We recently connected with Domonic Carter and have shared our conversation below.

Domonic , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Honestly the recipe for success is just like most great things .very simple ingredients but hard to master. I would say the main things are grit , consistency and a hunger to learn . You need grit to get back on the horse after each time you fail .don’t stress yourself about failing you will lol . You need consistency to stay with it over and over again. And a hunger to learn because no one will make you learn and practice you have to ask and show people you want it .

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started tattooing when a friend who knew I could draw got his hands on a machine.it took him about a month to convince me to try but the moment after I was addicted. I then set out to learn everything I could. Had some great people help be along the way Chris Peca and Danny Bayron were the first people to give me some professional insight . I started right in the basement , literally tattooing the whole neighborhood and after many doors closed in my face I decided to open a shop in a rough neighborhood at a condemned building my father owned . After $20,000-30,000 and a shit ton of hard labor and learning construction @Rippdcanvas was born but not for long lmao! My first crew plane a coo and taken half the equipment and met some new artists it was on like something you see on tv late night tattoos and parties at least till the police raided and shut us down lol . A few months later I got a call from my cholo homies I met at a tattoo convention. They called me and asked me could I get to North Carolina to a convention where someone didn’t show up I was on my way . Drove through the night nervous as hell but I did and from there I travelled to city after city earning my chops . After the birth of my son and the barbershop I worked at for the last 10yrs closed I faced a dilemma find a new shop or become a full time tattooist. So I set out on my hunt for a new career once again doors closed in my face so I did what I do best start my own . I studied the law and zoning . I borrowed about $7000 in total from three different people 2000 ,2500 and 2500 and I went to work . After finding a place and a variance in the zoning code we opened the second installment of @rippdcanvas in June of 2017 and I’m proud to say we are one of the top shops in Baltimore city .8 artists and a sister barbershop 4 doors away we also are buying the 4 unit commercial and apartment building we inhabit

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The greatest lesson I have learned is walk towards your goal . Even if you don’t know where or how you’ll get there . I never knew anyone in the tattoo industry. I just showed up to shops and conventions over and over again and eventually magic happened an opportunity

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner is my cousin Donaven Bunting he is the website and overall art director and manages our clothing brand and clothing printing company @canvas_cartel

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.rippdcanvas.com
• Instagram: @rippdcanvas @preso_carter @canvas_cartel
• Facebook: Rippdcanvas
• Youtube: Canvas cartel

Image Credits
@preso_carter