CHARLIE

Patty Kelley and I opened Avalon Tattoo in San Diego in 1989. At that time, custom tattooing was the exception, not the norm. We decided to make the shop’s focus custom tattooing. The shop really took off, and now, in 2022, we’re still going strong! ⸺ Who/where do you get your inspiration from? Ed Hardy, Bob Roberts, and Jack Rudy were my main influences and inspiration when I began tattooing. Good art and good tattooing continue to inspire me ⸺ What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo? (A tattoo virgin) Make sure to do your homework and get tattooed by someone who does the style you’re looking for ⸺ What did your family and friends think about you getting into the tattoo business? My Dad said, “Isn’t there something else you’d rather do?” I said no, and that was the end of our discussion! Lol ⸺ What would you say is your favorite part of the job? After all these years, meeting new people and making their dreams a reality is what I enjoy most. The social nature of tattooing and the interaction with clients is the fun part ⸺ What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing? The outsider element was one of the main things I liked about it. Even though it’s way more mainstream now, it is still weird to some people ⸺ Who are your favorite artists? There are so many I love I don’t know where to start ⸺ Are there any tattoos you would refuse to do? (face, private areas, etc.) I don’t get asked to do things I don’t want to do, so it all works out ⸺ What do you think is in store for the future of tattooing? It’s hard to say where it will go next. The artistic level of art is so high now, and I expect it to just get higher and higher ⸺ Have you ever had a bad tattooing experience, and what was it? Not on the receiving end. I’ve had only a few nightmare clients through all the years, but I’d rather not go into it. Generally speaking, it’s been great! ✕

Brazilian artist based in San Diego, CA; specialized in fine line, black and grey, and small minimalist colored projects.

My background is in street art; I grew up doing graffiti in São Paulo, Brazil, and always loved to collect tattoos; after living in the US for a few years, covid hit. During the lockdown, I needed to find more purpose in my life; that’s when I dove into studying tattooing under the influence of my brother-in-law, who is an artist and found out about all my drawings and paintings at home. I’ve found a passion for living for and supporting my family; I feel very blessed and look forward to the years to come to improve my work and elevate my knowledge and skills to provide all my clients with their dream tattoos, from the smallest script tattoos to the biggest projects.

Who/where do you get your inspiration from?

Conversations with my clients and from trying to understand their reasons, feelings, and meanings behind each project. I try using my sensibility to absorb as much as I can from those interactions. After that, I like to feed my brain with all types of art, photography, sculpture, digital art, street art, and everything that puts me in the zone to start creating.

What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo? (A tattoo virgin) Go for it! Have fun! But keep in mind to do your research first; find an artist with solid work but also someone nice whose vibe resonates with yours! Start small and choose a placement on your body that is more beginner friendly. You might think you are tough, but you don’t know yet, be humble. Don’t go cheap; nothing good comes from cheap tattoos!

What would you say is your favorite part of the job? Being able to work with art is a blessing and a privilege!

I love studying and improving my work; I love that I can do that while meeting a lot of cool people from all over the world.

What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing?

I got my first tattoo when I was 14 years old, with my mother’s consent. The concept of a permanent drawing on someone’s body got into my imagination very early, and as an artist, it was just natural that I would take this route eventually. ✕