In this fascinating interview, we delve into the exciting world of art and tattooing with Kristina, a multifaceted artist who has captivated us with her impressive work. With a career that spans from painting to tattooing, Kristina shares with us her incredible artistic and personal journey. From her humble beginnings as a creative child to becoming a prominent tattoo artist, Kristina provides us with a profound insight into her life, her inspiration, and her dedication to art. Join us as we explore her colorful palette of experiences and uncover the secrets behind her success in the world of tattooing. Welcome to an artistic journey that will inspire and captivate you!
Hello Kristina! It's a pleasure that you give us this interview and the possibility that our readers can get to know you a little more and be able to see a fantastic artist in action!
I have the feeling that you've been an artist since you were little, but I want to know a little more accurately, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DEDICATED TO ART?, SOMEONE GUIDED YOU OR WAS IT SOMETHING YOU CHOSE BY YOURSELF?
That's right, since childhood I was a creative child, I drew on any materials and by any means, made crafts, modeled with clay. I went to art school, where I studied painting and composition, which helped me a lot in the future. As a tattoo artist I have been in the game since 2014. Once I tried it, I can't stop. At the beginning of my journey I asked my first tattoo artist to show me how the machine works, what is needed for work, how to prepare the workplace, how to insert the needle and other basic things. Further I was engaged only in self-education :)
WHAT TECHNIQUES DO YOU PERFORM?
If we are talking about the technique of tattooing - these are all the secrets of the company, which I talk about in my online seminars :) They are very long videos, so even if I could tell - it would take a lot of pages in this interview :)
And if we are talking about how I work in general, I work with solid, bright colors and I always combine realistic, surrealistic objects with neon lights and abstract backgrounds in my composition. And in the process of creating the composition I try to create the most unique art possible.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ART IN GENERAL...
I didn't have a very happy childhood, so I often got lost in my creativity. For me it was a place where I could relax and feel real and free. Even now, when I grew up, I still see art everywhere and try to bring some bright colors into the gray everyday life through tattoos and my canvases :)
For me art is everything around me, everything that inspires me is architecture, music, painting, all those cool, unique things that people create. Looking at which I can say "Wow, I have not seen that yet."
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WAS THE MOMENT WHERE YOU DECIDED TO START WITH THE TATTOO?
As I told earlier, all my life I was a creative child, and in the period of 2005-2010 in my country there was a lot of member of an informal social group and people were very much interested in tattoos, of course it influenced for my interests too. But on the real I have got engaged in tattoo culture and decided to become the tattoo artist when first time I have tried to use a tattoo machine for creation of art on a skin. I realized that I have enough knowledge after art school to progress in this direction and the process grab me in like a dark hole :)
HOW WAS THAT?
At that period I was a young student at the college of architecture, I had no job and no money. I cried and asked my mom to give me some money to buy my first tattoo equipment, but we lived poor and had no money, so my mom borrowed it from relatives. In general, though, she didn't support my idea and didn't believe in me. Basically no one believed in me or supported me at that time. Finally I found a way to collect about $300. That's when I bought a cheap tattoo machine for about $150, the simplest power supply, about $30 and a few bottles of inks, about 5 in total. Good thing I had art school and I knew how to mix the colors and my 5 colors turned into 25 colors :) With the rest of the money I bought other supplies that allowed me to start making tattoos.
And in the best tradition of the first tattoo - I did it on myself. They are little, shitty cherries on my heel :) I don't want to cover it because it's part of my story :)
HOW LONG?
It's 2023 year now. It means I've been doing what I really love for almost 10 years :)
HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN ATTRACTED TO COLORS OR HAVE YOU ALSO TRIED GRAY AND IT DIDN'T WORK?
I have always been attracted by bright colors, I like everything bright and unusual :) In my artistic way I made also black-and-white works, but they was more like commercial projects and part of grow up, now in principle I don't make commercial works. I just don't take up works which do not inspire me. However my attentive followers know that I do black and gray tattoos combined with a bright colored accent, neon glow, it's cool, I like it :)
THE ART OF TATTOOING IS A SEA OF OPPORTUNITIES AND EMOTIONS, WHAT HAS IT GIVEN YOU AS AN ARTIST AND PERSONALLY?
First of all, of course, I want to say that for me it is an opportunity to create something unique, escaping from the gray of everyday life. When I create - I live :) All my life goals are tightly connected with tattoo culture, I live by it. When I achieve my goals and really get high and happy. Also tattooing has given me a lot of interesting meetings, all my friends from tattoo culture and they are really cool people :)
Of course it is not only joy and positive, because in addition to the good, there is a bad side, these are health problems due to permanent sitting work, not correct poses, heavy workload in general. My body feels this negative effect :(
DID YOU EVER THINK OF BEING WHERE YOU ARE TODAY ARTISTICALLY? DID YOU FEEL THAT CHANGE WHERE EVERYONE ALREADY TALKS ABOUT YOU, THEY KNOW YOU, THEY KNOW YOUR PIECES, ETC?
I am a really motivated person. The first time I picked up a tattoo machine I already dreamed of being a great tattoo artist, getting published in magazines, being sponsored by world tattoo brands, but honestly I didn't feel any difference, having achieved all that... I still feel like a beginner who should learn a lot. And I'm thankful that the conventional "fame" hasn't affected me in any way. Because for me have matters is not only how cool an artist is, but also what kind is a person.
I SAW THAT YOU USUALLY MODEL, IS THAT ALSO YOUR JOB?
I take it as a compliment :) I've never worked as a model and in general I don't like shoots, it's a big challenge for me :)
All the pictures you can see in my social media really look professional and it's all thanks to my husband. He is a talented man and takes great pictures of me :)
ARE YOU A SEXY PERSON OR IS IT A CHARACTER?
It's not up to me :) I am as I am. I am not trying to be someone else :) It's just not always what we see on social media is a 100% true reflection of reality. In social media we see only the nice parts, where everything is easy and carefree. In real life - it is not like this :)
DO YOU DO OTHER ACTIVITIES?
Honestly i'm super lazy :) to be serious about any other activity - no. In my free time outside of tattoos, I like to cook, read books, eat great food and sleep well on my couch :) I also sometimes make my canvases dirty, I mean painting :)
DO YOU HAVE A PARTNER?, FAMILY?
Yes, I've been married for seven years now.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS BEING SUCH AN ACTIVE PERSON? THERE'S TIME?
I'm lucky in that aspect. My husband not only takes great pictures of me, but he is also a great tattoo artist. He started tattooing not long ago and I taught him. He is progressing and growing very quickly. Because of this we can travel together to tattoo festivals and conventions, go to guest spots and basically we spend a lot of time together. In the past my husband was from the area of sports, he has a university education in sports theme and had the kind of job that is very anchored to one location. Later I discovered his creative potential, because he did a lot of creative things, making furniture, taking photos. I suggested he try painting a picture and I was 100% convinced he was going to be a cool tattoo artist. Then we tried tattooing and now he do only tattoos :)
YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
Now my main challenge is to work less and organize my life in such a way that it brings profits without harming my health. I would like to travel more, not for work. I would like to travel for rest and to explore new amazing places of our planet. I would also like to learn how to live here and now. Because my minds all the time about future plans :)
DO YOU HAVE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
I have plans, and there are a lot of them. But I prefer not to share plans before they come true :) COVID was a good example of the fact that all plans can be cancelled at the moment. And that kind of thing really upsets and depresses me.
IF SOMEONE WANTS A PIECE OF YOU, HOW CAN THEY CONTACT YOU?
The easiest way to contact me is my Instagram page. I try to respond to messages as quickly and as often as possible :) But soon I will make my own website, where there will be a comfortable form for communication :)