distinct advantages to learning at a licensed, registered trade school.
He explains that at The Tattoo Learning Center, the tattoo course curriculum is scrutinized by experts in the field, the teachers have to be qualified to teach, and refund calculations are mandatory, all enforced and monitored by the NYS Education Dept. The strict regulations that govern all trade schools in New York are in place for the benefit of students as well as owners.
Time frames can vary, some schools offer programs as short as 2 weeks duration to as long a 6 months.
There are various options to meet the growing demand of perspective tattoo students.
To the chagrin of old time tattoo artists, opportunities to become a tattoo artist are expanding to meet the demand. Tradition vs. modern.
With the explosion of current celebrities sporting tattoos, Aunt Mary's "tramp stamp" and popular ink-related TV shows like "L.A. Ink", this trend shows no sign of slowing down.
