Always experimenting with art materials since he was a child, Istanbul-based artist Ayhan Karadağ eventually found his calling—tattoo art. He gets cute, colorful tattoos that look like illustrations from fairy tales. Each permanent ink drawing allows the wearer to celebrate the magic of a child’s imagination.

“While creating art, I realized that the human body is the most precious material, and I want to make people happy when they look at my work on their bodies,” Karadağ said. “I don’t think there’s anything more satisfying than wearing the fairy tale design one imagines on one’s body for the rest of one’s life.” From cute characters to motifs from nature, each minimalist, individually designed tattoo is inked onto the skin with delicate lines and vibrant colors.

Karadağ is especially fond of showing designs inspired by nature, such as animals, trees, and plants—but almost always with a surrealist twist. The talented tattoo artist revealed: “In my work, I like to tell fairy tales that happen in our dreams, blending with nature and animals.” “I am passionate about nature and animals because I believe that the more we depend on nature, the freer we are as individuals.”

Check out some of Karadağ’s fairy tattoos below, and learn more from his tattoo portfolio on Instagram.

Tattoo artist Ayhan Karadağ’s permanent ink drawings celebrate the magic of childhood.

Each drawing is printed on the wearer’s skin with delicate lines and vibrant colors.

Many designs look like they came out of a fairy tale.