My Story
Welcome to my official page!
My name is Gian Karle, I’m a tattoo artist from the beautiful Island of Puerto Rico. My journey begins in 1986 when my mom was adopted by my amazing Grandparents while she was still pregnant with me. How awesome is that?! Thanks to them, I got to live in front of a beach in Isla Verde PR.
Although I was born into this amazing life, I also grew up a hard worker. If I wasn’t creating fake raffles to make money, I was cleaning lounge chairs in the San Juan Hotel at age 13. I stuck with this job for 5 years until my hard work payed off and got a job as Beach Manager. With the money I was making I lived by myself, in the same place I was raised! But the 18 year old me with an apartment on the beach and financial stability, wasn’t satisfied. Working 12 hours under the sun everyday is not a dream life at all.
I worked as Beach Manager for 3 years until the day I met two crazy men who would change my life forever. Mike and Shelbby! They are talented photographers that travel the world taking pictures of the most beautiful hotels. Call it a devine intervention or the universe or whatever you want, but it was perfect timing that they happened to come to my hotel that year in 2007.
It didn’t take long for me to decide to take them up on a job offer to work with them and leave everything I knew to travel the world with these two crazy men that seemed to have it all figured out.
This was the best decision I ever made! For two years, I got to travel the world as their assistant and experienced living a life of luxury! I tried amazing exotic foods, got to wear the finest clothing, stay in these beautiful hotels that I had only previously dreamed of and everything was paid for. Sometimes I don’t even tell my stories because it doesn’t seem real, even to me! But all this wasn’t enough. I know what you must be thinking.... but something was still missing!
In 2009 I discovered tattooing. My life changed the day I decided I wanted to get a tattoo. I went to a tattoo convention in PR and I left with tattoo equipment instead. “I can do this!” I said to myself and started tattooing all of my friends for free right away. After two years of horrible tattoos I found myself an entrepreneurship in 2011 with the reputable Angel Villanueva. I definitely was no longer staying in fancy hotels and eating filet mignon everyday..... I was lucky if there was free Wi-Fi and complimentary breakfast in the morning. But this was my new life... traveling the US, going to tattoo conventions and trying soak up as much knowledge as I possibly could from everyone. I traveled almost every two weeks to a new place for the next two years.
In 2013 I was fortunate enough to work with one of the most recognized tattoo artist on the Island of PR, Juan “Papito” Lopez. Thanks to the influence from Juan and the long nights of drawing and no sleep, I finally developed a love for Neo Traditional Tattoos; so much that I still tattoo the same style today. Know the skill you have and master it! My life stated to come together financially and in every way. It was then that I met my beautiful wife Zaimina. She came into my life as a potential client of mine but when I saw her, I knew right away she was the one! I never even ended up tattooing her. My focus wasn’t on that....I was too invested in making her part of my life forever.
We made such a awesome team, not only as a couple but also in business. We decided to pair up and start a tattoo business together. We would travel to conventions every month and with time, we ended up opening a private studio in Carolina PR. During this time, I was mainly focused on mastering my style and competing in every convention that I had the chance so that I could start getting my name out in the industry.
This hard work paid off! In 2016 I received an email from Ink Master, asking if I would be interested in participating on their TV show. HELL YEA! I was the first Puerto Rican artist to represent the Island on the show. It was really epic! Out of 30 artists, I got 2nd place! So close to winning the title of Ink Master. This opened amazing doors for me! I’m currently sponsored by the best inks, products and events. Now I even get to choose which tattoos I want to do, which is of course is Neo Traditional, and I am recognized for my solid line work and bright colors however, I can also do killer black and grey.
Then in 2022 I got a second call by Ink Master to come back and try to take the title home. Unfortunately I got 2nd place again… What Can I say? Life can be funny sometimes.
I’m currently located in Concord NH. In 2017, we decide to move to New Hampshire and it has been amazing. We truly love it here.
In 2022 Ink Master called me to be in the show for a second time! I had to say yes. Season 14th was a though one but, you got to Keep On Keeping On. Second place again against the most talented artist from previous seasons. If you ask me, will you do it again?
I DON’T KNOW! WILL I?
I love getting to express myself through my work and all my amazing clients that give me the opportunity. If you are looking for a fast and high-quality amazing tattoo that will last forever, I’m your guy! Just know that if you give me the opportunity to apply my input into your ideas, you will probably have a tattoo better then you could have imagined.
