DouglasSantos
Douglas Santos / Tattoo Artist000
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Tattoo artist
Realism / Portraiture
La Jolla, CA · Since 2023
Books open
Custom projects

Douglas Santos

RealismPortraitureIllustrativeBlack Work
View selected work↓
DisciplineRealism / Portraiture
PracticeIllustrative / Black Work
BasedLa Jolla / San Diego
InquiriesCustom projects worldwide
01 / Selected WorkScroll or drag to navigatePortfolio
The work
speaks first.
01 / 18
Live session
Every piece is designed for the body it will live on.
Placement, scale and movement come first. Each design is drawn to fit the body it will live on, then refined until it feels inevitable.
In progress
02 / AboutArtist profileDouglas Santos
Portrait of Douglas Santos
Douglas Santos
Brazilian tattoo artist
Realism / Portraiture
La Jolla, California
Instagram
@dosantosink ↗

Precision,
depth and
presence.

Hey, I’m Douglas Dos Santos. My journey into tattooing wasn’t planned, but looking back, I believe it saved my life.

Growing up in a small town in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil, I was always driven by creativity and a desire to explore. At 22, I took a massive leap of faith and moved to the United States completely alone, chasing new opportunities. After the initial hustle, I found myself questioning my “American Dream” and felt ready to give up.

That’s when I picked up a tattoo machine for the first time.

What started as a hobby out of my bedroom quickly turned into pure passion. Tattooing completely changed my trajectory. I knew instantly that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I started building a portfolio by tattooing friends and coworkers, eventually landing my first official apprenticeship at Kaleidoscope Tattoo in Boston. Seeing how a real studio operated changed everything for me.

Driven to learn from the best, a mutual friend connected me with Ivan, an incredible artist based all the way across the country in California. I reached out to him, and he invited me to watch him work. I booked a one-week trip to San Diego, and I completely fell in love. I loved the energy of the city, the people, and most importantly, Ivan’s dedication, ethics, and love for the craft.

Ivan offered me an apprenticeship at Prospect Ink, and one month later, I packed my bags and moved to San Diego permanently. Being able to work alongside my biggest mentor and reference in the industry is an absolute blessing.

Today, I’m living a reality more beautiful than anything I could have dreamed up as a kid. I am incredibly grateful to every single person who opened a door for me along the way. I love what I do every single day, I’m always pushing myself to try new styles, and honestly? I’m just getting started.

Origin
Brazil
Based
La Jolla / San Diego, California
Since
Tattooing in La Jolla since 2023
Practice
Realism, Illustrative, Portraiture, Black Work
Approach
Custom compositions developed around placement, scale and balance.
Current
Project inquiries in Southern California and beyond.
03 / Words5.0 on YelpVerified clients
What they
carry.

A tattoo lasts a lifetime. These are verified reviews from clients at Prospect Ink, La Jolla.

★★★★★
Douglas took the time to understand my vision and offered his artistic insight on placement. Light hand, always checking in. You can tell he truly cares about his craft and his clients. 10/10 experience.
Josef L.Neck · Full-day session · Yelp
★★★★★
I found Douglas through his portfolio and knew his style was exactly what I wanted. His sketch captured my vision completely, delicate and intricate detail in every part of it. I am already planning my next with him.
Rena P.Custom · Illustrative · Yelp
★★★★★
A life-changing first tattoo. Douglas is a gem, from his dedication to his art to his calming presence. He put me at ease and the whole process was smooth and thorough.
C. W.First tattoo · Yelp
★★★★★
We keep coming back to rave about our experiences with Douglas as our artist. Every visit feels welcoming and relaxing, and you truly feel like you belong.
Kelly D.Elite · Repeat client · Yelp
04 / Request a ProjectProject inquiryLa Jolla / California

Start a
project.

This inquiry gives Douglas the information needed to understand your project before the first conversation.

Less back-and-forth.
More clarity from the first message.
Booking requests are reviewed personally. Availability and final pricing are confirmed after the project is reviewed.
01 / CollectorStart with the essentials.
Step 01 / 05
02 / ProjectDefine what is being built.
Upload placement / existing tattoo
Step 02 / 05
03 / DirectionGive the project context, not instructions.
Upload visual references
Step 03 / 05
04 / DetailsAnything that helps the review.
Step 04 / 05
05 / ReviewReview before sending.
Step 05 / 05

Project
received.

Your request was sent to Douglas. He reviews every project personally and will reply by email. You will also get a confirmation in your inbox.