Meet Carrie Cameron

Please Introduce yourself, and give us your professional title?

Carrie Cameron, Tattooer/ professional artist/ painter

Are you originally from Nashville, or a transplant?

Originally from Los Angeles, CA, wel... Southern California. I moved around a bit as a kid. moved from CA to Las Vegas in 2013, Vegas to Nashville in 2918. Still in TN currently, but I moved about 45 mins north west out of the city.

When did doing art show up in your life? What age? And in what way?

I remember always feeling inspired. I remember being very young, like some of my first toys as a kid were crayola crayons. I think it's safe to say art has been a part of my whole life. Maybe the feeling of inspiration had me feeling the need to express myself. Drawing and coloring was the first form of creative expression that I found. Making things that impressed people made me feel valued as a kid.

When did tattoos and tattooing show up in your life? 

I would say about 14 or 15 years of age. I always thought they were interesting and cool, but being introduced to them with my older brother when he started getting tattooed. I never stopped thinking about them. 

What was your first tattoo, and what was that experience like? 

My first tattoo was the first tattoo I ever made. It is on my left thigh. A rose and anchor. I loved the design of a Lucky 13 sticker I had when I was a teenager, so I made a similar version and tattooed it on myself to test my feeling about wanting to be a tattooer.

When did you start tattooing?

I made that first tattoo on myself in 2008. I got my apprenticeship in Aug of 2010, started making money as a tattooer Dec 15th 2010. 

What did it look like getting started? Getting someone to take you on as an apprentice? Doing your first tattoo? 

Getting an apprenticeship was not as easy as it is now. The first time the idea was presented to me, I lived in a very small desert town called Rosamond, located right outside LA county in CA. There was a shop called American Made Tattoo. It was owned by a guy named Jojo Ackerman. I had some friends that were getting tattooed by him while he was tattooing in Palmdale, CA at Psycho City tattoo. Jojo was 'the guy" to get tattooed by if you lived in the desert. He eventually opened American Made in Rosamond and it was right up the road from where I lived. I found myself in there one day asking questions about where to get started. He explained what an apprenticeship is and to make a portfolio, how to make one, things to start with. How to find the "right" mentor. So I had an idea in my mind and saw that it was a thing I could do. I was 17 when I met him. The next year after, I ended up having tons of life change, moved about an hour away to my original hometown Valencia, CA. I knew I wanted to be a tattooer but I also knew I had a ton of work to do to be in the right mindset and space to take the lifestyle on. I would go with my cousin while he would get tattooed at a place called Eternal Art located in Canyon County, CA. It was owned by a guy named Adam. There was an unsavory let down that left me a little discouraged about seeking an apprenticeship. Eventually a friend of a friend was a tattoo artist across town and I was asked to bring my artwork in so he could check it out. I was hired on the spot after quite a few turn downs. This was my golden ticket and I wholeheartedly decided that this is what I would do for the rest of my life. My first tattoo at that shop was on that same cousin, Brian, one of my biggest supporters. I wasn't allowed to tattoo as an apprentice, but I had him come in after hours and I tattooed in the back of the shop where there were no cameras for the managers and owners to see. I did this a few times. Then when I started on that shitty fake skin, I was pretty comfortable.

In what ways have you felt yourself progress since that beginning?

Many ways, not as scared to make errors, paying attention to things to double check, the want to make the best version of the design I’m working on. Making sure the client is comfortable and that we are on the same page. Putting out an overall quality experience. 

How would you describe your style of tattooing?

I would say I am here to serve the people rather than please the egos of other artists. On the west coast I was the tattooers tattooer, now I focus on making sure I make my clients happy so I stay diverse. I feel like it keep me skills sharp and makes it super easy to adapt in any work environment which I think is important. 

Any particular artists, in or out of tattooing, that inspire you?

DJ Tambe, Bubba Irwin, Nico Roussin, my mentor Jeremy Smith. All for complete different reasons that are and aren’t relatable to art. As far as painting goes, Ian White hands down.

And my coworkers of course 

Do you have any other art forms you like to partake in outside of tattooing?

Airbrush, spray paint, drawing, acrylic painting, COOKING, I would exercise any art form depending on the style of it.

Any hobbies to clear the mind? Something that lets you step away from tattooing even just mentally a bit?

Being active, being outdoors, journaling, being present with my dogs, mostly being in the gym with my closest people 

You were on Ink Master Angels. Can you tell us a little about that experience?

Yes I was lol. One of the talent finders reached out. I got an email explaining they were in search of talent for a new reality competition television show. They found my social media and thought I would be a good fit for the show. I asked some questions and they could only explain so much without disclosing the name of the show before the interview process was complete. Understandably so, I know a lot of artists have pursued being on the tattoo competition  shows, but more often than not, I think most solid tattooers say “absolutely not” lol.I kept it to myself and followed through with the interview process. One of my friends/ old coworkers was out filming for ink master when my interview process was happening. When he came home before airing, I made the announcement to the shop. I think most of the people in the shop were wondering how and when did this happen, since I kept the whole process quiet until being hired was finalized. Also being a younger tattooer, less established than the guys I was working with was also something that was a surprise to people.The filming and all that was super neat. I was honestly more interested in the production and all that than I was competing or winning. I don’t believe the tattoo shows are a good representation of tattoo culture or the industry as a whole, but I do think they are great for people that want wide exposure. They exercise a lot of skills aside from tattooing as well. I wouldn’t want to be recognized as “that person on that show” in general just because that type of work style made it very clear to me what I want out of my career and my belief with how I want to be perceived long term. I am sure anyone who knows me has seen that I am far from flaunting any type of public recognition. It’s awesome that it’s a thing and depending on how it’s used, it can work wonders for people’s careers. I have also seen it go the other way, where it can really break people and effect their personal lives and mental health being put in the public eye. I absolutely still benefit from it even without promoting it and I learned a ton of valuable lessons so it was only positive for me.