Carla Hopkins has had art in her life from a very young age. Her mother was a painter who had to quit painting because Carla wouldn’t keep her little hands out of the oil paints. Carla’s grandmother was an artist with an incredible talent for drawing, who also aspired to be a fashion designer. She is a huge influence in Carla’s life today, and is likely the source of her flair for incredible outfits. Not to mention, some of the pieces of the incredible outfits actually belonged to Carla’s grandmother.
Growing up in upstate New York, Carla had a great art teacher who was not only an advocate for the students and their programs within the district, but he also showed them how art could be a career. Carla attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, majoring in Sculpture. She does not sculpt today, well, not with clay anyway. After college, she made her way back to New York, where she convinced a tattoo shop to take her on, first as a shop girl, then as an apprentice. She learned to build her own machines there and make her own needles. That was nine years ago.
Today, Carla works at Portside Parlor, at 30 S. 2nd Street in Philadelphia. When you walk into the shop, you notice that it is not exactly like other tattoo shops. There are gorgeous hardwood floors which are inlaid with a stunning compass rose, incredibly high and beautiful ceilings and an antique velvet settee in the waiting area. You also notice that there is original artwork on the walls. The Portside Parlor does something very interesting – on First Friday (for those of you not in Philly, it’s – you guessed it- the first Friday of the month where art galleries all over the city open their doors for patrons and viewers) they close the tattooing portion of the shop and have an art show. The next show upcoming is “The City of Brotherly Love”; you won’t want to miss it, since Carla Hopkins has a piece in it.
Carla draws and paints, and her boyfriend is also an artist. You can see in her tattoos the incredible technical skill and trained eye that she brings to tattooing. Many of her tattoos are quite painterly and she easily cites influences from French and Dutch baroque painters’ freshly killed hare and insects, and metaphor, to Art Nouveau and Victoriana. However, that isn’t Carla’s specialty, although she is incredibly, amazingly talented in that area.
Her specialty is traditional Japanese tattoos, and I love the reason why she chose it. When she was about tattoo, she was told that if she really wanted to be a master, she needed to master traditional Japanese tattooing. Since her art school days, Carla wanted to follow in the footsteps of the masters like DaVinci, and so, the gauntlet laid down, she accepted. And master she did become.
The other thing that she really specializes in is cover ups. She’s masterful at seeing what can be done with a piece, looking for ways to hide it in her own beautiful art. I was truly amazed by what she showed me. She was teaching me to spot the tattoo in the coverup, and most of the time I couldn’t see it. On the left below is before, and on the right is after Carla Hopkins had her way with that tattoo.
She is a self proclaimed huge geek, and I have to say, she is definitely intellectually superior. Not in the sense that she behaves as though she’s superior to you but in a Garcia-from-Criminal-Minds sort of way. If she told you she hacked into the government’s computer system, you wouldn’t bat an eye. She knows a lot about art, history, a lot about pop culture. She is well read, has traveled extensively, including a stint in Europe tattooing for a bit under the top tattoo artist in France. In our brief time together, she taught me about what they’re doing with computers and art at RISD, about William Gibson and “Neuromancer” (she did the Molly Millions tattoo that Gibson himself saw and said it was the most like his vision he’d seen yet), and about the plumbers’ epoxy you have to use to make miniatures.
In closing, and at the risk of sounding gushy, Carla Hopkins’ talent will knock you out but her interesting conversation, wit and kind smile make her someone you’d be happy to have as a friend. If you’re in Philly and in the market for a fantastic tattoo artist, you can reach Portside Parlor by phone at 215-922-1313.
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Whoa, Jamie – this woman’s talent is AMAZING! And your images of her are beautiful, soft, edgy and intriguing. PS – I totally cannot spot the original tattoo on the arm of the man Carla worked on! She must load that tattoo machine with magic ink…
I just love your featured artist stories! She sounds like an amazing women and a very talented artist! Her work is very creative. I totally love her style!! Beautiful photography Jamie – just stunning!
This is wonderful tribute to Carla’s amazing talent. When Carla was a child she always carried a sketchbook whether just a few of us were hanging at our grandmother’s or a house full was there to celebrate Christmas Eve. Her drawings were intricate and vibrant, just like her tattoos are today. I’m thrilled to see her skill recognized. And much thanks to Carla for mentioning our grandmother as her inspiration. I still marvel at the impact she had on her grandchildren especially considering she passed away more than 20 years ago. Kudos to you Carla! xoxo
Love her work, her style and these images! I agree traditional Japanese tattoo art is just beyond amazing. That is awesome that it is something she specializes in.
Great work Jamie! Carla is, indeed, an amazing lady and I am very proud to have several pieces of body art created by her magical mind (and hands)!
Wow, what a great read, Jamie. She’s got such a unique style, I am totally digging it. Love how you captured her, too.- so beautiful. She really is a master of her craft and sounds like an utterly amazing person on top of that. Thanks for sharing!
Carla is certainly a remarkable artist…and understands the connection between art and emotion. I am forever grateful for my lotus…modeled after the one my Son also wears.
Amazing!! This was a great read about a fascinating individual.
Wow, wow, wow. Every time you do one of these, I finish up reading feeling like I know this person and we should have beers together later tonight. And wanting a tattoo.
Love all of your images of her, and blown away by her talent as well.
wow! she seems so interesting – like i wanna be her… her work in amazing, as is yours! GREAT JOB!
Awesome blog post! LOVE her style and her work! You captured her so beautifully.
Wow she is just too interesting! So far she has been my favorite tattoo feature, I can totally see myself going to her. Her work is incredible! Awesome interview jamie!
I think you out did yourself girl! These are amazing. She looks so intriguing.
congrats on the full time gig… you are obviously talented and it’s exciting to see what’s in store for you this year. Great work here. Love all these edgy pics!
Wow. Your work is so inspiring!! I love these articles.
Congrats on going full time! LOVE your photography and I love how you captured this great artists work and personality!
Very cool!!
Carla’s work is amazing!!! My partner and I have a combined four pieces, all original design, by carla and we are both going back for more work in the future. Dont miss the opportunity to have one of Philly’s best artists work with you on creating a piece of stunning work. Also – she is super cool and makes the time in the chair fly by!!!
thanks carla!
A beautiful wonderful person dude. Got my first piece done by her yesterday, covering up some old burn scares, she was awesome, 5 hours and i can say it seemed shorter than that. As beautiful outside as she is inside. Dont let her really pretty face fool you, this is a serious artist.
Carla is my tattoo artist and i about to have 4 pieces by her. i love each one, no matter how small, and am just so happy and lucky as to be able to own work by her. everyone should see her paintings – they are equally as stunning as her tattoo work.
Jamie – your images are wonderful and your write-up is spot on. This has defintiely brought me to your site and i will keep coming back!