Casey Anderson has been drawing his entire life—since the moment he could hold a pencil—until about 10 years ago when his high school band mates and future wife nudged him into looking for tattoo apprenticeships. From then, Casey describes his journey from drawing to tattooing: “learning how to tattoo is like learning how to draw all over again… There are so many variables with tattooing: different skin types, complexions, and the possibility to move—unlike canvas or paper.” He was working as a carpenter and tattooing on weekends when he made the jump to tattooing full time: “I was hanging drywall topping out a hallway and I remember the spray insulation was falling into my face, down my shirt, and into the creases of my arms. I was itching all over and my phone rang. It was my coworker at the tattoo studio I was working at. He said that the boss had let go two artists and wanted to know if I could work full time. As I was itching all over, I said ‘Hell yes!’”
Casey Anderson: first a 3 year old drawing for his teachers, then using drawing to keep him from failing, up to now where he uses his skills to immortalize his artwork on “moving canvases.” Check out his skills at the House of Poncho’s in Abingdon, Maryland. Now, 3.5 years into his professional career, Casey believes in staying humble and striving for improvement despite how good he gets. He understands the need for good shop care (something that isn’t deeply acknowledged by Maryland laws) and wants to one day be well known for his hard work and dedication; he looks up to artists like Bob Tyrrell, Nikko Hurtado, and Mike Devries. Casey’s attitude is one to be admired: “It’s one of the best feelings in the world when you finish a tattoo, no matter how big or small, and it’s something you’ve really wanted to tattoo." If you’re a true artist at heart, getting to immortalize your art on somebody for the rest of their lives—it’s indescribable!”
Written BY: Jacklin Frost