Tiffy Paints

October 16, 2023

Tiffy is an artist from Florida that is a mother, a tattoo artist, a street artist and a solid inspiration especially to those of us with kids. Your art career does not have to stop because you have kids on the contrary, we show our children that we do not give up our dreams and passions but embody it to show it is possible for them and everyone too. It wasn't easy though and it was hard won for her.

We asked her a few questions about her background, favorite art supplies and processes and were lucky enough to get an interview. If you would like to learn more about her or book a tattoo visit her Instagram profile and follow the respective links: (to book no DM's only email...

@TiffyPaints

@ThePaintParlor (Tattoo's and high-quality paint)

3260 N US Hwy 17/92 -Longwood, Florida

◼️1. What got you into street art/tattoo?

I got into tattooing in 2011 mainly because I’ve always done art and it seemed like an easy way to make money from my art. I was wrong, it was actually pretty difficult, and I took a break after getting pregnant with my son and pursued another career. 2018, I quit my corporate career without much of a plan and my friend, who was on Ink Master at the time asked if I wanted to tattoo again. Opportunities like that don’t come often so I said yes and the rest is history. I got into street art because my fiancé at the time had been a graffiti writer for almost two decades. I painted on walls with brushes, but he put a can of Rusto in my hand at Miami Art Basel and I fell in love with it instantly. He taught me a lot of do’s and don’ts with the subculture in general.

◼️2. Did you do art before this like: any art classes or are you self-taught?

I took one art class in high school but other than that I’m self-taught. Just learning what I can from other artists I’ve met along the way. During my tattoo apprenticeship, I learned a lot about the industry and things like how to properly handle biowaste but as far as actual application, I’m mostly self-taught. Again, I just watched and learned what I could from other artists and trial and error. Shoutout to all the artists who didn’t gate-keep and happily shared their knowledge with me!

◼️3. Any favorite pieces of feedback?

Oh man, honestly anytime I paint with older writers it’s super humbling. Some of them have the most amazing can-control. Any bit of feedback that they give me I try to absorb like a sponge. Whether it’s pointers on how to angle my can, or what cap I should try using, I’m always open and grateful for the feedback. Honestly, there are soo many occurrences that it’s hard to think of a favorite piece of feedback. Every time I paint with someone else, I pick up something new. I would say the same can be said for tattooing!

◼️4. On your bad days how do you stay motivated?

I’m religious so it’s engraved in me to always pray first. So I will start there but, aside from that, allllllll the artists! Any artist that I see grinding harder, putting in the work and staying consistent is a motivation to me. I also like to start my day at the gym because it helps me overcome my early morning anxiety and clear my mind to refocus on what I have to do for the day. Anyplace that I can see other people working to better themselves is where I want to be. I’ve built a pretty amazing network of writers, muralists and tattooers who can all experience a bit of burnout and imposter syndrome, and they are the ones who I seek out when I’m feeling unmotivated. Of course, a call to my momma is also always great for motivation.

◼️5. Are there any tools or art supplies you wish you knew about or had when you first started?

For tattoo flash, Dr. Ph. Martin's liquid watercolors are a must. I learned flash from a traditional tattooer; He put me on and I haven’t looked back. Starbrite Tattoo Ink for color tattoos has such a perfect consistency for me. Allegory Black ink is another staple in my tattoo arsenal. FX Iron tattoo machines are my preferred machines along with Neuma. A lot of people sleep on Neuma but it’s a rotary that hits similar to a coil machine and I lean on it quite a bit for bold lines.

As far as paint goes, Dang and Loop are my go-to, I think they just have such a great value and are super easy to work with. Just always remember, it’s not necessarily the tools, but the artist that matter. Good tools/supplies are always helpful though! :)

Teamwork makes the dreamwork. Above Tiffy lends her signature character to these pieces at The Lab in Orlando, Florida

◼️6. Do you have any advice to those just starting out tattooing?

Do the work. Do the work. Do the work. It will not be handed to you. You have to be resilient, be prepared to fail and get back up and do the work again. There are bad tattoo days for all of us, so just get back up, shake the dust and learn. Instead of viewing things as failures, view them as opportunities for growth. Also please do everyone a favor and learn how to properly handle biowaste before touching actual skin.

◼️Recommendations◼️
▪️▪️Tattoo: Dr. Ph. Martin's liquid watercolors, Allegory ink, Starbrite tattoo for color, FX iron tattoo machines, Nuema rotary tattoo machines
▪️▪️Street art: Loop paint & Dang Prime Paint

To learn more about Tiffy or to book a tattoo visit her Instagram at:

@TiffyPaints

@ThePaintParlor

The Paint Parlor is located:

3260 N US Hwy 17/92 Longwood, Florida