Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina North.
Hi Karina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, surrounded by a blend of chaos and creativity. My mom, a bartender and badass single parent, raised me with love and grit while my dad, a talented artist who spent much of my life incarcerated, gave me my first glimpse into the world of tattooing. I grew up independent — a cheerleader by day and a rebellious spirit by night, escaping into art, writing, and the streets of the city. Graffiti Alley was one of my sanctuaries, and now, full circle, my art studio lives right there on North Ave. Despite the chaos, I stayed grounded in art, kept dreaming, and made it through — even graduating when the odds felt stacked against me.
I started tattooing before I even knew it would become my path — using Amazon machines at kitchen tables and dreaming of something bigger. Even then, I knew I wanted to learn the craft the right way. I held out for a real apprenticeship because I believed in earning it and honoring the roots of the art form. Around 16, I started daydreaming about one day owning a traveling tattoo RV — the idea of hitting the road, making art, and meeting people from all walks of life just felt like freedom. My official journey began with a scrappy apprenticeship, a lot of trial and error, and a stubborn refusal to follow the “safe” route. Eventually, I found myself at Chapterhouse Tattoo, where I fell in love with bold traditional work, tribal and ornamental influences, and a deeper connection to the spiritual roots of tattooing. My style now reflects all the layers of my journey — from jailhouse inspiration to sacred body rituals, pulling from architecture, fences, and folklore to create intentional, magical tattoos.
At the heart of my work is a devotion to community, vulnerability, and freedom. I see tattooing as a sacred act — a modern ritual of self-expression, transformation, and reclamation. I’m currently converting my RV, Sylvester, into a traveling tattoo mobile to take this spirit on the road. I want to create space for others to show up exactly as they are — whether in my studio or from the side of a mountain. My mission is to inspire love, gratitude, and connection — and to carry on the legacy of the bold circus women, the rebels, the healers, and the artists who paved the way before me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For the most part, my career path looks smooth on the outside — I had a good apprenticeship and worked in reputable shops. But the biggest obstacles I faced came after becoming an artist. For the first two years of my career, I struggled deeply with imposter syndrome. I constantly questioned whether I was “good enough” to make it, and that fear kept me from stepping fully into my potential.
Tattooing is a high-pressure craft — you’re trusted to make permanent marks on someone’s body, and there’s no room for error. The weight of that responsibility, plus the fear of how I was being perceived, sometimes made me want to quit. I had to learn how to take up space, trust my skills, and stop letting fear run the show. Once I stopped letting those thoughts define me, everything started to shift. It’s all in your head — and realizing that helped me move through it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a tattoo artist, and creative based in Baltimore. But more than that – I am a builder of worlds, rituals and rebellion. What sets me apart is the energy I bring into the space.
My work is rooted in intention – I specialize in bold, impactful designs that blend American Traditional, tribal, ornamental, and raw jailhouse inspired designs. My work pulls from the root of tattooing – when it was about transformation, protection, and power – not just aesthetics.
I’m inspired by things that aren’t always considered “beautiful” in the traditional sense. Fences, scars, graffiti, folklore, and the grit of the city.
I’m not interested in doing the same cookie-cutter tattoos everyday. I want the process to mean something. Every tattoo I create is a collaboration – a ceremony. A moment of transformation where someone can reclaim power, express truth, or mark a chapter of their life. I’m not just here to put ink on skin: I’m here to hold space.
Tattooing is about freedom and reclamation. Its personal, sacred, and powerful and I happily devote my life to this,
What I am most proud of now is my RV project – I am converting my Toyota Seabreeze into a traveling tattoo studio. I’ve had this vision since I was 16: taking tattooing on thread, showing up in unexpected places, and building community out of chaos. This isnt just about mobility – it’s about creating a space wherever I land. Whether it’s a festival, a charity event, or the side of a mountain, I want people to feel something real when they sit in my chair. I want them to feel seen.
My work isnt polished, and that’s the point. It’s Intentional, it’s messy, its alive. I don’t want to just tattoo – I want to shake shit up and leave people marked in all the right ways.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve taken plenty of risks in my life. Some big, some small – but all of them have shaped me. Honesty, I think life is a risk. We take risks everyday – falling in love, moving to new cities, switching careers. Even just choosing to show up fully as ourselves is a risk. But without risk, there is no growth.
One of the biggest risks I took was deciding to become a tattoo artist. I had no idea how to get started. I didn’t have a clear plan, no guarantee it would wont, and no one around me who had done it before. But I knew I had to try. I could’ve taken the safer route – go to school, find a stable job – but I wanted something more. I took the leap, and it changed my life.
To me, risk isn’t reckless – it’s about trusting yourself enough to go after something that might be bigger than what you’ve known. Even if It doesn’t go as planned , you learn. You evolve. My mindset is: What’s the worst that can happen? You get set back for a minute but it’s never the end of the world. I say take the risk, and run toward your dreams like a wildfire. Your future self is waiting.
Pricing:
- $100 Shop Minimum
- $150/hr for large scale pieces 9’inch and up
- Price by size and location 8’inch and under
- Pop-Up Events (must inquire)
- Private Events (must inquire)
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.tinyxtatter.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinyxtatter/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@karinanorth?si=GYv7kouguVuOUn4v
