Avalon Tattoo Collective · New Westminster, BC
Realism that holds the feeling, not just the likeness.
Carli Hall tattoos black & grey realism and pet portraits — pieces built to carry a memory with the depth and softness it deserves.
The Approach
Some tattoos decorate.
These ones remember.
A pet who shaped your years. A face you never want to blur. Realism at this level is less about ink and more about attention — studying reference photos until the light, fur, and expression translate honestly to skin.
Carli works exclusively in black & grey, building smooth tonal depth designed to age gracefully and hold detail for decades.
Portfolio
The Work
Black & grey realism, pet portraits, and portrait work — every piece designed for the body it lives on.
Ready when you are
Found a piece that feels like yours?
Carli takes a limited number of realism projects each month. Send your idea and reference photos to start the conversation.
About the Artist
Carli Hall
Carli Hall is a black & grey realism tattoo artist working out of Avalon Tattoo Collective in New Westminster, British Columbia. Her practice centres on the work that means the most to people — the pets who shaped their lives, the faces they refuse to forget, and the images that carry a story worth keeping.
Realism is unforgiving. There is nowhere for a weak line or a rushed shadow to hide. Carli's process is built around that reality: careful reference selection, compositions mapped to the body, and smooth tonal shading engineered to stay sharp as the tattoo ages.
Pet portraits are a particular specialty — capturing not just the markings of an animal, but the expression that made them unmistakably yours.
Specialties
Three disciplines. One standard.
Pet Portraits
Faithful tributes to the animals who mattered — fur texture, expression, and personality rendered in soft black & grey.
Portrait Realism
Human faces demand precision. Carli studies bone structure and light until the portrait carries a real presence.
Black & Grey Realism
Smooth gradients, deliberate contrast, and compositions designed to sit naturally with the body — and age well.
The Process
From idea to heirloom
01
Share
Send your idea, reference photos, and placement. The clearer the reference, the stronger the result.
02
Design
Carli composes the piece for your body — scale, flow, and contrast mapped before any ink.
03
Tattoo
A focused session (or sessions) at Avalon Tattoo Collective, built around precision, not speed.
04
Heal & Refine
Healed work is reviewed. If a detail needs reinforcement, it gets handled properly.
Honest Guidance
If an idea won't hold up on skin, you'll hear it before the needle touches.
Size and placement honesty. Reference photos reviewed before anything is drawn. Contrast and tonal structure planned for how the piece will look in ten years — not just on day one.
01
Reference first
Every project starts with the photo. Carli helps clients choose references with the light and detail realism demands.
02
Built for the body
Placement, scale, and flow are designed around anatomy so the piece moves naturally with you.
03
Longevity by design
Tonal contrast and spacing are planned for how skin ages — so the detail holds, decade after decade.
The Studio
Avalon Tattoo Collective
A private, professional studio space in the heart of New Westminster — a short walk from the SkyTrain and built for long, focused realism sessions.
Highbourne Tower, 314 6th St, New Westminster, BC V3M 0H7
(604) 716-7635TATTOO REQUESTS
A thoughtful tattoo starts with a clear idea.
Carli takes a limited number of realism projects each month. Share a few details below and she'll follow up personally — the more you can tell her about your idea, the better.
Prefer to reach out directly?
What makes a strong request
- 01Clear, well-lit reference photos — for pet portraits, eye-level shots with sharp detail work best.
- 02A sense of placement and approximate size, so the piece can be designed for your body.
- 03The story behind the piece — it genuinely shapes how the design comes together.