by Kandiss Edwards
November 28, 2025
Marlon Blake, a senior artist at Iron Palm Tattoo Studio, inked a design created by Sage Williams after the boy won the studio's annual drawing competition.
Marlon Blake, an Atlanta tattoo artist, has used his own body as a permanent canvas to support a 6-year-old artist's growing talent.
Marlon Blake, a senior artist at Iron Palm Tattoo Studio, inked a design created by Sage Williams after the boy won the studio's annual drawing contest, CBS News reported.
For over a decade, Blake has lived by one simple rule: “Wake up every day and do exactly what you love to do.”
His passion is creating lasting art on people. When he saw Sage's entry in the competition, he admired the work. Although the design seemed simple even for an experienced tattoo artist, the maturity and originality of the work from such a young artist was “absolutely stunning.” [Blake] gone,” he told CBS News.
Sage's creative talent comes from dedicated practice, and he proudly declared, “I worked very hard for it,” adding that his success was due to him being “very intelligent.” His father guides him, but the creative vision is his own. One of Sage's paintings now hangs proudly in the studio, giving the young artist a lasting presence in the artistic space.
In the annual drawing contest, the winning design is usually used by the store. However, when Blake realized that no one had attempted to use Sage's design on their own bodies, he made a decision. Blake would make the artwork a permanent part of his own body. The winning design now adorns Blake's leg.
Blake felt a strong connection to Sage and recognized a spark of his own childhood self in the little boy.
“It was around that age that I realized I had the talent as an artist,” Blake told the outlet.
Seeing so much potential in the child, Blake wants to remain a part of Sage's life and support his future. The tattoo serves as a powerful, everlasting message of support from one artist to the next. For Blake, the ink on his skin is a constant reminder to the young winner: “Take [his] Take art seriously” and “go through with it”.
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