Meet the Artist:
Charity Oetgen

Charity Oetgen

is a professional tattoo artist, wildlife illustrator, and watercolor painter with over 15 years of experience creating vivid, emotionally resonant tattoos. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Laguna College of Art + Design and has been published by National Geographic. Her original paintings are part of Dr. Jane Goodall’s personal art collection—a testament to her deep connection with animals and conservation.

Charity specializes in custom watercolor tattoos inspired by wildlife, nature, books, and emotional storytelling. Every tattoo begins as a hand-painted, traditional watercolor artwork—designed to capture authenticity, depth, and soul before ever touching skin. Her signature style fuses bold illustrative outlines with rich, fluid color to create one-of-a-kind watercolor tattoos that move with the body and stand the test of time.

She is especially known for her animal tattoos, nature-inspired sleeve designs, book-themed tattoos, and custom emotional expression tattoos using abstract watercolor techniques. From bonobos and okapis to symbolic botanicals, every element is thoughtfully researched and painted with purpose.

Charity has tattooed in renowned studios across California, Texas, Florida, and Ohio. Clients often say sessions with her feel like therapy—rich with meaningful conversations about conservation, travel, early life experiences, philosophy, and psychology. A lifelong learner and passionate reader, she’s guaranteed to send you home with at least two book recommendations.

When she’s not tattooing or painting, you can find Charity talking to animals, hiking, meditating in nature, skipping in the rain, organizing her studio, camping, or sitting cross-legged on a bookshop floor surrounded by children’s books and animal documentaries.

Portrait of Charity Oetgen, a smiling watercolor tattoo artist with curly hair, glasses, and colorful arm tattoos, sitting on outdoor steps in Columbus, Ohio.

BOOK WITH CHARITY

Charity books in intentional waves to create space for aligned, meaningful art.
If you’d like to be part of her next booking round, drop your information
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