Tattoo Course

  • I have shared clients with world known artists such as: Nikko Hurtado, Jun Cha, Mike Devries, Gwen Douglas, Alex Strangler (to the point I’ve FIXED some of their work… only 2 of them). Not many, IF ANY local artists can claim that.

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

  • 26 Years Owner/Operator as an independent tattoo artist.

  • 8 Years Owner/Operator of Evermore Tattoo, Los Angeles, CA

  • 3 years Owner/Operator of Swampland Tattoo, Broussard, LA (Pre-Covid)

  • 2 Years Owner/Operator of Southland Tattoo, Lafayette, LA (Post-Covid)

  • Current studio is Art of Cort Tattoo (Private, Sole Artist)

About apprenticeships

(Skip to the instructions/submission form, but it is recommended you read the history of apprenticeships.)

Current day apprenticeships are an abomination. In the past, I have sworn off doing them for a long time and here’s why: 

  • In the early 90s: Mentors were using apprentices for free labor, with dubious training schedules and methods, causing a cascade of resentful “tattoo artists” who barely knew what they were doing.
  • 2000s: Some of the more talented people that made it out of that mess were able to scrape together enough knowledge to start “correctly” training apprentices under more structured methods. 
  • Unfortunately for these people (myself included), this was the beginning of the age of social media and tougher economies, causing desperation, ambition, and ego to take over with everyone wanting instant “Instagram fame”.
  • This has caused people to leave their apprenticeships prematurely, to the point even people at apprentice level have been opening shops. 
  • With each year there are more shops than one can count, with no shortage of mediocrity.

Where I am currently on apprenticeships

At this point in my career, I have more knowledge than the average artist present day, to a degree that would probably shock most artists, especially locally.

I do want to pass on this knowledge.

But present day the only way I can assure purity is to have a student that has “skin in the game” to insure they will complete their course to its fullest. Hence, these are my requirements:

  • It takes time out of my profession and income to teach someone (who in the end I am training to be my competition), with otherwise no guarantee of the student desiring to properly finish their training, potentially putting another mediocre artist out in the world yet again, so yes there is a cost.
  • I give a year of structured teaching, with devoted days to your learning, and an additional 5 months of questions/help for $20,000 tuition, paid up front. This is no different than any other type of cosmetology/barber course, or other type of profession.
  • Small loans like that can easily be obtained with good credit at banks such as: Community First, Chase, Home Bank, etc.
  • I only take one student at a time.
  • You must already be an accomplished artist, to the point you are as close to, if not as professional as possible. I am not talking about “Disney characters”. If you know, you know. If not, do not seek a course at this time.
  • There will be a mutual contract overseen by a notary for your assurance.
  • There will be a daily sign in and out log to prove you were there and I taught you.
  • I cannot control if you don’t show or commit, the time doesn’t carry over, it’s from calendar date to calendar date.
  • I cannot control if you don’t take to what I teach, but I can promise I will teach properly.
  • Yes you will have to do station set ups, clean ups, and runs because that is all part of it, even I have to do that for myself to this day. You have to at least know the basics such as those things.
  • You will be required to take a bloodborne pathogens and CPR course prior to your start date. They are inexpensive and every tattoo artist has to take them yearly and bi-yearly.

Enrollment to start after January 1, 2025

This is the form for class submission. You can go through the questions, test yourself but only complete and submit after getting a pending approval from the bank of your choice for the $20,000 tuition, or already having it on hand.

I treat this as a structured class that will take place in my new private studio being built, hence the class not taking place until January, 2025.

I will take all submissions first, will reply asap if you are in the running or not, and will confirm to everyone on December 1, 2024.

Only one person will be chosen.

At any point you cannot check any box, or truthfully answer each question positively, then hold off on seeking your course at this time until you feel you’re able to.