Tattoos Are Fashion: A Different Way to Think About Personal Adornment

By Rick Schenk | Charlotte, NC Tattoo Artist

There are a lot of reasons to get a tattoo. To remember someone, commemorate an experience, mark a particular chapter of your life, or simply because you saw something beautiful and decided you wanted it on your body.

I'm particularly interested in that last one.

I believe tattoos are fashion. They're a way of adorning the body, expressing your taste, and communicating something about yourself without saying a word. Much like a beautiful piece of jewelry, a perfectly tailored jacket, or a particularly good pair of shoes, the right tattoo can change the way you feel about yourself. It can become part of your personal style.

And frankly, I think we should all be a little more decorative.

A Little About Me

I'm Rick Schenk, a tattoo artist based in Charlotte, North Carolina. I've been tattooing for 13 years, working with clients in cities including New York, Maui, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Miami.

My background extends beyond tattooing into fine art, painting, fashion, and design. I've always been fascinated by the relationship between art and the human body, particularly the ways that ornament, clothing, and personal aesthetics can transform the way we present ourselves to the world.

That perspective has shaped the way I approach custom tattooing. I'm interested in creating work that is beautiful in its own right, but also feels completely at home on the person wearing it.

Fine Art, Fashion, and the Beauty of Ornament

My tattoo work is primarily focused on florals, botanical imagery, and neo-traditional tattooing. I'm drawn to strong, beautiful lines, flowing compositions, and the interplay between organic shapes and decorative elements.

Some of my biggest artistic influences come from outside the tattoo world.

I love the ornamental illustrations of Alphonse Mucha, the theatrical fashion and unconventional silhouettes of Jean Paul Gaultier, and the broader traditions of decorative art. I'm fascinated by the idea that something can be beautiful simply because of the way it's designed, arranged, and presented.

These influences find their way into my tattoos through flowing botanical forms, ornamental details, thoughtful composition, and an appreciation for the way a design follows the natural contours of the body.

Whether I'm working in glossy black or lush jewel tones, I want the finished tattoo to feel intentional, distinctive, and beautifully composed.

Why I Love Floral and Neo-Traditional Tattoos

Florals are endlessly interesting to me. There is something particularly satisfying about translating the natural structure of a flower into a tattoo. Every petal, leaf, and stem presents an opportunity to play with movement, shape, contrast, and composition.

A floral tattoo can be delicate or dramatic, romantic or architectural, restrained or completely over the top. It can be a small, elegant botanical detail or an elaborate composition that transforms an entire section of the body.

Neo-traditional tattooing gives me another wonderful vocabulary to work with. It allows for expressive linework, dimensional imagery, rich color, and a little theatricality. I love the balance between traditional tattoo fundamentals and the freedom to explore more elaborate artistic ideas.

Together, these approaches allow me to create custom floral tattoos, botanical tattoos, and ornamental designs that feel like wearable artwork rather than simply pictures placed on skin.

Your Body Is Worth Decorating

One of the things I enjoy most about tattooing is getting to know the people who sit in my chair.

Everyone has their own sense of style, their own references, and their own ideas about what makes something beautiful. Sometimes a client comes in with a very specific vision. Other times, they have a collection of references, a vague idea, or simply a desire for something beautiful.

That's where collaboration comes in.

I enjoy taking those ideas and working through the details: what imagery makes sense, how the composition should flow, where the tattoo should sit, and whether the finished piece would benefit from blackwork, color, or ornamental embellishment.

A good custom tattoo design should consider more than the image itself. It should consider the body, the placement, the proportions, and the person who will be wearing it.

My goal is to create something that feels distinctly yours. Something that complements your personal aesthetic and makes you feel even better in your own skin.

And if it happens to make you look hot and rich, well, that's just good design.

Looking for a Charlotte Tattoo Artist?

If you're looking for a Charlotte tattoo artist who approaches tattooing through the lens of fine art, fashion, and decorative design, I'd love to hear from you.

I specialize in custom floral tattoos, neo-traditional tattoos, botanical designs, and ornamental tattooing. Whether you're interested in a sophisticated blackwork piece, a colorful botanical composition, or something entirely your own, I'm interested in hearing what you have in mind.

You don't need to arrive with a perfectly formed idea. Sometimes the best projects start with a conversation.

I believe getting tattooed should be an enjoyable, collaborative experience, and I'm always interested in meeting people who appreciate thoughtful design and beautiful things.

If you're in Charlotte, Matthews, or the surrounding areas of North Carolina, you can reach me through Instagram, my website, or by getting in touch directly.

Let's make something beautiful.

And remember: you can never be too well dressed, even when you're not dressed at all.

— Rick Schenk