I’m Carlos Angarita, and This Is How I Tattoo
If we made a list of the most talented Colombian tattoo artists, Carlos Angarita (a k a Carlox) would definitely make it to the top
He was induced by some friends who wanted to have a tattoo by him. They really liked his drawings, so they didn’t hesitate to let him ink their skins. He’s been tattooing for 12 years now and the hyper-realism of his tattoos make you have to look twice.
- Located in: Los Ángeles
- Style: Realism
- Tattooing career: Since 2004
Describe how you work in one word.
Perfection.
How did you start as a tattoo artist?
At first drawing and graffiti but with the help of my friends I got the incentive to began tattooing.
Which tattoo artists have influenced your work?
Nikko Hurtado, Mike DeVries, Joshua Carlton, Tomasz Tofi Torfinski, Dmitry Samohin.
Tell us a bit about what a typical day is like for Carlos.
I wake up at 10AM, I organize my equipment and go the studio to work on my design. 1pm is my starting time to tattoo and I end up finishing around 8 or 9PM. Soon as I am done I go home to do some oil painting for about an hour and I call it a day.
Has there been some turning point in your life/career?
Actually at this moment I am having a turning point in my career and life as I just moved to Los Angeles California to explore, expand and evolve my art.
What are the apps, software or tools without which you couldn’t live?
Photo Scape, Ipower Tattoo and Photoshop.
What is your workspace like?
Its a great place with a nice environment for an artist like me. Very wide and big open space, over all I can say it fits the needs I can possibly have like a space for painting and photography.
How do you organize your working calendar?
I try not to overbook my calendar, the maximum is 3 months so I can plan out my traveling for tattoo conventions and guest spots.
Do you have any techniques, tricks or secrets that you could share?
My daily techniques are drawing and painting.
Is there anything that makes you stand out above the rest?
I just do my work day by day trying to always deliver the best.
How do you see the world of the tattoo in ten years’ time?
I see it converted in to the maximum expression of art. In the old days the big artists showed their potential in a canvas or other type of material. I believe in the future there will be many expositions in human skin.
Are you reading anything at the moment?
At the moment I am really focused on the new transition in my life that I have not taken the time to relax and read a little.
What do you do to recharge your batteries?
Travel and enjoy time with my kids.
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
To have discipline. I believe this is the most important thing in art or job.
Which artist would you have us do this interview with?
Is there anything you would like to add that might be interesting for our readers?
Just want to thank you for the interview and thank the people who took the time to read this. Also thank the people who follow my work.
Interview number VI of the How I Tattoo interview series.
The How I Tattoo series asks the best tattoo artists to share how they tattoo. Every few days we’ll feature a new tattoo artist and the workspaces, routines, gadgets, apps, tips, and tricks that they use. Have someone you’d like to see featured, or questions you think we should ask? Email us to info@tattoofilter.com.
How I Tattoo interview series is inspired by Lifehacker’s How I Work series.