SL PEOPLE_FON_Taquan_Carr _0719_Layout 1 7 / 15 / 19 5 : 04 PM Page 1 P E O P L E always saw them drawing . I started tattooing because of my one brother . He was tattooing , and I realized I might have a talent for it , so I Making His Mark bought a [ tattoo ] machine off Amazon for $ 60 . … I went to Penn State Main Campus , On the new season of Ink Master , the Philly where I was studying accounting , and I artist known as Fon leaves a lasting impression . realized I was coming home a lot just to tattoo . I dropped out of college because I BY BILL DONAHUE knew I had a passion for [ tattooing ] more than anything else , so I came home from Penn State , rented a studio by myself at the For as long as he can remember , Taquan Carr has loved the arts . He came of basement of a barbershop , and took on my age in North Philadelphia , where he watched his siblings doodle , sketch , and otherwise put dreams . I really took it seriously , studying my pen to paper . He learned to draw by watching them , but it would take him a few years to craft , and I saw the potential in the industry . identify his preferred medium : ink on human flesh . At 24 , Carr admits he’s still growing into his talents as a tattoo artist . Even so , his work ork How would you describe your art , or has already drawn a fair amount of attention . He has a starring role on Season 12 of Ink etw your style ? Master , for example , the Paramount Network show in which teams of tattoo artists go head N nt I do black - and - gray photo realism — portraits . to head , with the ultimate winner taking home a purse of $ 100,000 . mou It’s very hard for many tattoo artists , but I “ The experience was crazy , ” says Carr , who goes by Fon , a childhood nickname that ara take my time and really try to perfect everything stuck . We spoke with him about his time on the show , as well as his artistic background , his P of I put into my portraits . A lot of clients respect greatest source of inspiration , and the toughest part about being away from home for two tesy my work and my ability , and they trust me to months to film the show in New York . our do whatever I come up with . I might get an c ph idea off them , but I’m always bringing my For people who aren’t familiar with you or your work , tell me about your ogra own creativity so I can produce the best background . hot tattoo I possibly can . P I always was into the arts , always drawing . I always picked up after my brothers , because I SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM JULY 2019 74 |