We asked the tattoo artists of Best Ink to tell us about their experience with body art. Here’s what Charlie had to say.<br />
<br />
Q: What initially attracted you to tattoo art?<br />
A: The initial attraction was how seemingly superficial yet permanent the art form is. I worked in a cadaver lab in college and the human body is such a fascinating thing and decorating it seemed a natural pathway for me.
Q: What is the difference between a "tattooist" and an "artist"?<br />
A: A tattooist is someone who understands how to administer ink to skin. An artist is someone that thinks in 3D.
Q: Is being a "tattooist" a job or a lifestyle?<br>A: Neither. My life is comprised of being a good wife, sister, daughter and friend. My friends and family would describe me as an artist before tattooist.
Q: What is your ideal tattoo shop like? <br />
A: Comfortable, calm, and clean with no loud music. A place you could bring your grandma or child.
Q: Who does your own tattoos? <br>
A: Friends all over the country have tattooed me over the years.
Q: What was your first tattoo and why did you get it? <br />
A: I tattooed myself at 15 sitting on my parents’ bed watching National Geographic.
Q: Do you think every tattoo has to have "meaning?" <br />
A: Not necessarily a meaning, but a story. The story is where you were, who did it, or the place you are on your journey that you've decided to immortalize in ink.
Q: If you could do tattoo work for one celebrity who would it be? Why?<br />
A: Oprah. She got stories and a history. I'd be curious to find out what she'd get tattooed and why... Basically I'd like to interview her.
Q: What celebrity tattoo do you think is the best? <br />
A: Ben Harper and Dave Grohl have some cool ink.
Q: What makes a tattoo "great?" <br />
A: The story behind it. The tattoo could be as simple as your Mother's signature, if she is no longer with you and that is something that she gave you in your last birthday card, that is a great tattoo. <br />
<br />
Check out Charlie's competition <a href="http://best-ink.oxygen.com/bink/photos/meet-the-cast" target="_blank">here</a>.
