Darren McGregor

While the history of the modern machine appears just as obscure
as that of the history of the ancient process of tattoo, it
is obvious that there were many individuals working toward the
same concept. Even today

It has been cited that early settlers and travelers have noted in
their journals and logs about different indigenous people around
the world as having been adorned with exquisite markings and
designs all over

I will attest that I didn’t do a proper tattoo until I apprenticed. I
struggled to get ink to stay in, I hurt people, I damaged skin, and
I used unsafe and stupid techniques. Tattoo is something that
you just

In addition to the goals, there are a few milestones that will help
you track your progress on the long road that is before you.
These milestones are things that you really should be doing
while reading this text.

How you act, work, and interact in a tattoo studio atmosphere
is very important. This aspect is often overlooked and underestimated
by many in the tattoo world. A good work ethic is the
foundation, but after

Tattoo aftercare is our eighth goal in the succession of this text.
If not done properly, the tattoo’s design and color may greatly
diminish. Never underestimate the power of the skin’s healing
process and the

You will learn the basics of the tattoo process. From outline to
shading and coloring, these concepts can be daunting and complex.
There are thousands of techniques used but, in this text I
present the most basic

Stencil application is a short and fairly simple goal, but this can
be a very tricky subject if you are not taught the correct way to
develop line works and transpose those concepts into a stencil.
Even more

Inks, or pigment, are very complex. There are people and companies
that have dedicated themselves to the art and science
of developing effective color that can be safely applied to the human
body. You will learn

The fourth goal that I have set forth for you to obtain after
completion of this text is to understand the concept of needle
usage in tattoo. Different needles do different things, and are
constructed in different

Understanding the energy force behind your machine is the third
goal of this text. You will need to learn how much voltage and
amperage will affect your machines and in what aspect. What
can be obtained simply by

The first thing you have to learn is the sanitation and its relation
to the practice of tattooing. Common sterilization and sanitation
practices can be directly copied and applied from medical and
dental

So what are you going to get out of this material? I have laid out
a few brief goals and milestones that you can hope to obtain or
strive to reach as a new tattoo artist. It may seem overwhelming
at first and you

Skin can be a very unforgiving medium to work in. Skin can
also be really rewarding. Being a tattoo artist is one of the most
amazing jobs in the world. It is not very often that people who
work with art get to

If you do not have an ounce of artistic talent, meaning you
can’t even trace a line on paper, you may want to reconsider
your venture. Humans are not a flat canvas, and tend to move
around just a little from time

The purpose of this text is to familiarize you with the basic concepts
that are a required foundation to begin a tattoo apprenticeship.
Who is this book for? This book is for those who have artistic
ability. You

Secondly, another example; which deserves explanation, of an
interchangeable term is “tattoo machine”. You may be asking
right now, “What is a tattoo machine”? The tattoo machine is
what you probably have referred

I would also like to note that the best artists in the world will
always say that they cannot really teach you to tattoo, it is too
much an art. However, I notice the worst artists in the world will
guard their

In the year 2000 I began my search for adequate materials that
would provide not only comprehendible instruction, but also a
dependable methodology that would work as a beginners guide
to the art of tattoo. I have

The author of this publication has taken as much effort as possible to provide correct factual
information. Nothing in this text is considered official regulation or advice as far as state related
tattoo or body