Istanbul-based artist Ayhan Karadağ, who has always experimented with artistic material since childhood, has finally found his calling - tattooing. He draws colorful, cute tattoos that look like colorful storybook illustrations. Every permanent paint job allows the wearer to celebrate the magic of the children’s imagination.
"When creating art, I realized that a person's body is the most valuable thing, and I want to be happy when I see the work I do on people's bodies," says Karadağ. "It is more pleasant to keep a fairy tale on one's body than one has imagined for a lifetime." From cute characters to nature designs, each custom-designed, minimalist tattoo is painted on the skin using delicate lines and vibrant colors.
Karadağ tends to present works inspired by nature, especially those of animals, trees, and botany - but with an almost always very realistic twist. "In my book, I like to tell fairy tales that take place in our dreams about nature and animals," the talented tattoo artist reveals. "I have a deep love for nature and animals, because I believe that as individuals we are free, as much as we depend on nature."
Check out some of Karadağ's fairy tale tattoos below and find out more from his portfolio on Instagram.
Tattoo artist Ayhan Karadağ's permanent paintings celebrate childhood magic.
Each painting is painted with delicate lines and vibrant colors on the wearer's skin.
Most of the designs look like they were straight from a fairy tale.
