Carmi Stepped Off the Corporate Ladder

I was born and raised in Toronto, the youngest of three children. Though my brother, sister, and I always loved to draw, there was an expectation from our parents that we would go to University and get a 9-to-5 job. Anything else would be a disappointment.

Their goals became mine. I was an Honor Roll student. At University, I was on the Dean’s List, and after graduation, found a corporate job at RBC, one of the world’s largest banks. My parents were so proud of me — but I was super unhappy. It wasn’t the world’s worst job, but I knew it wasn’t for me. 

It was a big challenge to tell my parents that I was going to be a tattoo artist. They didn’t like the tattoos I had — and they only knew about the ones that were easily visible. When I went to school and excelled there, they imagined I’d go a more traditional route and become this corporate hotshot. I wanted them to be happy, but I also knew I needed to prioritize my mental health and follow a path that would bring me happiness.

My parents were so proud of me — but I was super unhappy. It wasn’t the world’s worst job, but I knew it wasn’t for me.

When I broke the news to them that I’d jumped tracks, they were shocked, completely taken aback. The news that I’d dropped my steady job at the bank for any creative pursuit would have been rough for them, but the fact that I’d found a passion for tattoo art — so often stigmatized, among many people — really twisted the knife. If I’d handled it better, I might have talked my decision through with them with more sensitivity. But it was hard for me to explain my rationale when it seemed like it might never make sense to them. I told them, “Look, I’m gonna do this, and you can hate me for it. But at the end of the day, this is my life.” And I explained that I couldn’t work a job that would make me unhappy for the next fifty years, that I wanted to devote myself to making art.

Quitting that job was scary, since I had no idea what I’d do next, and I was afraid of disappointing my parents. During the pandemic, I returned to drawing, and rediscovered the creative spark I’d had as a kid. Soon I began painting custom designs on my friends’ Air Force Ones — since we’re all into animé, my designs often featured our favorite animé characters. My boyfriend was the first person to suggest that I think about becoming a tattoo artist. To me, the idea seemed far fetched, but my friends loved my art and encouraged me to take it on. And I did.

Usually, an aspiring tattoo artist needs to apprentice under a veteran artist — and finding the right mentor can be a daunting task. You might walk into a hundred tattoo shops to share your portfolio and get a hundred rejections. Fortunately, I had an in. My boyfriend’s barber was close friends with a seasoned Toronto tattoo artist, and was generous enough to link us up. And my mentor was generous enough to take on a protégé, knowing little about me or my abilities. But he could sense that I had some baseline of drawing talent — and that I was motivated to learn.

My mentor had a somewhat unusual style of mentorship: he didn’t hold my hand too much; he wasn’t always looking over my shoulder. Instead, he gave me independence, showed trust in my growing abilities, and gave me the freedom to make mistakes, and learn from them. 

Often, an apprentice ends up mimicking the style of their mentor, but I think the space he gave me allowed me to discover my own natural style much faster.

Picking the right tools was also essential. I started with the Bishop Power Wands, which are the same tools my mentor used. He gave me the option of using something cheaper, but I wanted to go balls to the wall and spend the extra money. I reasoned that if I planned on doing something full-time, it was worth investing in the best tools. If you don’t have the best tools, it can really stunt your growth.

Of course, even once you learn the artistic skills, becoming a successful tattoo artist means finding clients and building your own business. I was lucky that some of my early TikTok posts brought a deluge of customers my way. But I hadn’t yet learned how to structure my days, and I ended up tattooing from 11 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week. Eventually, I figured out that I needed to avoid burnout and block off days for rest and relaxation, where I could put my phone and iPad down and just spend time with my family and friends.

Over time, parents initial fear and skepticism about what I chose to do with my life has faded. And as they’ve watched my business grow, and my craft evolve, they’ve begun to take pride in my success.

Even then, I found myself constantly reaching for my phone to answer messages from potential clients. My friends are good at calling me out for it and demanding that I put my phone away. I’d always imagined that perfecting my craft would be the hardest part of becoming a tattoo artist. In truth, it’s the time-draining aspects of running a business and constantly trading messages with dozens of clients.

And I did spend time with my family. Over time, parents initial fear and skepticism about what I chose to do with my life has faded. And as they’ve watched my business grow, and my craft evolve, they’ve begun to take pride in my success.

It’s hard to believe I’ve only been doing this full-time for a year. I’m growing every day as an artist, and I’m eager to explore new ideas, new styles, and work on larger pieces — a whole arm, a whole leg, a whole back. The feeling of accomplishment after finishing a huge piece is a real rush. And I love when I find ways to collaborate with my customers: dreaming up a design, and bouncing ideas for how to bring it to life artfully and vividly.

I love seeing a client’s reaction when a tattoo is done. My goal is always to put a smile on somebody’s face and make them feel super confident in their skin. A tattoo is something that they’re going to have forever, so for them to love it and dance out of the shop full of joy — for me, that’s the best feeling ever. Carmi's books are open. You'll find her at Lab Toronto in Toronto, Canada.

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Artist Stories spotlights tattoo artists of all styles and backgrounds and shares their unique journey with the community.