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Meet Kristen Cross of Erstellt Designs in Chandler

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Cross.

Kristen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Throughout my youth, I spent my time drawing, playing instruments and attending concerts, but after high school, I moved from home and I went through a really rough patch in life and lost all urges to create anything. A part of me still really wanted to be surrounded by creatives, so I would go to local shows and hang around my cousin’s tattoo studio.

She had been tattooing for a good number of years and eventually extended an apprenticeship to me, but I was getting ready to move to Colorado. Three years later, I missed my hometown too much and moved back where my cousin was still really excited for me to start tattooing. I spent months learning about procedures and techniques and eventually began to tattoo oranges, then my fake arm, and now actual clients!

One day, I was scrolling through Facebook and came across a band that was looking for designers. I gave it a shot and sent them a message and months later; they’re still a returning client of mine. Then I started thinking, why don’t I get into merch designing too? I had always thought it would be so cool to have my art on a t-shirt and I knew basics of both Photoshop and Illustrator. Might as well combine forces and make my passion for art and love for bands unite.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not at all. There’s a lot of setbacks in life. Some days you have to commute 4 hours a day via public transit, others you stay up past 4 a.m. recreating the same design you just finished because you realize you formatted it incorrectly. Also, with tattooing in a private studio, my mentor and I don’t receive walk-ins like you would at a normal tattoo shop. It’s not much of an issue for her since she’s currently booked out for months, I’ve had to actively market myself in order to get my name out there as a tattoo artist. I’m lucky to have the support system that I have to keep me floating.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Erstellt Designs – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m a tattoo artist and band merch designer. Erstellt Designs is still such a new business, so there’s so much growth I have to make but at the moment, I love both cute/bubbly designs and the creepy/sinister. It’s kind of hard to pinpoint really, but maybe that’s what sets me apart. It overjoys me to see people’s reaction once I finish their tattoos or even when I send a band their finished design.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
There are so many ideas floating around in my head! Definitely, making an effort to go out and support local bands when possible and, of course, doing more designs for bands and continuing to try and promote them as much as I can. Even working on collaborations with other artists or screen printers once I’m at a point that I would be ready for a jump like that.

Eventually, I would love to become a traveling tattoo artist. It might even be cool to be able to travel with a band I designed for and guest spot at different shops along the way, but as for now, honing in on developing my skills and building connections is most important at the moment.

Pricing:

  • Tattooing: $75/hour or flat rate flash pieces

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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