Ink City Tattoo Studio
Philadelphia's home for the next generation of tattoo artists. Learn the craft, earn your chair, showcase your work, and compete for Ink City honors.
From first line to master artist.
Ink City is the path an artist takes through The Station — six stages, one place.
Learn
Eight weeks of hands-on training with working artists.
Onboard
Licensing, consent, safety and studio standards — done right.
Work
Reserve a real workstation at The Station and start building.
Showcase
Claim a booth and put your portfolio in front of the city.
Compete
Go for Bronze, Silver and Gold at the Ink City event.
Grow
Membership, community and a client base that follows you.
Learn the art. Master the craft. Build a career.
An 8-week beginner tattoo course taught inside a working studio — hands-on training, small classes, and personal instruction from your first straight line to a finished portfolio.
Turn your passion into a skill.
Whether you’re completely new to tattooing or looking to sharpen technique you already have, this course gives you a structured, hands-on environment with guidance at every step.
Hands-on training
Don’t just watch — practice. Demonstrations, guided practice, and real tattooing technique from week one.
Develop your artistic skills
Learn to turn your ideas and artwork into tattoo-ready designs while developing your own style.
Build confidence
Proper technique, machine control, line work, shading and application — so you approach the chair without hesitation.
Professional standards
Sanitation, workstation setup, client preparation, aftercare and safe practice. Safety is the foundation, not an afterthought.
Personalised instruction
Direct feedback that names the mistake, shows the fix, and gets you past it faster than practising alone.
Build your foundation
The fundamentals you keep building on long after the eight weeks are over.
This course is for you if…
- You’re ready to learn tattooing from the ground up
- You want hands-on experience, not another video course
- You already tattoo and want to fix your technique
- You’re serious about developing your craft
- You’re ready to invest in yourself and your future
No application, no waiting. Pay the $350 deposit now and one of 10 seats in the class starting September 21, 2026 is yours — seats go to whoever takes them first. The rest is paid in two parts as the course runs.
You’ll pay the deposit on Stripe’s secure checkout — card details never touch our servers — and it counts toward your tuition; the two remaining payments are settled directly with the studio before weeks 1 and 5. The deposit is non-refundable, but it can be moved to a later course with at least 7 days’ notice — full policy below.
Eight weeks, start to finish.
Three days a week — Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday — two to four hours a day. Every week has a goal, a set of drills, and something you have to demonstrate before moving on.
01 Foundations & safety Learn the basics before touching a machine
Topics
- Tattoo history and styles
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Cross-contamination prevention
- PPE and workstation setup
- Machine parts and needle types
- Voltage basics
- Ink, cartridges and supplies
Daily practice
- Assemble and disassemble a machine
- Wrap a machine for hygiene
- Set up a workstation properly
- Sterilisation procedures
Homework
- Memorise needle configurations
- Identify every machine component
02 Line control Develop consistent line work
Drills
- Straight and curved lines
- Circles and squares
- Spirals and flow patterns
- Script and lettering
Technique
- Pull lines in one motion
- Hold a consistent speed
- Three-point and two-hand stretching
- Posture and machine grip
Benchmark
- Paper first, then synthetic skin
- 80% of lines clean, evenly saturated and consistent — no blowouts, gaps or repeated passes
03 Shading fundamentals Learn smooth shading
Topics
- Whip shading
- Pendulum shading
- Circular shading
- Black packing
- Voltage adjustments
Practice
- Gradients
- Geometric shapes
- Smooth fades
Standard
- No patchiness
- Even saturation
04 Tattoo design Create tattoo-ready artwork
Topics
- Composition
- Flow on the body
- Contrast
- Simplification
- Stencil design
Practice
- Roses
- Skulls
- Daggers
- Lettering
- Traditional flash
You finish with
- Five tattoo-ready designs
05 Practice skin tattoos Simulate complete tattoos
Complete
- A small traditional tattoo
- A fine line tattoo
- A blackwork tattoo
- A lettering tattoo
Focus
- Line consistency
- Shading
- Saturation
- Clean workflow
You finish with
- Four finished practice tattoos
06 Advanced techniques Improve realism and texture
Topics
- Needle depth
- Stretching techniques
- Colour packing
- Texture
- Layering
Practice
- Animal fur
- Scales
- Flowers
- Hair
- Smoke
07 Full projects Finish in one sitting, without losing quality
Every piece includes
- Stencil placement
- Linework
- Shading
- Packing
- Final cleanup
You finish with
- Three larger practice tattoos, timed start to finish
08 Portfolio & professional skills Leave with a portfolio and a plan
Topics
- Photographing tattoos
- Building a portfolio
- Client consultation basics
- Consent forms
- Pricing fundamentals
- Aftercare instructions
- Shop etiquette
You finish with
- 8–10 portfolio-quality pieces
- Organised before-and-after progress photos
Final assessment
- Demonstrate safe setup and breakdown
- Complete a clean practice tattoo from stencil to finish
- Explain aftercare and hygiene procedures
- Review strengths and areas to improve
What you leave with.
Teach the fundamentals. Build confidence. Develop artists. That’s the whole mission — and it’s what graduation day is measured against.
On graduation
- Certificate of Completion
- A portfolio review with your instructor
- Career guidance and next steps
- Professional references, when applicable
- Continued mentorship opportunities
By the end you should be able to
- Set up and break down a hygienic workstation
- Produce consistent, clean linework
- Create smooth black-and-grey shading
- Design simple tattoo-ready artwork
- Complete solid practice-skin tattoos with a professional workflow
Where it can take you
What to bring.
You supply your own kit and maintain it — the same way you will in a shop. The full list goes out with enrolment; this is the short version.
Meet your instructors.
Course instruction is led by JDArtist (left) and Tattoo_Sessions (right), working tattoo artists who run every session hands-on — from your first straight line through to a finished portfolio.
Throughout the program they may also be joined by select guest artists and industry professionals, who provide additional insight, demonstrations and specialised instruction.
Questions, answered.
Do I need experience?
No. The course starts at the fundamentals and assumes you have never picked up a machine. Artists already tattooing take it too — usually to fix technique that was never taught properly.
Do I need to know how to draw?
Basic drawing helps, but it is not required. Week 4 is dedicated to design, and you draw daily throughout the course — that is where the improvement comes from.
Will I tattoo real people?
Training progresses from paper to synthetic practice skin. Any work on human skin must comply with applicable laws, safety standards and instructor requirements — and only after you have demonstrated competency.
Do I get a certificate?
Students who meet the attendance, safety and portfolio requirements receive a Certificate of Completion, along with a portfolio review and career guidance.
How much work is there outside class?
Expect to draw at least an hour a day, run your line drills, keep a sketchbook and complete the weekly homework. The people who improve fastest are the ones practising between sessions.
What if I need to cancel?
The $350 deposit reserves your place and is non-refundable. You can transfer it to a future course date by giving us at least seven days’ written notice before the course starts.
Cancelling less than seven days before the course, missing classes, or not showing up means the deposit is forfeited.
If The Station cancels or postpones the course, you choose: a full refund of everything you have paid, or move your payment to the next available date.
How does payment work?
Tuition is $1,350, paid in three parts: a $350 deposit when you enroll — that reserves your seat on the spot, through Stripe — then $500 before week 1 (Sep 21) and $500 before week 5 (Oct 19), both settled directly with the studio. We never see your card details.
What if the class is full?
Seats are capped at 10 so everyone gets real instructor time. They go to whoever pays first; once they’re gone, email us and you go to the front of the line for the next class.
Every great tattoo artist started with a single line.
Classes start September 21, 2026, right after the event. Only 10 seats, first come first served — the $350 deposit holds yours and comes straight off your tuition.
Questions before you enroll?
Ask us anything about the course — the syllabus, the supply list, payment plans, or whether it’s the right fit. Nothing is charged; it just reaches us.
Booths & artist showcase.
Working artists can claim a booth at the Ink City event — tattoo live, show your portfolio, and meet the city.
The Station – Convention Setup
4ft x 7ft portable tattoo station layout
The certificate and booth number hang on the back wall, so in plan view they highlight the wall itself.
Pick a numbered piece to see what it is, how many you get, and where it sits in the booth.
- Width7 ft
- Depth4 ft
- Back wall height6 ft
- FrontOpen access
* Layout for reference only. Equipment placement may be adjusted for specific needs.
Booths are open to licensed artists and to graduates of Ink City Courses. Registering here holds your interest — we confirm your spot and send setup details once the floor plan is locked.
Register a booth
Tell us who you are and what you'd be showing.
The Ink City event.
Three days of live tattooing, artist booths, and the Ink City medal presentation.
Ink City · Sep 18–20
Artists compete for Bronze, Silver and Gold. The public comes through for tattoos, flash, merch and the showcase floor. Three days on the floor, then classes start the morning of the 21st.
General admission
Door entry, full access to the showcase floor and the medal presentation.
Notify meArtist booth
Your own booth on the floor for the full day. Register above to claim one.
Register a boothInk City medals.
Three levels of recognition for artists in the Ink City circle — awarded at the event.
Gold
The top honor at Ink City. Criteria TBA
Silver
For established working artists. Criteria TBA
Bronze
For artists coming up through the program. Criteria TBA
Event highlights.
Shots from the most recent showcase at The Station.
Back the city's artists.
Ink City runs on the shops, suppliers and brands that support emerging talent in Philadelphia.
Become a partner
Sponsorship packages, vendor tables and brand partnerships — tell us what you have in mind.