Neal Leissner
What year did you start tattooing?
2010
Tell us about your style of work.
While I'm always learning and willing to take on any style, I enjoy colorful illustrative tattoos. I'm always down to tattoo your favorite monster to the most beautiful flowers.
How did you get into tattooing?
I fell in love with tattooing as a kid in the early 90's, long before there was a tattoo televisions show. I got tattooed by artists who are now legends, Chris Trevino and Shawn Degan. I have drawn all my life and graduated from the Texas State University with a degree in art, with a focus on sculpture. I worked several years as a professional sculptor, but somewhere down the road I found myself in the corporate world and became what most would call "successful." All the while, there was an emptiness inside me. One day, I realized that this wasn't the life I wanted. I thought about all the things in life that bring me joy and I started looking at my own tattoos and decided to take the plunge. I picked up a tattoo machine and after a couple of years of practice, I took my business suit off and became me again.
Tattoos, to me, equal the ultimate freedom of expression. You wear these images for life, they tell a story of all sorts: pleasure, pain, happiness, sorrow, love, hate or just about anything you can dream of. The greatest thing about it, is that they are yours and yours alone.
What inspires you as an artist?
I'm inspired by life and beauty as well as innovation. I like art that pushes boundaries that make you ponder your existence. I love how a single image on a page or skin can invoke a feeling or thought.
What kind of tattoos do you look forward to doing?
I'm always up for any tattoo that challenges my ability.
Is there a tattoo you haven't done yet that you are dying to do?
I would love to do some larger floral pieces or Japanese inspired work.
2010
Tell us about your style of work.
While I'm always learning and willing to take on any style, I enjoy colorful illustrative tattoos. I'm always down to tattoo your favorite monster to the most beautiful flowers.
How did you get into tattooing?
I fell in love with tattooing as a kid in the early 90's, long before there was a tattoo televisions show. I got tattooed by artists who are now legends, Chris Trevino and Shawn Degan. I have drawn all my life and graduated from the Texas State University with a degree in art, with a focus on sculpture. I worked several years as a professional sculptor, but somewhere down the road I found myself in the corporate world and became what most would call "successful." All the while, there was an emptiness inside me. One day, I realized that this wasn't the life I wanted. I thought about all the things in life that bring me joy and I started looking at my own tattoos and decided to take the plunge. I picked up a tattoo machine and after a couple of years of practice, I took my business suit off and became me again.
Tattoos, to me, equal the ultimate freedom of expression. You wear these images for life, they tell a story of all sorts: pleasure, pain, happiness, sorrow, love, hate or just about anything you can dream of. The greatest thing about it, is that they are yours and yours alone.
What inspires you as an artist?
I'm inspired by life and beauty as well as innovation. I like art that pushes boundaries that make you ponder your existence. I love how a single image on a page or skin can invoke a feeling or thought.
What kind of tattoos do you look forward to doing?
I'm always up for any tattoo that challenges my ability.
Is there a tattoo you haven't done yet that you are dying to do?
I would love to do some larger floral pieces or Japanese inspired work.
