Senior Project, tattoo is the subject, need some hands on information from an experienced artist.

I'm doing tattooing as my senior project at my highschool. Right now, I'm working on the Senior paper on the subject. I'm trying to get as much information I can for this career from an experienced artist. Just throw anything at me that I can use in my essay. I want to be a tattoo artist in the near future so it'd be really awesome if any of you guys can help me on the way there. Thank you!

And I want to get some things from the artist's point of view/ side.

There is a sticky thread about landing apprenticeships. The short of it is, pursue a career in work for hire art, maybe going to art school, and get tattooed by amazing artists. In a few years, you will get an opportunity to apprentice.

the sticky thread is at the top, sorry!