We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Eliska Keris. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Eliska below.

Eliska, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

I’ve been creative my whole life. I’ve moved around a lot as a child and I’ve always lived in multiple places at once. I was always hiding out in the library. I preferred to be alone most time.

When I was really young my family, classmates, friends, or just random people would ask me to make things for them. It was strange for me the amount of request I would get because I didn’t talk to many people except for a few close friends.

I was really to myself when it came to creating or just reading. It was my safe place. I would draw, paint, build, sculpt, cut, record, write, film, take pictures, or play instruments. I did whatever felt good to me.

I would share how I wanted to be an artist, photographer, writer, all the things that I loved to do and my dreams kept getting shut down by some of the closet people to me.

I kept creating anyway because that was the only stable thing I had in my life, the only thing I had control of. It made feel good and it made me feel safe no matter what was happening around me.

All I knew was that I was in a lot of pain and creating released it. I knew that I didn’t want people to feel like I felt. I wanted people to feel happy and safe.

As I continued to grow up and discover more libraries the request never stopped no matter where I went, how silent I was, or how loud I was, someone always knew. I kept creating and I kept giving and I knew I could never stop.

Eliska, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Eliska Keris. I’ve moved around a lot since a baby, usually living in multiple places at once. I grew up with mostly boys. I feel like this lead me to be more of an introvert. Though I can socialize, I prefer more alone time. Since a child till now I’ve stayed in libraries and I have been creating. As a child I would write songs, poems, draw, build homes for my toys, play the keyboard, play guitar, just anything that was creative, I indulged in it. When it came to being outside I asked for a skateboard sometime in the early 2000s and eventually it lead me filming skate videos for my brother’s and our friends.

My first year in high school I failed nearly all my classes and there I learned about consequences and discipline because that summer I couldn’t do what I wanted anymore. I started working and taking college courses in high school. By senior year I was allowed to start school by my third period English class with my last three classes being electives of my choice, art being the majority. The end of my senior year I turned 18 and signed myself out of school and got my first tattoo. I ended up graduating with more credits than I needed.

I started community college full time taking various courses from Psychology to Automotive and kept getting more tattoos at Chicano Tattoo. I built a relationship with the artist sharing my pain and victories as he tattooed me. It was therapy for me. I ended up sign spinning for him the days I didn’t have class then eventually I stared buying supplies from him like needles. I started practicing on oranges and building and taking apart cheap online tattoo machines . One day Abel, a family friend came to the house when I was practicing on my oranges and demanded I tattoo him. I cleaned up and tattooed a rose on his chest. I kept practicing and buying supplies then eventually he gave me my first professional tattoo machine which was a purple Bishop Rotary that I still have. I kept going from there and eventually got my first apprenticeship from Dave on Crenshaw in Los Angeles.

I’ve work various jobs and taken various classes outside of myself to gain knowledge , mange, and fund my craft. I’ve worked in banks, warehouses, fast food, automative, security, cleaned houses, and taken care of children and the elderly. I even tried driving 18 wheelers. I learned any skill that I could later use and implement into my life. I always did the best I could no matter where I was because no matter where you go, your habits will follow. I have lost or was robbed of my portfolios, my artworks, my writings, my equipment, my child, and even my hearing. I’m proud of myself for never stopping no matter how slow, how misunderstood, or how hard things got. I believe if you love or believe in something enough you should never give up. Sometimes that something can be yourself. If it is good it will work, just give it time.

I’m a multi mixed media artist and writer.
My skills vary from music, literature, film, photography, graphic design, digital art, tattooing, piercing, and the fine arts. My services included tattooing, piercing, and custom designs for artwork, logos, cover art, murals, and tattoos.

I want to make people’s ideas come to life. I want to help people express themselves through art. I want people to feel, to see, and be heard. I believe self expression is very important and everyone has their own way of expressing themselves. We are all uniquely different. We all need water. We all benefit from the same sun. Live. Learn. Create. My goal is to plant seeds where ever I go.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think that sometimes people forget that creating takes a lot of time especially for quality. Creatives are usually balancing different projects while still having a personal life and running a business. It takes a lot of energy and emotion and I think sometimes people forget that or are unaware. I know some clients may sometimes feel annoyed if a creative doesn’t reply right away but have patience and understanding and clear communication and things will go smoother for both parties.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

How I grow my clientele is just by being myself and listening to others needs and doing the best I can to solve any problem. I like asking them questions that they may not have thought of. I don’t treat them like a number or transaction. I treat everyone with respect and usually they’ll refer me to someone else.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eliskakeris.com
• Instagram: @eliskakeris

Image Credits

Eliska Keris