Today we’d like to introduce you to Tinni Karim.
Hi Tinni, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Tinni, but people also know me as Bella. I still feel surprised when I say that I’m a full-time artist. I spent most of my life only doing what I was expected to do:
- Keep art as a hobby
- Excel in school
- Get all the awards
- Get the highest possible degree and then settle down with a stable career
My hard-working immigrant parents encouraged that path, and I happily followed it through. Years went by, and I found myself working as a retail pharmacist; I am a huge science geek and loved attending pharmacy school. But when I started working, the job quickly became my life, and I burned out. That’s when the quarter-life crisis began, and I’m so glad it did because it led me to where I am now. I didn’t have much of a social life, and I thought it would be so amazing to have a friend with similar interests. But how do you make friends as an adult outside of work? I decided to start a youtube channel, hoping that there would be at least one person out there who would watch my awkward videos about doodling, scrapbooking, and kawaii stickers and want to be friends. To my surprise, one friend turned into thousands of subscribers, and they motivated me to create a sticker shop for my art. With my husband’s support, I opened my website, and the orders poured in. Now I sell my art at local art fairs and special events and run my online store, Bella Tinni. My wonderful community helped me change careers and get to where I am today. I couldn’t have done it without them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m grateful for how bumpy the road to where I am now has been because it helped me grow as a person and flourish as an artist. The biggest struggles I had were all internal struggles with myself. The journey of building an art career and business with no formal training forced me to face my self-doubt, fears, and insecurities. Could I do this? I was terrified along the entire way. Leaving a stable career with a steady income to start an online shop was a scary leap. I had months with little to no orders after very successful months was confusing and challenging. Putting my art and myself out there was terrifying. I’m still scared sometimes, and I still doubt myself from time to time. But now I do my best to do things terrified instead of giving up. What helps me with my struggles is to remember why I started my business in the first place. I aim to inspire others to connect with their inner child when they see my art and have fun with my stickers and products. I don’t think the road in the future will ever be completely smooth, and that is so exciting!
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I am an artist who sells my art as stickers, stationery, and accessories. I also have a YouTube channel where I focus on doodle tutorials and sharing my creative projects. I have been expanding the types of products I sell as I grow, but I am most known for my stickers. Stickers will always be my favorite way to show my art. It’s the best way to spread joy because they are a piece of art that can also be used to create more art. There’s something so satisfying about peeling stickers and using them to decorate something. In terms of art style, I am known for my simple and happy doodles. I am also known for my K-pop-related art. Several years ago, I got into K-pop and fell in love with the group BTS. Since my art is very personal and I only draw what’s in my heart, you will see an entire section in my shop dedicated to BTS. I also have original characters, including a cat named Mallow and a grumpy-looking teddy bear named Fuzz, dedicated to my best friend, my dad, who passed away in 2020. I am most proud of the online and offline communities I have created. My mission is to spread joy with my fun art and to shine a light on the importance of mental health. Sometimes that looks like creating art with self-care reminders. Other times it’s simply making cute art that could brighten up someone’s day when they see it or hold it. I believe in being vulnerable with my community and sharing my regular ups and downs on Instagram stories. Youtube is what helped us create meaningful relationships that go beyond my art. We all bond over my message of being yourself, caring for your mental health, and finding joy in the little things.
Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
Thousands of things make me happy, so I’ll list a few. The first is my art. I create to feel satisfied and help others feel happy too. It makes me extremely happy when someone comes to my table at a local market and smiles when they see my art or posts their reaction to opening their order online. Helping someone realize that they can also draw through my doodle tutorials makes me happy. And then there are all the little things in between, like watching a show or traveling with my husband, everything about BTS, a new sticker sheet, all of my Mario games, etc. I try to focus on all the little things that bring me joy instead of anything that goes wrong because it’s essential to prioritize your happiness. We all deserve to be happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bellatinni.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellatinni/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellatinnico
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/bellatinni
