Alayna Istre of Crossroads on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Alayna Istre. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Alayna, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What battle are you avoiding?
For now, all I’ll say is that it’s the kind of battle that takes patience. I’m not avoiding it because I’m scared of it, but because timing is everything — and when I finally decide to go for it, I’ll only get one real shot. I’m not about to let that go to waste. For now, I’m keeping my cards close and waiting for the right moment — not to prove anyone wrong, but to prove to myself that I’m right for this, and for everything else I crave in life.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Alayna Istre AKA alaynasillustration. I’m a first year tattoo artist in Kansas City. My focus right now is to learn everything I can, while confidently executing what I already know. My style leans neo-traditional, blending linework, black and grey, and now selective pops of color when needed- all while staying open-minded to new techniques and influences. Every piece is both a creation and a lesson- a way to push my craft further, connect with people on a deeper level, and create work that carries meaning long after its healed.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
No one ever told me who I had to be- I decided that for myself. From the start I wasn’t chasing acceptance, I was chasing significance. I was the one who told myself I had to be someone, and not just anyone but someone important. That kind of self-imposed pressure is heavier than anything the world could ever hand you, but it’s also what keeps me moving. I’ve carried that weight my whole life, and somewhere in it, I’ve learned to turn that pressure into fuel- and I think that’s what draws me and my clients closer together, because so many of them have carried that same weight too.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
This is something I think about a lot. “Growth lives in discomfort while comfort is where potential goes to sleep.” In other words, success can make you comfortable but struggle makes you sharp. It taught me how to move when the ground isn’t steady, how to create without the perfect conditions, and how to keep going when no one’s watching. Success feels good but suffering gave me the grit to keep earning it- and that grit has shaped me more than any win ever could.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Okay, here’s my hot take: one of the biggest lies in tattooing is that time automatically equals skill. Years matter, sure, but skill isn’t just measured by how long you’ve been doing it — it’s in your willingness to be wrong, to adapt, and to keep learning even when you think you’ve got it figured out. Some artists hit a decade and stop growing, while others grow exponentially in only a few years because they stay curious and unafraid to fail — most of the time, driven by that same self-imposed pressure we talked about before. Experience is valuable, but it’s not the whole story.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
I don’t think I’d really lose anything at all. At the end of the day I’d still have my same mindset, my same drive, pretty much everything I woke up with. Tattooing is my medium for sure, but connection is my real talent and that’s something that I can never lose.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @alaynasillustration
• Other: TikTok: @alaynasillustration Phone: (816) 999-1861