Meet Carly Collins | Tattoo Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carly Collins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carly, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from a beach town called Stuart. It is the home of some of the most beautiful beaches and wildlife I’ve ever seen. I was raised to care about the environment and taught early on about the ways our water, beaches, and wildlife were sacrificed for wealth and power. Everywhere across the country there is a piece of land or a body of water that needs protecting. I want to be a voice for nature in every way I can, even if it is not through words.

Being raised by the water has influenced the art that I make today. I often lean toward drawing sea life and abstract expressions that mimic vines, water, and florals. Whenever I’m in a creative rut, I go outside and take in every little thing I see. Enjoying the outdoors gives me the feeling of being little again, where everything is enchanting and new. I think it’s because nature will always be a force so much bigger than us. I am very grateful to have been raised in a beautiful place with beautiful people. Stuart is forever in my heart and therefore my art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art comes from a place deep in my heart that is still a child. I wouldn’t necessary call it nostalgia. It isn’t a longing to be young or a sadness for the past. It’s an embrace of who I was before I knew judgement and who I am now. I think there is a lot to learn from out younger selves. I take from that and put it into what I create now. The things and the colors and concepts that brought me joy as a kid. Mermaids and fish and carousels. The illustrations seen in old children’s’ books that are worn from being read so much. I remember being so enamored by the drawings in Fancy Nancy, every line and squiggle perfectly creating a colorful scene. It doesn’t all come from a warm and fuzzy place though, at times I felt art was all I had. Being able to create got me through periods of depression and anxiety throughout my entire life.

I did not expect myself getting into the art of tattooing. It wasn’t until I started getting tattoos of my own that I started to fall in love with it. My first few tattoos were my own drawings that I loved. But then people started asking me to design tattoos for them, which blew me away. Designing tattoos has been one of the most exciting skills to learn. Once I began to feel confident in my work and that people actually wanted it on their skin forever I decided it was time to learn to tattoo. Finding an apprenticeship, a mentor, or some way to learn is not easy. It felt as if there was some kind of secret passcode I needed in order to get into one of these shops. And on top of that, there were countless reports of artists being predators, exploitative, or god knows what else. My options were limited in the tattoo community of Tallahassee, FL. I decided to teach myself, with the help of some artists who were willing to help me in any way they could. When I started out my goal was to be a machine artist but that quickly changed when I started practicing the handpoke method.

People often ask me why I decided to stick with machine free tattooing. It would be a lot faster if I just used a machine. But time is something that is really important to my art. I think we take slowness for granted. Everything comes to us so quickly with technology, social media, transportation. Information, items, and now art can be given to us in seconds. I don’t want to rush creation, it is a sacred thing. Now more than ever art is being torn apart and stolen for quick profit by AI. I have opted for the slow, meticulous option. Art has helped me and I want to help others through it. I don’t believe in hiding your pain or holding back. Getting a tattoo is vulnerable and special and it is something that will stick with you forever. I am honored to those who have trusted me with their skin.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give a huge shoutout to Norah Pericchi, owner of Her Tattoo Company. She is an incredible artist, business owner, and friend. Without her I would not have been able to be where I am today. She gave me a space to grow as an artist and she trusted me to work in her shop. The tattoo community can be tough to get into, especially as a young woman who doesn’t want to create traditional style tattoos. But you don’t need to fit into their box to be successful or to have your own shop. Norah started Her Tattoo Company on her own and continues to run it by herself. She is kind, generous, and so very talented. I can’t wait to see how much she grows and the many incredible things she does. I cannot be gracious enough to her. I hope to lend the same kindness to those looking to enter the tattoo scene in the future.

Go check out her lovely work @hertattoocompany on Instagram. 🙂

Website: https://committed2creating.com

Instagram: committed2creating

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-collins-993393312