CAROLINE VALE

• IG handle - @potato.tats

• How to book an appointment - Follow my instagram for booking announcements.

• Where are you from? - Originally born in Birmingham England but mostly raised in Southwest Florida

• What made you want to be a tattooer? - I always loved to draw and took as many art classes that were available all throughout school. 

• Have you had any jobs outside of tattooing? What were they? - I have a degree in psychology and originally wanted to continue school to become a therapist. After working in a psych hospital for a few years I realised that although I enjoy learning about psychology I did not enjoy working in the field. 

• Can you describe your artistic style or aesthetic? - Fineline black and gray manga panels and nerdcore. 

• Do you work in any other mediums aside from tattooing? Do you think these other mediums help to inform your tattoo style? - I mostly work in charcoal and prisma colors outside of tattooing. My personal artwork and tattoo work are very different from each other. On paper I prefer to draw hyper realism and always was interested in trying to replicate extreme detail. I use this passion and skills from that to apply to my manga work and detail in tattooing, as I try to make my tattoos as true to the manga as possible by capturing as much detail as I can in a piece.

• Are there any recurring themes or subjects that inspire your artwork? - Anime, video games, nerdcore and queer culture

• Do you have any notable clients or experiences that have stood out or shaped your career in any way? - I always enjoy working with people who are combatting struggles with body image and using tattoos as a way to love and accept themselves. This sentiment resonates deeply with me and I have had some very deep and inspiring conversations working with these clients!