Conversations with Christopher Reyes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Reyes.

Hi Christopher, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well I got started when I was fifteen years old. I was just a kid running with the gang. The older gang members were tattooing all of us youngsters with a homemade tattoo machine. The kind of machine they use in prison. I fell in love with the craft and continued to tattoo from my mother’s house for the next five years. I worked several jobs until I decided to open my first tattoo shop at 21 years of age.

Over the years, I kept pushing myself to improve my craft, learn from every experience, and stay true to my own style. I’ve met a lot of great people along the way, and every client and every tattoo has taught me something.

Eventually, that hard work led me to where I am today, running my own tattoo shop and barbershop, building my brand, working on different creative businesses, and even putting together events like Inked in the Desert Tattoo Fest and Tattooing at the largest music festival in the world, Coachellafest and Stagecoach!

It definitely didn’t happen overnight. It’s been years of hard work, taking chances, learning from mistakes, and never giving up on what I believe in. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but I still feel like I’m just getting started.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road lol. The challenges came immediately. It took me 6 months and several meetings at city hall in order to get my first shop open. At that time in 2001 tattooing had such a bad stigma that none of the city’s wanted a shop in town. I remember their main concern was that the tattoo shop would bring gang members to the area but in fact at the time the area was already gang infested and the wars had been going on since the 80’s… Since then we had ups and downs. Covid 19 was one of the busiest times for tattoo artists in California believe it or not!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So my business is kind of unique. I’ve managed to include all my hobbies as a kid into one business lol. I’m a full time Tattoo Artist and Body Piercer. I’m also an Airbrush Artist I work on custom motorcycles here and we small barbershop located here all under one roof!!

What makes you happy?
Paintballing!! It’s my only time to get some of the frustration out from running the shop full time and dealing with people hahaha. It’s either that or riding one of my motorcycles.

Pricing:

• $100 minimum
• $100 Deposit

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.Inkedinthedesertfest.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloodlinetattoo1?stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisBloodlineTattoo?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr