No. 03 About
About Chris Valencia
Chris Valencia is a resident artist at Powerline Tattoo in Cranston, Rhode Island. He grew up in a small West Texas town, tattooed there for about eight years, moved to the Atlanta area about ten years ago, and now works full time in Rhode Island. He works all styles and prefers illustrative, neo-traditional and new-school.
Where is Chris Valencia from?
A small town in West Texas, where he was born and raised and tattooed for about eight years. About ten years ago he moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area, and he now lives and works full time in Rhode Island, tattooing at Powerline Tattoo on Reservoir Avenue in Cranston.
- West Texas Born and raised in a small town, and tattooed there for about eight years.
- Atlanta, Georgia area Moved about ten years ago and kept tattooing.
- Rhode Island Now full time, as a resident artist at Powerline Tattoo in Cranston.
The portfolio has range to match the mileage: black-and-grey wildlife next to candy-colored cartoons, a watercolor songbird next to a ship sailing out of a teacup. See it in the portfolio.
What does Chris like to tattoo?
Fun, surreal images with a very animated, whimsical feel, in his own words. He works all styles and prefers illustrative, neo-traditional and new-school, and he likes combining elements: a tiger crawling through blossoms, three trout blooming from a ring box, a skull lit like a synthwave poster. Color and black and grey both.
Each style has its own page: Illustrative for storybook detail and watercolor, Neo-traditional for bold line and deep color, New-school for cartoons with the volume up, and Cover-ups for an honest look at what an old tattoo can become.
- Pets and wildlife
- Botanicals
- Characters you grew up with
- Objects with a story
- Memorial pieces
- Mash-ups of two ideas
What does Chris look for in a project?
An idea with a little personality and a client who's open to his take on it. Bring the subject, the placement, references and a rough size; he draws the piece for you, at your size, and combines elements where it helps. Cover-ups and large pieces get an in-person look first. Half-formed ideas are welcome.
Helpful
- The subject, and what it means to you
- Where it goes, with a photo of the spot if you have one
- References: photos, sketches, other tattoos with the feel you're after
- The largest size you'd be comfortable with
- Your budget range and any date you're working toward
Not needed
- A finished drawing; that's his job
- Another artist's tattoo to copy line for line
- A decision on every detail before you've talked
Where does Chris tattoo?
At Powerline Tattoo, 706 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston, RI 02910, on Route 2 near the end of Route 10, about ten minutes from downtown Providence. The shop is open Monday through Saturday, by appointment only, so every session starts with a booking request. Call (401) 369-7771 with questions, or send the form.
Directions and parking notes for each nearby city are on the location pages: Cranston, Providence, Warwick, Johnston, West Warwick, East Providence, Pawtucket and Rhode Island.
No. 03 Video
Chris, on video
A short introduction, hosted on YouTube. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play.
Video Tattoo Artist Chris Valencia Intro
No. 03 Appointment card
Bring him the idea.
Send it through the booking form with the placement and any references. Chris replies by email; a deposit holds your date once the details are set, and the amount is confirmed when you book.
- Your idea, in a sentence or two
- Placement and rough size
- Reference images
- Budget range
- Timing