Gerald Gaddy Tattoo

Possession.

2010-08-17T22:24:00.004-05:00

Mark's favorite film is Possession, and his favorite actress is Isabelle Adjani. This is his tribute to her and the reference we used.

Angel Memorial Tattoo

2009-11-25T01:04:00.005-05:00

This is a memorial tattoo. It was a tribute to my client's mother. I liked it because it wasn't a traditional "RIP" tattoo. It had a unique twist, and the client was willing to be flexible with the imagery as we worked through the planning stages of his tattoo.

Sacred Heart Tattoo

2009-11-23T10:44:00.003-05:00

This sacred heart tattoo is on a pastor at my church. It was a privilege that she let me tattoo her.

Tattoo Collaboration with Nate Beavers

2009-11-22T01:28:00.003-05:00

I was blessed to meet and work with the one and only Nate Beavers for this tattoo. I learned as much by making this tattoo with him as I'd learned in all the rest of my career as a tattoo artist.

Angry Red Vampire Tattoo

2009-11-10T10:53:00.002-05:00

I was particularly pleased with the placement on this tattoo. The bicep gave the face a lot of dimensionality.

Under the Sea Tattoo

2009-11-08T10:54:00.002-05:00

This one isn't quite finished yet, but I was pleased with the way it turned out so far. It's based on a Wyland painting. While the dolphin tattoo has become something of a cliche, I thought we were able to make this one really special by incorporating her favorite artwork and her love for the ocean.

Friends and Family

2007-08-17T22:05:00.003-05:00

Contact Gerald

2007-08-17T22:03:00.001-05:00

Email me for the best tattoos in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I enjoy tattooing all styles, including color portraits, Traditional American, New School, Black and Grey, Tribal and more.

Philosophy

2007-08-17T22:00:00.000-05:00

Every person’s interior, subterranean life is inaccessible to the outside world—your personal story, your spiritual beliefs, whatever most makes you yourself forms an invisible topography underneath your skin. Tattooing takes away that remoteness—it allows you to make your inner story visible, to bring to the surface little eruptions of meaning. Breaking your skin’s silence with a tattoo allows the world to see inside you.

Religious folks sometimes speak of the body as a temple, and tattoos enhance that temple. They beautify—they function like stained glass windows, letting transformative light inside.

When I regard my work as a tattoo artist, I understand what a great privilege it is that you choose me to mark your body. When I tattoo you, I am helping you tell your story, to refine your body into a unique work of art.

People always talk about the pain associated with tattooing. Tattoos do hurt, but the pain is bearable, and the pain is part of the experience. Like childbirth, like lifting weights, like sex—tattooing is one of those life experiences that includes pain as a crucial component of the final pleasure.

Only certain kinds of people are interested in tattoos, and they’re the kinds of people that I like to be around. The moment when my needle hits your skin, you’re committing to something fearless, creative, badass, inspired, exciting—it’s an ideal environment for me as an artist, and I’m excited about every tattoo I do. I take my responsibility to make sure you get the product you want seriously. If you aren’t sure what you want or you only have vague ideas for your tattoo, come in for a consultation with me. I can help you make your vision for your artwork concrete, and together we can create an original image that will express whatever aspect of yourself you want to share with your tattoo—and I’ll make sure it looks really, really cool.

Vampire Girl Tattoo

2007-06-11T22:32:00.003-05:00

Reference photograph for this tattoo by James Hunt

Dad Tattoo

2007-05-01T01:25:00.005-05:00

This tattoo is on my friend Savannah.

The Grudge Tattoo

2007-04-30T23:23:00.005-05:00

Here's my Grudge portrait tattoo. Her hair is shaped weird because it's going to be a part of a leg sleeve.

Grew Up Screwed Up Tattoo

2007-04-30T01:21:00.003-05:00

This piece was on my boy Tom. He wastotally screwed up, so it was appropriate for him. He was a grafitti artist, so I tried to incorporate some graf-style.

RIP, my friend.

Dawn of the Dead Tattoo

2007-04-29T01:25:00.003-05:00

This was my second published piece, in Skin Art. It was my first attempt at photorealism.

New School Skull Tattoo

2007-04-14T01:30:00.003-05:00

Zombie Girl Tattoo

2007-04-14T01:29:00.004-05:00

This tattoo was a cover-up. The client had made the mistake of getting her ex's initials on her wrist, so we had to cover those up for her.

One-Eyed Monster Tattoo

2007-04-14T01:22:00.004-05:00

Zombie Beauty Queen Tattoo

2007-04-14T01:21:00.003-05:00

Zombie Coffin Flower Girl Tattoo

2007-04-14T01:19:00.002-05:00

This tattoo was my first one published. It was in Tattoos For Men 65.

This piece is on my friend Tom, and it was a collaboration with Matt Evans.

Pretty Flower Tattoo

2007-04-14T01:16:00.006-05:00