Nick Young Featured by VoyageKC: Building Learn to Ink, Cover-Up Tattoos & Professional Tattoo Education
- Nick Young
- 3d
- 3 min read
Being recognized by your local community means a lot—especially when you’ve spent years focused on doing the work instead of chasing attention.
I was recently featured by VoyageKC Magazine, where I had the opportunity to share the story behind my career, my approach to tattooing, and why I founded Learn to Ink, a structured tattoo and body piercing apprenticeship program based in Kansas City.
The conversation wasn’t just about tattoos.
It was about building something that didn’t already exist.
More Than a Tattoo Artist
I’ve been tattooing professionally for more than 15 years, with much of my career focused on cover-up tattoos and tattoo rework.
Those projects require more than artistic ability. They demand planning, honesty, technical execution, and a realistic understanding of what’s possible. Every existing tattoo creates a different set of challenges, and every successful cover-up starts with solving those challenges—not ignoring them.
That problem-solving mindset has shaped everything I’ve built.
Why I Created Learn to Ink
For years, I watched talented people struggle through apprenticeship programs that lacked structure, consistency, and transparency.
Instead of accepting that as “just the way the industry works,” I decided to build something different.
Learn to Ink was created to provide aspiring tattoo artists with a professional pathway into the industry through documented education, supervised procedures, safety standards, accountability, and compliance with Missouri licensing requirements.
The goal has never been to simply teach someone how to tattoo.
The goal is to help people build sustainable careers while raising the professional standard of tattoo education.
Building a Business Instead of Just a Career
One of the biggest themes of the VoyageKC interview is the transition from being an artist to becoming a business owner.
Creating tattoos is one skill.
Building curriculum, managing compliance, maintaining a licensed facility, mentoring apprentices, improving systems, marketing responsibly, and continually investing back into the business is an entirely different challenge.
Those experiences have shaped both Learn to Ink and the way I approach every decision today.
Why Cover-Up Tattoos Became My Specialty
Some artists prefer working on untouched skin.
I’ve always been drawn to the projects many artists turn away.
Old tattoos.
Poorly executed tattoos.
Unfinished work.
Outdated designs.
Pieces that no longer represent the person wearing them.
A successful cover-up isn’t about hiding mistakes.
It’s about giving someone the opportunity to move forward with artwork they’re proud to wear.
Those transformations remain some of the most rewarding projects I get to be part of.
What We Talk About in the Interview
The VoyageKC feature covers topics including:
My journey from tattoo artist to educator and business owner
Why Learn to Ink was created
The realities of building a state-compliant tattoo apprenticeship program
What makes cover-up tattoos different from standard tattoo work
The importance of professionalism in the tattoo industry
How I approach calculated risk and long-term business growth
Lessons learned from building a career over the last fifteen years
Read the Full VoyageKC Feature
I’m grateful to VoyageKC for taking the time to tell my story and highlight the work we’re doing here in Kansas City.
If you’ve ever wondered what goes into building a professional tattoo career, why I specialize in cover-up work, or how Learn to Ink came to life,
I’d encourage you to read the full interview.
After you’ve read it, if you’re interested in booking a cover-up tattoo or learning more about becoming a licensed tattoo artist through Learn to Ink, I’d love to connect with you.
Thank You,
Nick Young
Comments