CUSTOM ║ FINE LINE ║ REALISM ║ILLUSTRATIVE
Welcome to
Ethereal Tattoo Gallery
North Carolina’s Premier Studio for Black and Grey + Fine Line Tattoos
click here for booking
Portrait Tattoo Artist Serving Charlotte, NC
Realistic black and grey human and pet portrait tattoos
A portrait asks more of a tattoo artist than almost any other subject. The likeness lives in small details: the set of the eyes, the way light falls across a face, the expression that makes a person or a pet unmistakably themselves. Brian Parrillo has built his career on getting those details right.
Brian is an academically trained fine artist and portrait oil painter who has been tattooing for more than twelve years. He founded Ethereal Tattoo Gallery in downtown Durham in 2018, and Charlotte clients have been making the trip to him ever since for memorial portraits, pet portraits, and black and grey realism.
For clients in Charlotte, Mooresville, Concord, Huntersville, and across the Charlotte area, the studio is about two hours north on I-85.
What Brian tattoos:
Human portraits: memorial portraits, family portraits, celebrity portraits, and lady faces
Pet portraits: dogs, cats, and the animals people consider family
Black and grey realism: detailed subjects rendered with depth and texture
The studio also offers fine line and illustrative work.
Meet the Team
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Brian
TATTOO ARTIST
Realism ║ Fine line ║ Portraits
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Yasmin
TATTOO ARTIST
Fine line ║ Florals ║ Illustrative
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Annika
SHOP MANAGER
Planning Your Visit from Charlotte
The drive: About 144 miles, roughly two hours and ten minutes north on I-85 to downtown Durham.
Plan before you come: Free virtual consultations let you work out your design, size, and placement before making the trip.
Larger pieces: Detailed portraits can take more than one session. Ask about scheduling when you book!
After you head home: Text the studio with any healing questions once you are back in Charlotte.
Hours: By appointment, typically Wednesday through Sunday.
Why Charlotte Clients Make the Trip
A portrait specialist trained as a fine art painter
Free virtual consultations for clients traveling in
More than twelve years of tattooing; studio founded in 2018
A calm studio filled with green plants and original art
Aftercare support by text after your appointment
FAQs
How far is Ethereal Tattoo Gallery from Charlotte?
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About 144 miles, or roughly two hours and ten minutes by car on I-85 north to downtown Durham.
Who is a good portrait tattoo artist for clients in Charlotte, NC?
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Many Charlotte clients travel to Brian Parrillo at Ethereal Tattoo Gallery in Durham for realistic human and pet portrait tattoos. Brian is an academically trained fine artist and portrait oil painter with more than twelve years of tattooing experience, specializing in black and grey realism.
Is a portrait tattoo worth the drive from Charlotte?
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For a portrait, the artist matters more than the distance. A portrait only works if it truly looks like the person or animal, and that depends on the artist's specialization and portfolio. That is why clients from Charlotte, and from across the country, travel to Brian for portrait work.
Do I need to come to Durham for a consultation?
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No. Free virtual consultations are available for clients traveling in, so you can plan your portrait before you make the drive. Start a booking request to set one up.
Can Brian tattoo a portrait of my pet?
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Yes. Pet portraits are one of Brian's specialties, and clients come from across North Carolina and the country for them.
Brian prices each portrait by the piece, based on size, detail, and placement. See Brian's pricing page, or start a booking request to get a quote.
How much does a portrait tattoo cost in Charlotte?
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