CRIS CLEEN
Where are you from?
I’m from the midwest originally but spent, up until recently , my whole adult life in California.
Where do you currently live?
I currently live and work in Brooklyn , New York.
What Made you Want to Get your First Tattoo?/When did you first become interested in getting tattooed?
I remember wanting to get tattooed and be heavily tattooed as soon as i was old enough. after getting the first one and seeing the inside of a tattoo shop and the designs, i knew i wanted to be a part of it. i wanted to live in it and dive into the strange mystery of those images.
Where did you get your first tattoo?
I got my first tattoo when i was 18 in California on my leg of a logo i drew for a punk rock band that i never got going. haha
How did you start tattooing?
I had an apprenticeship and moved towards southern California to a beach town and worked every day.
When you are not tattooing, how do you like to spend your free time?
I like to paint when I’m not working. i like exploring ideas that aren’t always related to work. its good to get those gears going in that way even if its not what you do for money or even to have shows.
Who are your artistic influencers?/Mentors?
I think everyone i’ve ever worked with has had an influence on me. influence is a funny thing that cant be filtered the way you want all the time. anyone who does something different than you is going to make an impression. were picking up things from everyone, everywhere, at all times.
Any heroes?
I don’t have heroes. your life is different than anyone else’s. there is no one path to get to where you’re going so i don’t think you can really measure against anything else.
How has being tattooed affected your life?
I’ve had tattoos since I’ve been an adult so its hard to say what it might be like otherwise. i think at the very least, it associates you with an alternative lifestyle . although, the more common having tattoos becomes , the less alternative it is so, I’m sure future generations will have different judgements about tattoos entirely.
What tattoo has the most meaning for you?
It’s hard to have a tattoo stand out of a large collection, i have a palm tree on my hand which is a nice reminder of sunshine and it’s nice that it’s a symbol that makes everyone feel good.
What are your inspirations inside & outside of tattooing?
Inspiration comes from everywhere, the same. i mean, who could even pin point something like that. put it into a list would be impossible. I don’t ask myself those questions. when you start to file those things and analyze them , you start to second guess them. an idea for a design or painting , the first one is the purest. The trouble is seeing that through to completion.
