Daily Inspiration: Meet Corinne Ayanna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corinne Ayanna.

Hi Corinne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Before tattooing, I explored art through a lot of different mediums. I went to fashion school, designed and sold clothing, and later became an abstract painter. I had my own art studio, participated in art shows and sold work that was largely centered around women’s anatomy, social injustice and the experiences of women. Creativity has always been a part of my daily life. I genuinely feel like I need some form of creative expression in my life to survive, and I’ve never limited what that has to look like. Whether it’s fashion, painting, tattooing or something completely different, I’ve always needed an outlet to create.

I always knew I wanted to build a service-based business, but I wasn’t quite sure what that would look like for me. I even went to nail school at one point, only to realize that what I really enjoyed most about doing nails was painting them. Looking back, creativity was always the common thread.

From around 2014 to 2016, I spent a lot of time on Tumblr and became fascinated with the fine line and micro tattoos I would see, especially from artists in California. At the time, that style wasn’t nearly as accessible in Cleveland, and it was difficult to find someone who could teach me how to do it. In 2017, I reached out to Focus Tattoo to pursue an apprenticeship, but I was working in the restaurant industry and couldn’t make the apprenticeship schedule work with my work schedule. At that point in my life, I didn’t really know how to make room for anything outside of going to work, so tattooing ended up getting put on the back burner.

Then in 2020, the restaurant I worked at permanently closed during COVID. Around that same time, I was getting tattooed by Coleman, the owner of Impact Ink, who used to do tiny tattoo specials that I loved. I asked him if he taught people how to tattoo or offered apprenticeships. He wasn’t taking on an apprentice at the time, but he did need a shop assistant. Since I suddenly had the availability, I took the opportunity to get my foot in the door and start learning the industry from the inside.

I also had an art residency at Karamu House around that time and received a grant through the residency. I used part of that grant to purchase the tattoo equipment I needed to get started, which was a huge help because tattoo equipment can be expensive when you’re starting from scratch.

While I was at Impact Ink, Coleman was often out of town, so I ended up spending the majority of my time with Marcus, Mike and D, who were also working there. They became the people teaching me so much of what I was learning about tattooing. When I found out they were leaving to open Green Light Tattoos & Art Gallery, I basically begged them to take me with them because they were already the people I was learning from anyway.

Today, I run my tattoo business, House of Cree, out of Green Light Tattoos & Art Gallery, where I rent my space. One of the things I really appreciate about the shop is the family aspect of it. I still learn from Marcus, Mike and D, but I also learn from the other artists who rent space there. Everyone has their own strengths, techniques and experiences, and I think being surrounded by other artists has helped me continue to grow. To me, tattooing is a never-ending journey. I don’t think you ever reach a point where there’s nothing left to learn.

When I look back, tattooing really brought together a lot of things I had been searching for over the years: art, creativity, connection and having a service-based business of my own. One of my favorite parts of what I do is being able to create these tiny pieces of joy for people and knowing that they get to walk around with that art on their skin forever.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road at all. One of my biggest challenges has been learning how to give myself grace while mastering a craft where even a tiny imperfection or mistake can feel “permanent.” I’ve also had to accept that, if we take a realistic approach to anything, nobody gets everything perfect 100% of the time. The way I was taught is that sometimes you just keep messing up until you don’t mess up anymore. That’s literally how you learn.

Tattooing is different from a lot of other art forms because you’re creating on another person’s body. You can throw away a sketch, paint over a canvas or start a design over, but you don’t have that same luxury with skin. Honestly, that responsibility has made me extremely critical of myself at times.

I’ve had to learn that becoming a great tattoo artist doesn’t mean never making a mistake. It means being willing to look at your work honestly, learn from it, continue educating yourself and become better because of it. Tattooing has taught me a lot about patience, and you need A LOT of patience, confidence and trusting myself without ever becoming so confident that I stop being teachable. I’m also forever grateful that I work in an environment where I can learn from the other artists around me.

Building a business as an artist has come with its own challenges too. Being self-employed means I’m not only the artist. I’m responsible for my clients, scheduling, marketing, finances, content and everything else that comes with running House of Cree. There have been times when business was slower than I wanted or I questioned whether I was doing enough, and I’m still figuring things out as I grow.

Some of the moments that have challenged my confidence the most have also been the moments that made me take a closer look at my work, sharpen my skills and become more intentional about the artist and business owner I want to be. Learning how to keep going without expecting perfection from myself has probably been one of the biggest lessons of the entire journey.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the artist and owner behind House of Cree, short for House of Creativity, a tattoo business specializing in fine line, delicate and intentionally designed tattoos. I’m especially drawn to florals, script, feminine designs, abstract linework and smaller pieces that allow me to take something meaningful to a client and create it into something beautiful they can carry on them.

I think what sets me apart is that I care just as much about the experience as I do the finished tattoo. Tattooing is a very personal experience. There’s really no such thing as personal space while tattooing. You’re trusting someone with your body, sometimes sharing the story behind something deeply personal, and then allowing them to permanently put their artwork on you. I never want that experience to feel transactional. I want my clients to feel comfortable, listened to and involved in what we’re creating together.

I’m also very intentional about continuing to develop my own artistic voice. I love fine line tattooing because it aligns naturally with the kind of art I’ve always been drawn to: delicate, feminine and expressive. I love the idea of creating something that can hold a really big meaning while still being so simple. I want someone to look at a piece and eventually be able to recognize that it feels like House of Cree.

What I’m most proud of is that I kept going. House of Cree started as an idea I had years before I ever knew how I was actually going to become a tattoo artist. Now I get to make a living creating art and connecting with people through it. Every time someone chooses me to create something they’ll carry with them for the rest of their life, I still think that’s incredibly special.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think the most important quality to my success has been resilience. I’ve learned that you have to be willing to keep going even when you’re disappointed in yourself, things aren’t moving as quickly as you hoped, or something doesn’t turn out exactly the way you envisioned.

I’m a very critical person when it comes to myself and my work, so sometimes my biggest challenge is getting out of my own way. I’ve had to learn how to take criticism, whether it comes from myself or someone else, figure out what I can learn from it and then move forward instead of allowing it to discourage me.

I also think being teachable has played a huge role in my success. I never want to believe I know everything. I want to be able to ask questions, learn from people who know more than I do, try something differently and admit when there’s room for me to improve.

I think resilience and being teachable go hand in hand for me. I’m willing to be a beginner, I’m willing to be uncomfortable, and I’m willing to keep trying. I think a lot of success is really just being willing to stay in the room long enough to become the person you’re trying to be.

Pricing:

• Tattoo pricing varies by artist and is based on factors such as size, placement, detail and design.
• All of my current pricing information can be found directly on my booking form.
• I offer free consultations, typically 15 minutes or less, for larger or more detailed pieces.
• Please keep an eye out for tattoo specials! I offer different specials throughout the year.
• I believe tattoos are permanent and should be valued and priced with that permanence in mind. When considering a tattoo, I encourage people to look beyond price alone and consider the quality of the work, the artist and the experience as an investment in something they’ll carry with them for life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thehouseofcree.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofcree