Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Ramos.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always gravitated toward art since I was a little girl. For birthdays and holidays, my family always knew to buy me art supplies rather than dolls and other toys. At the time, there was a stigma with being a career artist so I alternated my college studies in Architecture and Advertising Design, hoping to channel that creative energy into careers that were considered to be more of a “sure thing”. While none of these paths worked out, I did find myself in a very successful career in the Tech and Travel Industry. Being able to travel all over the world was life-changing and I am forever grateful for the experiences I had, but ultimately, I wasn’t happy and knew I would need to go back to the drawing board to chase my passions in art.
A few of my friends tattooed and I was always interested in learning but finding an apprenticeship was difficult. I was, however, able to find 2 artists that were willing to take me on as an apprentice. My path to tattooing is full of TONS of obstacles and there were many times when I thought I would never be able to get to actually call myself a tattooer, or career artist. When I first started officially tattooing, I worked a day job in the morning and then tattooed at night while my super understanding mom helped watch my son. I’m grateful to all of the shop owners, that gave me the chance to practice my art or learn from them.
As far as my journey to street art, it was much more streamlined, as my fiancé at the time, who had been a graffiti artist for almost two decades, put the first can of spray paint in my hand and I’ve been painting ever since. Throughout the years, things naturally progressed and I am now a proud owner of my own tattoo studio, The Paint Parlor, where we also sell premium spray paint at a very affordable price. We have a team of 4 awesome artists and to be here now is such a humbling experience.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I touched on some of my struggles initially but it was a huge struggle leaving a very comfortable career behind to chase my dreams of being an artist. I was living in New York City at the time so I had to move back home to Orlando without much of a plan. Going from making a New York salary to being a full-time unpaid apprentice was tough so I drove for Lyft when I wasn’t at the shop and ate through all of my life savings. I went into foreclosure and almost lost my home but found a job at a law firm and left my apprenticeship early in order to save my home. This was probably the most trying time for me because it was unclear as to whether I would ever be able to tattoo again. When a friend offered me a space in her shop to tattoo at night, I seized the opportunity that came my way and made the very best of my new situation.
Being a mother also left me with the challenge of always having to be present for my son, throughout all of the odd jobs and work hours. Being a rock for your child when you feel uncertain of your own future is a huge challenge because every decision you make also affects them. I’m just grateful that my mom was able to really be there to help support me during those very early days in my career.
Not long after I quit my day job and began tattooing full-time, COVID struck, and shortly after that, I got pregnant with my second child. It was a very hard pregnancy and even when businesses began to open up, I was too sick to go back to work. These are the moments when I really questioned my life decisions and wondered whether I would be able to recover from not working for so long. I am beyond thankful for the clients that stayed loyal to me throughout it all.
Also, I am a mom first, and finding the right balance between work and home continues to be a challenge but knowing that I am working hard to make my kids proud keeps me going. When you are on the journey to self-fulfillment, you will find that it is an always-evolving path full of twists and bumps. You may lose friends, lose money, and be full of self-doubt, but if it is something you are really passionate about and your ambition outweighs your doubt, I truly believe you will get to where you want to be.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a tattooer and muralist. I especially love doing black and gray work with tattooing and have a very big sweet spot for faces. I am always learning so I am not yet where I want to be but I am trying to improve all the time. I’m sure my overall attitude plays a big role in setting me apart from others. Typically, I only schedule 1-2 tattoos per day because it’s important for me to have enough time to make my client comfortable before the needle touches their skin. Because a lot of people feel that getting tattooed is almost therapeutic, I try hard not to make the experience feel transactional. I always aim to provide a safe space where my clients can unload and be at ease. Many of my clients have actually become very close friends of mine. I like to think that all of the artists that work at The Paint Parlor have a similar attitude and it really is such a welcoming little space.
As far as painting, there aren’t many female street artists in Orlando and I try to stay pretty true to spray paint. I don’t mix mediums very often so you likely won’t catch me with paintbrushes or markers when I paint a piece, just spray paint. I also do my best to eyeball all of my proportions and do not use a projector to grid out my pieces unless I am trying to replicate an exact logo for a company, or painting a very large scale piece. Everyone has their own way of creating and this is just the way that personally helps me learn from every stroke. I follow a stencil when I tattoo but when I paint, I need to feel more free. I also LOVE trying all kinds of color combinations when I paint which is a bit of a contrast to my black and gray tattoo work.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Well, hands down I love the overall sense of community and pride our city has. I like that our city is broadening its horizons in the arts but I do think we still have a way to go to show an appreciation for all kinds of art and artists. It seems to be a reoccurring event that organizers/curators of walls that I have painted have faced some kind of issue with their districts to keep these murals up. Rather than working against these groups, the city can look for opportunities on how to work together to foster creativity. I know that Rome wasn’t built overnight, real change takes time, and I’m sure the city has big plans to continue to showcase Orlando’s talent and culture. I am always open to weighing in when I can!
Contact Info:
- Email: tiffypaints@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.paintparlor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffypaints/
