Let’s go Behind The Ink™ and get to know a few of my collectors, supporters and dear friends. Because everyone has a story.
Here’s there’s.
Behind The Ink™ w/ @christophrcox
When people ask you to describe yourself, the impression they have of you is often different than the one you have of yourself. Calm, poised, and personable is how I was described growing up.
The whole time, I was more timid, observant, and reserved. Over the years, I’ve grown into myself, and I’ve extra focus on unlearning, more than the learning process itself.
Where I am today is by no means where I was in the past, or where I will be in the future. However, the little boy inside of me is still there, and he looks up to the person I am now.
Grin has perfectly painted my vision; allowing the child in me to look in the mirror, and see the God staring back at him. Telling a personal story that’s still being written isn’t as easy as one thinks, but it’s easiest to tell the lessons that instructed the learn. So, some core pieces of my past, present, and future: be a human, and have compassion.
You never know the impact of your actions, or words on another human being, and you can be the difference of a good day vs. a bad one. Have morals. It’s difficult to toe the line when things take priority over your passions and beliefs, and that is why you must keep those in mind.
Lastly, have a love that doesn’t expire. We all have moments of regret, loss, misunderstanding, etc.
But, everything in life serves a purpose, and realize that people can paths after that purpose is served. Remember, it’s been love, and it’s still love. 🙏🏿
Behind The Ink™ w/ @Ziminfite
My name is Gezim. I’m a regular degular kid from the Bronx. Born, raised and proud. Always been different from most. I think of my self as a creative, and throughout my life my creativity grew and expanded through my experiences.
My creativity is a defining characteristic of my being.
Happy, sad, tragic, and funny stories contribute to my canvas. I’ve been lucky to be around some dope people who have influenced me in some form or fashion. I’ve also had the misfortune of experiencing some more than unfavorable moments.
I grew up in an old school home, raised by two immigrants from Europe. My Albanian parents were born and raised in former Yugoslavia. If you know your history, you know that the Albanian people haven’t seen many sunny days. Despite all we’ve been through, we persevered. We didn’t let our oppressors erase our tradition, culture or our very own existence. We also do not let our past oppression define us… but we used it as a catalyst to be better. If we fall 7 times, we rise 8.
In my house, tattoos were always a taboo, but on the other hand, Gezim was always a rebel. I was introduced to Grin through my cousin Magi, and the rest was history. I wanted artwork that represented Albanian independence. An ode to the victory we attained against our oppressors of over 500 years. I had something in mind, and Grin helped me see a bigger picture and created something special.
I’m 70% done, and the sleeve we started is special to me because of where my ancestors came from, and how hard they fought to preserve their identity. I wanted to literally wear it on my sleeve.
As a creative, cultivating this piece has helped me see bigger. Don’t stop at the first idea. Plant that seed, plant more seeds, and see how you can make those plants grand!
I’m an artist. I have aspirations to work with all kinds of artists from musicians to filmmakers to tattoo artists to poets, and on. Creating art is a flame that burns within me, and when I work with others, the flame grows bigger, and hotter.
I can’t wait to do more work with the one and only Grin Stylez. It’s never just a tattoo session… it’s a wisdom, philosophy, comedy, life session. Our next session will give me more ink…. and more life.
Peace ☮️
⁃ Gezim Camaj
@zimfinite
Behind The Ink™ w/ @Madhattan
Madhattan is an underground rapper, born & raised in Lower Manhattan. He got his first tattoo at the early age of 14 in a shop on West 4th street, and has been getting tattooed by Grin for about the last 10yrs. Many of the art pieces that Mad displays on himself are some of Grin’s favorites as they all pretty much pay homage to NYC and the Hip Hop culture that was birthed by the city. Gritty as the bars he spews in the booth, Mad’s ink features stick-up kids, burnt hundred dollar bills, the arm of the Statue of Liberty and (on a lighter note) a portrait of his daughter.
No where near next to finished with the work that he wants from Grin, this collector is a continuous work in progress…
Behind The Ink™ w/ @BenRoberts
Identity can be a strange thing. Your first identity is given to you—son, daughter, Christian, Muslim—it’s what’s in you, not on you. I never thought I’d get a tattoo on account of my Judaism, especially having family members forcibly tattooed during The Holocaust. But after a reoccurring dream with a reoccurring image, it compelled me to seek someone who could realize it on my right thigh. Grin was the perfect artist to meet as he understands how certain images don’t belong on walls, or crafted as jewelry, the body can be an artistic medium all its own. We met again to create a personal identity on my left thigh—a 3-headed entity I interpret as my ambition, all good and bad aspects of what it feels like to be a man. And then there’s the identity you discover. At 19 my grandmother revealed our indigenous heritage, and I joined The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians residing at the northern-most tip of Michigan. Only as an adult, and on the precipice of starting my own family, have I truly embraced this identity, even in my professional life. The backs of my legs are Grin’s to determine, with a vision conjured by my wife, illustrating the fusion of our identities now that she received her Ojibwa name.
Behind The Ink™ w/ @TaxMan10472
Being Bronx native and also latino has been a guiding force in all my choices growing up. Born in 1982 (don’t do the math lol) growing up in the Bronx gave me a real outlook on how life is.
Becoming a father at 18 years old definitely made life better for me but also a bit challenging. A kid raising kids as they say. I persevered thru it all and have become the man that I am. The one thing I can pride myself in is being selfless, always doing for others. The one thing that I can call myself selfish about is the love of tattoos.
The moment I met Grin Stylez I knew that he was going to be my artist for life!!!! He has inspired the art that I proudly wear on my skin. I am honored at the fact that I am a collector.
Behind The Ink™ w/ @La_Diosa_Odiosa
I am Catherine. To everybody I’m just a shy girl next-door. Since I was 18, I’ve always wanted a sleeve tattoo. I never rushed into getting a piece out of the spur of the moment. Each and every single piece I have tatted on me have a story. A story of a woman who is trying to make it in this cold world. A woman that does not give up and a woman that has faith 100%. My body is a canvas and I’m just getting started.
Behind The Ink™ w/ @PentHouseVargas
Where do i start? How can I express this relationship I have? Divine….. That would be the word I choose. It’s FEB 2015 in the thick of the cold weather. Starting my journey on my music run, 3 years home from prison I meet this beautiful soul! Fate would have it we had friends in the same universe! What a beautiful creative mind… one that makes another creative mind say “I GOT TO STEP MY SHIT UP! “ He tatted my mic which is the essence of my life…..my dads last Letter before committing suicide, my Gods son who died in a motorcycle at 18 years old, my youngest sons eyes and reinvented art from other souls. No one as long as there’s breathe in his lungs will ever touch This flesh! As a brother of creation and understanding that energy can not be created only manipulated…. I LOVE YOU
Letter to my sons
@PentHouseVargas
Behind The Ink™ w/ @JayDw_14
Jay D Wilson, born December 25, 1981 in a small town called Mayfield, NY. Decided to join the United States Air Force in July 2000, 2 weeks after graduating high school. I was then stationed at Whiteman AFB, MO served years as an Active Duty member. I decided to leave active duty to come home and take care of my grandmother when she became terminally I'll with cancer. Once she passed away i continued my Air Force career with the Air National Guard, where I became Active Duty again. On July 12th, 2016 I hit 16 years in the United State Air Force. I will retire when I reach my 20 years of Active Duty. I have always loved tattoos, I have quite a few large pieces. I knew I wanted a sleeve a few years back, and I have been in my search for an artist that could capture my ideas, literally take them out of my head and put them on skin. A friend of mine, her sister received a tattoo from Mr. Grin Stylez ( THE GOD) and I fell in love with his work, the details, how soft it was. I have always been afraid of black and white being to dark. I wanted a very soft, feminine tattoo. As girly as you can get it. A lot of artist I researched couldn't create a soft feminine image.. meeting Grin Stylez was and is an absolute pleasure. He becomes your friend, he treats you like a person not just a tattoo, not just a dollar sign. My first time meeting him, he made me feel comfortable and that I was going to be able to trust him and his idea, I was excited and slowly but surely he was able to create MY STORY.. I don't call it a tattoo, a sleeve, ink or any other term that is used.. it's MY STORY..MY STORY, is for my mother that passed, she was my life. When she died a part of me died with her.. it's been 9 years sinceshe passed away. The clock, represents time.. time since she's passed, time to heal from broken relationships, friendships and family issues. Time doesn't heal all wounds but gives you time to find yourself. I have learned a lot in my 34 years on this earth. The Rose...my mother loved her rose garden. It gave her peace, it was a hobby. She had the best roses on the block. No matter the holiday she wanted roses, all colors. They made her smile. I have picked up her hobby, since I am not the best at gardening I wear them on my body.. candles are to mourn her. Enternal flame, that will never become dull.. The woman.. the woman is a resprensation of my mother and I, morphed into one. BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. The mirror.. Insecurities.. me, my life.. I have never been able to see myself as others do. I lack confidence.. it's an everyday work in progress.. My mother told me to always start my day in the mirror, I'm beautiful.. I am my mother... the woman's spine is a key hole.. and the inner part of my arm is the key for that key hole.. I dont know when, how or why, but I will find what it takes to unlock my soul.. make my heart beat, and beat fast, make my smile become real again, find my purpose in life...until then, this is MY STORY... and I build new chapters everyday...
Behind The Ink™ w/ @Dejenerate137
Tat session is scheduled for tomorrow. 8 years ago, Grin Stylez began working on me when I showed up at a shop in the village off a recommendation from a friend. He has been not only an amazing artist, but a confidant, friend, mentor. He has let me write 100's of pages sitting on benches and couches in his shops throughout the city. He's seen me at my worst. Many times. Yet always inspired me. Talked to me. Put my head on straight. This isn't a tattoo...this is a metamorphosis. Brought to me by yet another low flying Angel.
Behind The Ink™ w/ @Seany201
One of the toughest things to face is when you get to a concrete wall and can't climb or break through it. My dads passing nov 2016 was that wall. My bestfriend/superhero was taken way too early. Who feels it knows it and I felt it with every muscle in my body. At the darkest area in my life ever, I used an obituary to get through it. I kept them in my car, my bathroom, anywhere I go. But some places he wasn't there, and getting a tattoo where I can look down and bring him everywhere I go is what I needed. I told myself 7 years ago I wouldn't get a tattoo unless it was meaningful to me, and meeting Grin he fulfilled that dark area in my life and although it may not be bright, my tattoo shined a brighter light in my life than I could ever imagine. You meet people everyday in life but the 3 days I spent getting my tattoo with grin was more meaningful then all the condolences I have ever received. I got a tattoo for life and also a genuine friend.
Behind The Ink™ w/ Christmally Torres
I have been struggling to have children for about nine years. I moved to Texas in order to put myself through IVF and successfully became pregnant with twins. The happiest time of my life was expecting my son, Dario and my daughter, Layli.
On April 8th, while at my first medical appointment in NYC, I had a medical malpractice, causing me to go into labor. Dario and Layli were only 2 weeks shy of 6 months. April 9th, they were born and April 9th they both passed. Dario passed while in my womb and Layli passed after delivery.
I went through the toughest time in my life. I blamed God. How could you make me wait so long to only take it away so quickly. I was extremely angry. I lost everything without a chance to have anything.
My husband and my family guided me through this time and I got the help needed in order to get back into a livable mind frame. There isn't a day that I don't think of them. That I don't wonder how they would look and act. How my life would have been so different with them in it.
A wife who loses a husband is called a widow. A husband who loses a wife is called a widower. A child who loses his parents is called an orphan. There is no word for a parent who loses a child. That’s how awful the loss is.
Special thank you to Grin Stylez, who turn my dream into a reality.