Meet Rah Abdulkarim | Tattoo Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rah Abdulkarim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rah, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
In 2021, I had my first baby and by the grace of God he survived. When I was only six months pregnant, I went into labor causing my baby to be extremely premature. When he finally came home, I wanted to dedicate time to being with him without losing my ambition for working. However, the baby blues hit me hard, and I had to find harmony within myself.

Let me tell you… finding that balance was not easy, but it allowed me to give way to my creative side. I began to host paint sessions with my girl friends once a month as a form of self-care. Little did I know it would open the door for me to become a tattoo artist. My love for creating art has been authentic since I was in middle school. I knew I wanted to be able to still be a present parent while earning a fulfilling income and a tattoo artist fit right in. My son is the reason I committed to becoming a creative. I want him to know that you can find something you love and make it work for you forever.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Raw Ink is in the business of creating raw/authentic experiences. Most of the time a tattoo is either for fun or to hold the memory of a loved one close. I value that someone will trust me to put permanent ink on their body. I love that I can make a memory last a lifetime.

Being a creative taught me to remove the expectation of perfection and to allow progression to be my main focus, Tattooing taught me patience, grace, and that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Art has no limits which is something I have learned to embrace.

I want my future and present clients to know that they are my muse. They push my limits and allow me to continue to think outside the box. The human skin is a delicate canvas that I will always handle with care. My creativity and theirs is a match made in heaven.

I set to provide a genuine safe space for creative minds to bloom and to give people confidence, happiness, and peace of mind.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As a creative I enjoy seeing people in their element. Poetry on Peter in Atlanta host a spoken word/live music experience. They have food, drinks, and more. It is the perfect networking event for people of all ages who love to explore new things.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The saying “Strangers support you more than the people you know.” did not hold water in my village. My friends and family have been my number one support system since day one. I can only thank them and the Lord for blessing my business. A solid foundation can hold any structure and my team is SOLID.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raw.ink_/?hl=en

Other: Tiktok is the same as my instagram handle (raw.ink_)

Image Credits
personal photo – derrick stroud II