Today we’d like to introduce you to Marco Casusol.
Hi Marco, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Alabama and raised in North Carolina, and I’ve always been drawn to creative work and the arts. Early in my career, I worked in customer service at an art supply store — a perfect fit since I had a background in fine art and graphic design. Around that time, my lifelong fascination with tattoos, which started when I was just 15, opened a new path for me.
When an opportunity came up to manage the front end of one of the area’s top tattoo studios, I jumped at it. I spent two years running the shop while studying graphic design, and eventually was offered an apprenticeship. Over the next several years, I continued honing my craft, traveling to learn from artists I admired, and growing both creatively and professionally.
After those experiences, I returned home to North Carolina, where my next chapter began at Oak City Tattoo — the place that truly shaped the artist and professional I’ve become today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I was starting out, tattooing was a very closed world. There wasn’t nearly as much information or accessibility as there is today — no online tutorials, few resources, and almost no clear path for getting started. The barrier to entry was high, and just getting a foot in the door took a lot of persistence, humility, and patience.
Looking back, those challenges taught me the value of hard work and self-discipline. I learned how to seek out opportunities, earn trust, and prove myself through consistency and effort — lessons that have shaped how I approach every creative and professional challenge since.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve been tattooing professionally for 17 years, but I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. My creativity has always taken different forms — from watercolor and oil painting to enamel work and murals — and each has influenced the way I approach design and composition. Along the way, I also studied graphic design, which helped me refine my sense of balance, layout, and visual storytelling. Altogether, those experiences have shaped the way I see and create art today.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up the youngest of four, a first-generation American and the son of an immigrant. From an early age, I was drawn to creativity in all its forms — from alternative music and lowbrow art to fine art and tattoo culture. I’ve been sketching tattoo designs, band logos, and flyers for as long as I can remember, and that mix of influences really shaped my artistic identity and the kind of work I create today.
Pricing:
- 150 an hour
- 80-100 minimum
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Oakcitytattoos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcocasusol/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-casusol-118589385
