About me: Welcome and thank you for visiting my site. This portion of the site is a basic break down of me, the artist, summed up so you don’t have to wonder... I understand
that for many people (such as myself) it is easier to communicate through visual expression rather than words, so as a common courtesy I tried to keep this as brief as
possible.
Graffiti is where it all started, as is the story with many artists who have been influenced by the cultural background of hip hop (one of my greatest loves in life). As a
youth growing up in the heart of hip hop, A.K.A. the South Bronx ("The borough that mothered this rap shit"--Big Punisher), I realized that being inspired by your
surroundings is only a matter of time, not choice. Whether its spitting your life through rhymes, break-dancing your love and pain on cardboard mats, or painting
murals on the #2 train, your culture will always find a way to integrate itself into how you express what’s in your heart and mind.
If love for art is genetic then I am truly the flesh and blood of my mother - the greatest love of my life. The echoing chant of my moms voice, "I said a hip hop the hippie
the hippie to the hip hip hop, a you don’t stop the rock it to the bang bang boogie say up jumped the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie..."(Sugar Hill Gang's “Rapper's
Delight”) is something that's embedded in my mind's Rollerdex as a soundtrack is to a movie.
Knowing then that I didn't have the ability to paint pictures with words as writers do I began painting pictures with "paint" (how ironic). I was never able to see a black
notebook (a clean slate in my eyes) and not want to imprint my everyday life onto it. After spreading my work and name on the books of many fellow artists, I started
applying that same style (hence “Stylez”) that I created for myself onto moving canvases that were accessible to me: the NYC Transit Trains.
I was blessed to just make it into the rites before the "Vandal Squad" and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s campaign enforced the "three strikes" law. During that time I was
cited as an "upcoming artist with the ability to express his deepest emotions" in the New York Times. "Grin Stylez" had caught the media's eye.
During that same time period I began to establish myself in the tattoo industry as an entrepreneurial artist. Having your name recognized by respected artists is an
amazing feeling, yes, but being acknowledged by a person that you consider a legend is indescribable (as well as an abrupt reminder that working hard for something
you love pays off). I was blessed with this feeling sometime in late ‘98, early ’99 (Capital Punishment year) when I received a call from a man whom I have always
admired and looked up to. He was a fellow Bronx native of Puerto Rican decent, a music-recording prodigy, an artist beyond his time and a legend in many people's
eyes, a man who had a great impact on not only the Latin community, but also the world.
My phone rings and I answer “Grin Stylez”. The man asked “This is Grin right? ”. I answer that it is and he responds, “Well this is Pun (A.K.A Christopher Rios, R.I.P)
and I need you to work on a piece for me". After a brief gasp I replied, "I’d be honored".
Following my initial meeting with the great one when he explained his intentions of getting work done by me, I basically sprinted back to my place. After recouping from
being winded by all the running (lol) I settled myself and prepared to start becoming the person I’d always wanted to be: an artist (and a respectable one at that).
Days after the meeting with Chris (Big Pun), I started on his tattoo: a design that wasn't to be drawn out like most but rather a freehanded sketch on him (the best way
to tattoo). After completing the tattoo we remained friends and I was able to see for myself how remarkable of an artist he was as well as a true friend.
Although the materials of my work have changed since my earlier years, my method of showcasing is consistent: the moving canvas. By utilizing the human body to
illustrate my capabilities as an artist I’m able to not only fulfill my client’s requests but to also reveal through them my genuine love of art. The canvas speaks: it can
promote you, help you establish a career; it’s a constant resume of a tattoo artist's work. Word of mouth is the best method of advertising and the most effective when
it comes to not having to sell yourself, your product or service. Clients, buyers and customers are ready and willing to exchange capital for a piece of your talent.
Utilizing the little fame I had I put in more work as a tattoo artist and I retired the airbrush, the lead and all my sketching supplies. I had no interest in art as a purpose or
type of therapy, if you will. I considered my art a job, a task, my duty, not a love, not a passion, but something more of a form of income. Now things have changed and
evolved, the passion is here, my talent is at its prime, my heart tells me to paint and my talent urges me to create. I express my feelings of remorse, regrets,
appreciation, and love for the way my life has been blessed (and for those who know me on a personal level know I was recently blessed "doubled").
So I will soon be mixing my colors, sharpening my pencils, plug in my laptop and attach the phone jack back into my heart and start to listen again.
Here I go.
Grin Stylez
