Check Out Dre King’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dre King

Dre, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Well, where should I start… First I will say. I’m just a pup in this industry. Figuratively speaking. What I mean by a pup is. I just started this Beautiful blessing of a career 6 years ago. This mouth to be Exact. But like most great people will say. I worked hard and I pushed myself. I’ve been a shop owner going on two years now.

But let me give you a little backstory. I’m from KcMo. But I was raised here atlanta and oklahoma. I’ve been drawing my whole life , my older brother Louis. Introduce me to art. Ever since then , i’ve been drawing. Art has definitely got me out of a lot of things. Lol And it has produced many things. Middle school I have won some competitions High school I took home 21st century first place black history art award. Back then I really didn’t know what I had. Truth be told once I hit middle school. I was in the strees. More than I was drawing and playing football. Needless to say after high school. I stop drawing. I had a beautiful princess. She definitely kept me out of the streets as much as she could. I did not start back drawing until I went to jail. 14 days after my son was born. Being locked up away from my kids really took a toll on my life and there’s. But there I met a man who taught me how to do more blending and shaded. Sharpened me up for portraits and more realism art. I won’t.
Go into details of why I was there. Just know it changed me for the better. After release I changed my life. I moved back to my hometown kansas city missouri. I got all the way back into my kids.Life and adapted to our relationship. Coming home. I worked three jobs for a few years. Fast forward. I picked up a tattoo machine when I got injured at two different jobs. The first one damaged me so much that 2ed one had the doc saying If I keep working manual labor hard , i’m going to paralyze myself. Now I Never thought in a million years. I would be a tattoo artist. My brother/ best friend Coit. Used to tell me back in high school bro you can draw so good. You should do tattoos. Never took heave. 2019 Was the year i got a tattoo kid and took tattoo seriously. I am completely a self taught tattoo artist. Now how I started tattooing is crazy. I’ve been a hard working man ever since the age of 10. My pops Used to take me with him at an early age And teach me how to do floors. So to this day I know how to do anything with floors. From there he taught me to do concrete. And bill terrados. From there , i’m certified on 7 different fork lifts. And have been certified on machine operator and Starch cook. That’s
Basically a fast version of how I got to where I am today. My brother/ best friend Introduce me to the man who taught me more soft blending. Luis Is one of the dopest artists in kansas city And his partner Drew Who taught me how to Master Line work. 2019 I became an apprentice at Missing Ink. Attended my first tattoo convention. And took home 2place best apprentice. On a foo dog on my bother Coti. Lol I’ve worked at a few shops and learned so much from each one. I have met so many dope artists men and women From all over the world. 2020 comes 2 beautiful baby boys. Lifes was looking good. 2021 I enter a big tattoo convention as a license tattoo artist. Came home with two wins. I took a break to focus more on my art and kids. And learn more things. 2024 I opened my tattoo shop. Guy Ink Studio. And brought home 3 plaques from two different tattoo conventions. One was best in show and one in best of the day. Two very big categories.

That sums it up pretty much in a nutshell. What I’m doing today. Pushing out dope work and trying to help the next artist that Hungry.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There was definitely so many struggles. I had two kids back to back doing the beginning of my career. So me trying to be at three places at once was extremely hard. Still I pushed myself. I made time for my kids in okc and I made time for my boys here in kcmo and their mothers. As well as my art. One of my main struggles was staying Consistent with my art. At times the artist can have a artist block like a writer. I went through a major break up. I was engaged to a woman that the breakup took me out and put my life in Pieces. But between all of my kids and God, They saw me through.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Tattoo artist
I specialize in black and grey photo realism. I very much specialize in detail. I consider myself a black and gray detail Photorealism artist. I’m known for my detail work.

What I’m most proud of is what my kids see when at look at me. All three of my boys are artist. Being able to have that bond with them And possibly lead them into a career in a better position that I had at the age. I’m most proud of the artist that i’m growing in two. The passion that I once had when I was a kid now pours inside of me beyond my imagination.

What sets me from the rest?I will just say my vibe. And my pay attention to detail eye.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is the outside of God and family.
My clients.

The people that allow me to Bring their vision to reality. That pays me to A permanent piece of art to walk around with for the remaining of their life. I appreciate them all.

They matter to me most.

Pricing:

• No. My shop Does not do pricings

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.guyinkstudio.com
• Instagram: @GuyInk
• Facebook: @Dre King
• LinkedIn: 8162986013
• Yelp: Guyinkstudio
• Other: TikTok @Rashadking00