About Chris
Hi, I’m Chris.
I’m a tattoo artist with nearly 20 years of experience. I keep things calm and straightforward: good design, clean execution, and work that holds up over time. I’m happy to tattoo anything from a small banger to a full sleeve.
Sometimes a tattoo tells a deep story. Sometimes the story is simply, “I want a cool tattoo.” Either way, I’m here to help you create something you’ll be proud to wear for life.
More about me and how I work
I’m a tattoo artist based in Columbia, MD and I’ve spent my life chasing one thing: becoming a better artist. I started tattooing professionally in 2006, after years of drawing and making things in other mediums. My studio is quiet and private, filled with my own work and experiments over the years—just me, my art, and my family around.
I don’t limit myself to one style or size, though large, complex pieces are where I do my best work. That’s where I can really lean into detail, texture, and shading, and I enjoy drawing them directly on the body. I’m especially drawn to realistic tattoos, dark art, and horror, but I also love traditional work. Over the years, I’ve studied the history and traditions of tattooing—the old-school shops, the pioneers who defined the craft, and the artists who kept that lineage alive—and that knowledge informs how I think about design, placement, and what will hold up on skin over time.
I usually start with a consultation and prefer to meet in person when possible. When people come in with a vague idea, we look through references together and figure out what they like—and, just as importantly, what they don’t. For larger pieces, I often draw directly on the body and adjust as we go; that freehand process is where a lot of my favorite work happens.
I’ve had the same people come back over the years, and I’ve tattooed three generations in some families. Everyone is equal under the needle—I’m just a regular dude who draws pictures on people. When I’m not tattooing, I’m usually making something or learning something new, and all of that feeds back into how I think about art and tattooing.
Approach & Influences
My work sits at the intersection of illustration, realism, dark art, with traditional foundations. Previous work in graphics and commercial art shaped how I think about flow, layout, structure, contrast, and what will actually hold up on skin over time.
I’m especially drawn to realistic tattoos with a darker edge, but I also love the clarity and discipline of traditional work. Whether I’m designing a large, detailed piece or a smaller, delicate piece, I’m thinking about composition, longevity, and how it will look as part of your body—not just how it looks in a photo.
When possible, I build longer-term relationships with clients, working on multiple pieces over the years. I’ve tattooed three generations in some families, and I approach every project with the same respect and care. I’m not a rock star; I’m just a regular dude who draws pictures on people, informed by a deep love of the art and its history.
If you like my work and we seem like a good fit, I’d love to hear about your idea.