Artist: Cory Hand - Maryville, Tennessee
Cory Hand didn't spend years planning to become a tattoo artist.
He had just finished high school when, at 18 years old, he decided to take most of the money he had and invest it into getting started in tattooing.
That decision turned into a career that's now lasted more than two decades.
Growing up on cartoons, comics, anime, and video games still plays a huge role in the work Cory creates today especially his bold, colorful character pieces, nostalgic mashups, and designs packed with little details for fans to discover.
We caught up with Cory so you can get to know a little more about the artist behind the work.
How did tattooing start for you?
I had just finished high school and hadn't really chosen a path yet.
My friends and family had suggested tattooing to me plenty of times, but because I didn't have tattoos myself, I never really thought it was something I should do.
Eventually, at 18, I decided to go for it.
I spent most of the money I had investing in a shop so I could start tattooing.
I wasn't thinking too far ahead at the time. I just knew I wanted to see where it could go.
What inspired your style?
I grew up watching cartoons, reading comics, and playing video games.
That stuff has always been around me, so nostalgia naturally became a big part of the artwork I enjoy creating.
Over the years, I've really gravitated toward bold outlines, bright color, and character portraits.
A lot of the ideas I have now still come back to the characters and worlds I grew up with.
What are your favorite anime?
Paranoia Agent, Akira, and FLCL are some of my favorites.
I've always been drawn to animation, comics, games, and the worlds built around them, so working with those kinds of characters as a tattoo artist feels pretty natural.
That nostalgia still influences a lot of what I enjoy creating today.
What keeps you interested?
Tattooing has honestly been my favorite thing to do since I started.
Even when I'm not tattooing, I'm usually drawing, reading, studying other tattoos, or looking for something new that inspires me.
It's something I'm constantly thinking about, even in my free time.
Do you hide details in your work?
Definitely.
I really enjoy mashups and adding Easter eggs whenever the idea gives me an opportunity to do it.
One piece from a flash sheet I made had Daisy from Mario reimagined inside the movie Scream. She's on the phone screaming, but instead of Ghostface appearing in the window behind her, there's a Boo from Mario.
Those little details make the design more fun because there's something extra for people to notice once they really look at the piece.
What piece stands out most?
One of my favorite tattoos I've done is a Luigi and Solid Snake piece.
I wanted to experiment with color temperature to create more of a mood and make it feel like Luigi was actually hiding in the shadows.
It gave me a chance to try something different technically while still playing with characters people instantly recognize.
Those are the kinds of pieces that keep me excited about pushing my work further.
How did your family react?
My family wasn't completely sold on tattooing at first.
Once they saw how happy it made me and realized it could actually become a legitimate career, they became much more supportive.
A few of them have even gotten tattooed by me since.
It's been cool watching their perspective change as I've grown.
Meet Cory in the Chair
From taking a chance on tattooing at 18 to building a career around the characters and worlds he grew up loving, Cory has always kept creativity at the center of his work.
Today, he gets to turn that nostalgia into bold, colorful tattoos with his own twists, hidden details, and plenty of personality.
Want to Get Tattooed by Cory?
If you haven't booked with Cory yet and his work feels like the right fit for your next tattoo, we'd love to hear your idea.
