CHARLIE KARNAGE

I’m Charlie Karnage; I’m an award-winning black and grey dark surrealism artist.

Who or where do you get your inspiration from? When I first started out, my main inspiration was always Paul booth; my dad was covered in his flash.

What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo? (A tattoo virgin) Drink plenty of water! Being hydrated makes such a huge difference.

What did your family and friends think about you getting into the tattoo business? I’m really not sure, it was pretty mixed, but my dad definitely believed in me even when I was basically scribbling on people,

13 Years Tattooing Independent Artist N.E., OH Location

B&G Dark illustrative, B&G realism Specialization charliekarnage @gmail.com @charliekarnage Instagram

What would you say is your favorite part of the job? I love doing big cool tattoos at conventions with my favorite artists.

Are there any tattoos you would refuse to do? (face, private areas, etc.) There are no specific places on the body, but I don’t do color.

What do you think is in store for the future of tattooing? Hopefully, better tattoos that are done cleaner.

Have you ever had a bad tattooing experience, and what was it? Tons of them! It’s part of the job; one time,

I got kicked in the face while tattooing a foot.

What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing? I practically grew up in tattoo shops; my dad sold pot to all the local Artists.

Was it hard getting an apprenticeship?

How was yours? It was super easy for me, I started in a street shop, and they didn’t really care about quality. My actual apprenticeship was pretty harsh; nobody does it how we used to.

What is the most important advice you can give someone new to the art of tattooing? Do it better and try harder; there’s no reason anybody else can do it better than you.

Do you prefer coil machines or rotary machines? Rotary machines all day; they’re cleaner and better in every way.

Who taught you how to tattoo? Coreh Lopez.

What has been the biggest accomplishment in your career? Well, I’m an award-winning magazine feature artist, but one time Paul Booth said my tattoo was cool, so definitely that. ✕

I’m originally from Birmingham, England, and I worked there and guested around the UK and Europe for almost ten years before relocating to New York City. I’m now a resident artist at Grit N Glory in Manhattan.

Who or where do you get your inspiration from? Attending conventions, traveling, and being around other tattooers helps a lot. I would say my personal inspiration will always be nature and the folklore that surrounds wild places. I also have an affinity for creepy Halloween pop culture.

What did your family and friends think about you getting into the tattoo business?

They were generally very supportive because I was always a creative oddball, and it seemed like an outlet for that; I think they’re just glad I found my place in the world!

What would you say is your favorite part of the job? I think when people get something and say, ‘I can’t stop looking at it,’ or when I make a pet portrait, and they’re just smiling at it constantly and remarking how it looks better/ more like them than they imagined, I just think it’s really rewarding to give people something that they’re excited about and excited to show off.

Was it hard getting an apprenticeship? How was yours? It wasn’t that hard to get my apprenticeship because I could draw, and it wasn’t even close to as competitive as it is now. It was a difficult experience looking back because I definitely experienced misogyny, but I mostly blocked it out because

I wanted to tattoo. So, as a result, there’s a lot I don’t remember, and it’s probably for the best!

Are there any tattoos you would refuse to do? (face, private areas, etc.) I don’t think there are tattoos I would refuse to do other than hate symbols. There’s no area of the body I would outright refuse to tattoo because I love tattooing, and I think it’s all part of the experience.

What is the most important advice you can give someone new to the art of tattooing? If I had to narrow it down for a younger generation of tattooers, I would say I think it’s important that you respect those who have more experience than you, even if you have more of a following, because I can guarantee you can learn more valuable things about the industry from them. Also, probably the most important is that you care about your customer’s body more than you care about your social media content! ✕