The only advantage to a schooling in the arts is that it gives you the opportunity to try things you couldn't otherwise afford and to learn (about) techniques you otherwise might ignore (or never know about). A formal education in art is basically "guided self-teaching"
And my comment about the tribal was not for tribal designs, but to think of how you might render a troublesome design in a tribal motif. With the size you are dealing with, realism isn't as important as conveying the idea--and at that size if you can convey the idea people will be amazed at how "real" it looks, no matter how "abstract" it might be at a larger size. Of course most of my work has been line work anyway, and my "most recent" (still a decade ago) was tribal tattoo flash. It's easy to say "just do this" when you've already put in the years of practice so I apologize I am merely belabouring the obvious...
