Meet Joseph Caram | Tattooer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Caram and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, how do you define success?
I would define success simply as working hard and being able to support yourself and your family doing something that you truly love. And if the effort you put in to your passion finds you building respect, appreciation and support amongst your clients and your peers, I would consider that to be the most important indicator of success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I have been fascinated with tattoos for as long as I can remember and I have a sincere love and appreciation for (mostly) all of the different styles within it. But what turned an avid interest into a lifelong obsession, was the Japanese Irezumi style. I was just blown away seeing the sheer amount of coverage; sleeves, back pieces, and of course the full bodysuits. That degree of total commitment was astounding to me. Noting, in particular the way the layout and composition seemed so deliberate, a sense of flow that focused on accentuating the shape of the body. The timelessness of the imagery and it’s cultural history. That was something I wanted to be a part of, and learn everything I could about!

It certainly wasn’t easy to get to where I am now. It’s taken years of dedication and effort. But nothing worth doing comes easily, you absolutely have to put in the time to progress. I would never suggest that I have come close to mastering this style. There’s always more to learn and more to develop and grow. But that’s exactly what keeps me going, striving to get better with every piece! Looking back, I take a lot of pride in the years of hard work that I’ve applied to learning and understanding the aesthetics of the Japanese tattoo and pushing myself to find my own voice within it. And I’m beyond grateful to my clients that have taken notice in my work and give me the trust and opportunity to continue to develop my art!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly I think San Diego is the greatest city, I absolutely love it here. The beaches, the city’s food culture, nightlife, brewerys, parks and museums, great concert venues. There’s just too many things to list. It’s really a beautiful place to live.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been extremely fortunate to have received a tremendous amount of support pursuing a career in tattooing! That begins with my mother and father. When I made the decision to dedicate myself to the craft twenty years ago, tattooing had not yet reached the level of acceptance that we have today. It was still a misunderstood art form and very much seen as being on the fringes of the mainstream, popular culture. Having tattoos, especially visible ones, was widely frowned upon; even seen as something that would possibly close doors of opportunity for you on a professional level. So telling my parents that I intended to make it my career was understandably alarming for them at first! Especially since I would be putting aside my degree in graphic design. But my mother always had a love and appreciation for the arts and creative types in general. And my father always taught me the importance of finding a path in life that makes you feel happy and fulfilled, and giving it all you’ve got! So with that first blessing, I sought out an apprenticeship. And in 2002, I began apprenticing under Jen Mclellan at Red Hot Tattoo in Arcadia CA. I’m forever grateful to her for giving me a chance and building me into the tattooer I am today. In 2014 Aaron Della Vedova offered me the tremendous opportunity to become a member of the team at the legendary Guru Tattoo here in San Diego. This move completely changed my life in all the best ways. I found myself surrounded by the most incredibly talented and dedicated artists I could ever hope to meet! Everyone at Guru was so encouraging and supportive. They inspired me and pushed me to elevate my work in ways I didn’t know I was capable of. I’m beyond grateful to all of them for the incredible experience it’s been, and the lifelong friendships that came with it! Six years ago my brother Cris, who was actually living in Italy just prior, came in and joined us at Guru. He started out as front desk staff, and worked his way up to becoming the general manager of both locations. I couldn’t be more proud of him and grateful to have him in my life! And now, the two of us are embarking together on our next chapter; I’m so excited to announce that in November of 2022 we will be opening Emaki Art Collective in Mission Valley! And last but not least, my wife Natalie, who has been a constant source of love and support for me for over ten years. From day one, her belief in me is what gave me the strength and confidence to keep pushing myself to get where I am now. I’m so thankful to have all these people who have contributed so much to my life. I will continue striving to make them proud and hope to give back as much as I’ve been given in the future!

Website: www.gurutattoo.com

Instagram: @jcaramtattoo

Image Credits
Joseph Caram Alex Eubank