George Floyd mural painted by local tattoo artist, portraitist in downtown Fayetteville

Carlos Tolentino has been a tattoo artist for 12 years, and has been painting since he was a kid. His way of activism is through art.

"With everything that happened Saturday night, I needed to do something positive," Tolentino said.

The mural in Fayetteville mirrors one that was painted in Houston. Floyd has wings on his back and halo over his head.

Right below the neck of Floyd, Tolentino painted the words "R.I.P. George" on his hoodie.

In the mural in Houston, Floyd's hoodie reads, "Ghetto."

But, Tolentino said he didn't see the mural in Houston before painting his own.

He can see the painting from across the street of where he lives, he said. This morning, he saw a homeless man walking by the mural.

"He got on his knees and prayed," Tolentino said.

He also saw a girl walk by the mural and cry.

Tolentino posted a Facebook post on his account. At the end of it, you can see him kneeling with his hands folded -- like he's praying.

Tolentino's Instagram page features his art -- tattoo and paintings. He's especially talented at portraits -- like this one for his niece's quinceanera.

Painting a memorial is not that far off from the work that Tolentino already does with a needle. He said many of his tattoos are "memorial tattoos." This painting in downtown Fayetteville is a memorial mural.

Tolentino is from Mexico City, then moved with his family to Robeson County. Now, he lives in Fayetteville and owns Best Ink of Fayetteville located at 2180 Skibo Rd.

He said he didn't participate in the protest because he has appointments "booked a couple months in advance." His shop just opened back up under Phase Two of Gov. Cooper's plan to reopen the state during the coronavirus pandemic.