The days of tattoo art done in dirty studios in dark alleys are gone. Tattoo art has reached a level of mainstream popularity that has thrust it, not only into the limelight, but also into the heart of the American consumer. Now, white-collar people are willing to spend their hard-earned money on tattoos. The high quality of the tattoo art that is being produced has played a large role in this shift. People from all lifestyles appreciate good art and most want to participate in some way. Tattooing provides a medium to do so.
All of these opportunities were born out of the fact that people began to realize that not only was tattooing an art, but that these artists were very skilled. With a multitude of tattooing milieus available for study, tattoo art has continually gotten better. Tattoo artists commonly choose one form, whether it be Japanese, portrait, freelance, or any number of others, and then focus specifically on developing their skill and expertise in that style. This results in happier customers, a more defined customer base for the artist, and better art for the artistic community.