Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christine Vallieres. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Christine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?
I grew up in a very conservative Christian household. For some reason I think that culture can go hand in hand with the belief that practical life choices are the best life choices. There can be less appreciation for the arts but my parents were the opposite.
Art and music of all genres were very much celebrated in my household and my parents only encouraged me to pursue art. They never pressured me to choose a more “practical” profession , they only told me to do what I love to the best of my ability and always be open to learning.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
In 1999 I graduated from a small school in upstate New York. I spent my first two years of college at Munson Williams Proctor Institute School of Art located in Utica, New York. While attending MWPI I was able to receive extremely high quality instruction. I took figure drawing and painting, sculpture in multiple mediums, jewelry making, film photography and color theory. I received the excellence in photography award upon graduating. I then attended Anderson University in Anderson Indiana where I focused on sculpture and held an assistantship with the sculpture professor and artist in residence, Ken Ryden. I was able to work in metal, casting and welding as well as glass blowing.
From there I transferred to State University of New York at Oswego where I graduated with an emphasis in drawing and photography.
After my bachelors I spent some time taking care of my grandfather before he passed away and then my grandmother. I went to cosmetology school and became a hair stylist. I spent time as an assistant at a salon in Manhattan to further my skills. I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina from there and had a life changing experience that forced me to revaluate my life and what I wanted to be doing, it was not hair.
There is a a consistency throughout my phases of life, I am driven by curiosity, which is how I ended up becoming a tattoo artist. I made the move from North Carolina to Arizona and left being a hairstylist behind forever. I got an apprenticeship and told myself that I will do the best I can and see what happens. Tattooing has kept me curious and challenged since 2010. I never wanted to own a tattoo shop but I did have a dream to someday have my very own space. My own space to create, to my personal artwork as well as permanent art on people who ask me to. I now have that in Wapakoneta, OH, in the Brown Building, known as the Wapa Theatre Building to locals, built to completion in 1904.
I have dreams for the space and I will keeping dreaming and following my curiosity.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
If you genuinely care about people and remember that your clients comfort and the way they are treated is the most important thing along with providing a service or product that you believe in, thats it. The rest will come, love and truth.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I left my career as a hairstylist because I knew in my body and my soul it was not what I was meant to be doing. I was good at it but that was not enough to keep me curious.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @christinevart @thewapastudio
