ETGAR OAK - Master OF Black and Gray Realism, photo realism, surrealism , Black and white cover up Tattoos
My name is Etgar Oak. I'm a multi-award-winning tattoo artist based in Austin Texas, known for my attention to detail and work ethic. I was born in Latvia in 1985 and come from a family of ten children. I grew up in a challenging environment where survival was the main focus, but I always had a hunger for more from life. I knew I would do everything it took to achieve my goals.
My passion for art stems from my father, who was an artist and my first teacher. He taught me to love painting and drawing from a young age, and I spent countless hours watching him work. I first became interested in tattoo art when I saw him tattooing my brother with a homemade machine. After my father left home when I was 10, my interest in art faded until college, where I started to draw again and build homemade tattoo machines. I also tattooed students for small amounts of money to make ends meet, discovering my true talent and passion for tattooing.
After college, I served in the army from 2005 to 2010. After completing my service, I met my wife, and we lived in Iceland for a few years before returning to Latvia. In Latvia, I purchased my first professional tattoo equipment and started my career as a professional tattoo artist in England in 2016.
In the first two years of my professional career, I learned all styles of tattooing and discovered that I was best at black and gray realism. I was determined to master this style and spent every spare moment perfecting my craft, which led to an invitation to come to America. While waiting for my artist visa to be processed, I traveled as a guest artist throughout Europe, working with leading artists in prestigious shops and winning multiple awards at various tattoo competitions.
I’ve been living in United States since December 2021. At the moment I live and work in beautiful Austin, Texas. I have already won awards at some of the biggest tattoo conventions in America, competing against top artists from around the world. My passion for tattooing and art continues to grow, and I am determined to be the best in my field.
I believe that success comes from hard work, dedication, and a love for what you do. Despite the challenges I've faced, my passion for tattooing and art has never faded. I am driven to create beautiful and meaningful tattoos that will last a lifetime, approaching each design with the same level of precision and attention to detail. I am grateful for the opportunity to do what I love every day and will continue working hard to be the best I can be.
