List of self taught tattoo artist:
(and this is a small list)
Tim Hendricks
Boog
Paul Booth
Jun Cha
Call those guys and let them know because they haven't learned the craft the way YOU want, that they suck and do everything wrong.
The part that pushes my buttons here is the greed. Joe I am a huge fan of your artwork. But even you were on a TV show called MIAMI INK (a fake studio and the main reason tattooing became so main stream) So why now be the hardcore tattooer? Your popularity and fine work speaks for itself. Why the fuck would you assume every tattooer in the world should and need to follow a set pattern to become something.
So here is the deal, I'm already a tattoo artist, I go and make DVDs, sell prints and even star on a TV show that put tattooing in the state it is today. But hey! you little kid, you cant follow in my shoes because you cant get the correct apprenticeship, because you live in a shithole city,town, or a place that has all scratcher shops that don't know shit anyways. So forget your dreams, get a job at the 7-11 and just stay away from my business....if you cant do it the way we do it here in america (because lord knows the only way to learn is from an apprenticeship).
Next I want to make sure you know I disagree with the tattoo school also. I do not support it because of the perception that tattooing can be taught and learned in 2 weeks. That is probably the thing that I disagree with, the dumb-ing down of a talent,skillfull and time honored job such as tattooing.
I cant believe that ALL THESE FREETHINKING ARTIST, want MORE REGULATION, on there FREETHINKING INDUSTRY, not smart people not smart.