Carson's Perihelion: Chill The F*ck Out
- Sheterria Sparks
- Jul 21, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 13, 2025
I met Carson McCullers' art long before I met the artist for our Tuesday night zoom call we made between classes a couple of months ago. I vividly remember taking my mundane stroll through the halls of my high school for our four, tedious minutes between class periods a few years ago and nearly being late because something caught my eye. A nearly blinding orange portrait of one of my favorite artists at the time--rapper, Travis Scott--clad the walls standing out in a sea of other students' work. With exquisite detail, crisp lines, and a beautiful color pallet, this piece was sure to make anyone interested in paying top dollar without knowing a single line of Scott's songs. Years later while asking for new female artists suggestions for interview pieces, I was suggested a name that took me back to high school. The same name I saw finely written beneath the same Travis Scott painting 16 year old me gawked over. So of course, my brain lit up at the thought of interviewing McCullers and seeing where her art journey has led her since then. The now art school graduate has taken her talents from paper to skin as a tattoo artist in the city of Columbus--and still making breathtaking pieces despite the switch in medias. The soft spoken artist takes a humble, yet self-assured stance on her life as a tattoo artist, ready to see where the world takes her in our chat below:
S: What is your name?
C: Carson McCullers.
S: Where are you from?
C: I am from Westerville, Ohio.
S: How old are you?
C: I am 22.
S: What is your sign?
C: I am a Libra.
S: What traits do you feel you display most from that sign?
C: I’m a Libra to the tee! *laughs* But most of all I’m very sweet, soft hearted, and I can see both sides of anything—which is probably why I’m so indecisive!
S: When did you first get into artistry?
C: Personally, I can date it back to about first grade. I was always doodling and sketching back then. However, my mom says I’ve been an artist since way before then! *laughs* She has a picture of a blue dress I made when I was 18 months old. Of course, it looks like a child’s painting but you can still tell what it is crazily enough.
S: What was the very first tattoo you ever completed?
C: The very first one was done on my friend and it was a simple, popular symbol lots of people are familiar with. It basically means “God is greater than highs and lows”.
S: What five songs are in your rotation right now?
C: Tom’s Diner - AnnenMayKantereit, Feels Like Summer - Childish Gambino, Watching Movies - Mac Miller, Thought I Was Playin - Gunna, and Options - Nelccia.
S: Who is your greatest artistic inspiration?
C: The woman i was named after is my biggest inspiration, she married into my family in the 40s I believe. Although she isn’t a blood relative, I really feel a strong connection to her artistically. She was a pretty well known author during those times and she just gives me something to live up to.
S: When did you start to feel drawn towards a career in tattooing?
C: I had started tattooing just to get some practice sometime in 2019. But I eventually cut that off because I was doing it at home, not the safest route to go. But once school went online for COVID, I figured that was the best time to get my apprenticeship requirement for school out of the way by working at a real shop. The moment I began doing tattoos in a real environment, it really felt like a calling had been answered for me. I never looked back.
S: Do you see yourself branching off into any other artistic realms outside of tattoo art?
C: Yes! My love of tattooing stemmed from my love of painting in the first place. But when I work on paintings, I have an awful habit of taking breaks for months at a time in between a piece—it’s ridiculous! *laughs*. So I’d really like to do a better job at being consistent with painting one of these days. I’ve also acquired a love for jewelry making through this class that I’ve been taking. It’s such a technical and slow art form that requires patience—similar to tattooing in that aspect. I think that’s what draws me to it.
S: What is coming next for you on your journey as a tattoo artist?
C: Lots of growth and an increase in commitment. Since this is my final year of school, once it’s over I’ll be able to give my all to tattoo art the way I want to. And not just on the art side; I’d like to expand my audience by making sure I’m getting out of my comfort zone and trying new art forms and sharing as much of that content as I can to expand my skill set.
S: Who or what keeps you motivated?
C: Selfishly, I’d have to say myself! I have so much passion for everything that I’m doing right now and that alone is enough to get me up out of bed and go for everything I want. I’m obsessed with being the best version of myself that I possibly can be. Even though I know things will never be perfect and I’ll never go through life without a tired day, or a down one; I still feel closer to who I’m destined to be daily. And that’s enough.
S: How do you cope with hardships? Wether it be artistically or personal?
C: Honestly I just know deep down everything will be okay. Even when I’m in a low pit I know there’s light at the end of the tunnel because there has been before. Nothing stays the same forever, especially not a hardship.
S: If you could talk to yourself from five years ago what would you tell them about what to expect for this moment you’re in now?
C: I’d just tell her “Your intuition is true so don’t worry. You know yourself and what you want so hold onto it.”
S: What does a week in your life look like?
C: Monday through Thursday I start my day at 8am doing 30 hour class weeks on average. Friday and Saturday I’m at the shop taking appointments and also shadowing my boss to learn as much as I can all the time. Sunday is just for rest.
S: What has been the project you have been most proud of bringing to life?
C: I made a jewelry pin a little while back and it helped me learn so much about myself as an artist. It started off pretty rough but after lots of fine tuning it came out better than I thought it would. I doubted myself so much in the process and I feel like doubtful moments as an artist give you the most growth—I don’t do much but look at it. *laughs* But when I do I always remember how it made me feel.
S: What is your favorite medium of art to create with?
C: Tattoo ink!
S: How would you describe your art style in three words?
C: Feminine, colorful, and clean.
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