What type of work was the illustrated man used to doing? Give a textual example.

He was initially traveling around in search of a job. Upon finding a carnival, he initially attempted to enter the carnival as a Fat Man, and when he was rejected went off to be covered in illustrations by the old woman. He finds out that the tattoos are irremovable after visiting a Skin Man. He is the protagonist of the parts of the book that feature him, though there isn't necessarily a character arc for him as he is used more as the basis for the stories within.