Today we’d like to introduce you to Eboni Dalmida.
Hi Eboni, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
Where it all started: I’ve been coloring and drawing things for as long as I can remember. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I continued to express myself through art. There were family members like my Aunt Kiesha, who gave me my first graffiti lesson, and my cousin Roslynn, who instilled in me “that when you color, color in the same direction so it looks cohesive, especially with yellows.” and a family friend named Pete that showed me how to draw a little mushroom house.
When I was a teenager, I became obsessed with Ink Master. I’d be glued to the screen watching the artist’s tattoo, and then I’d pause the show to stare at the finished tattoos to see if I could see what the judges saw. Around this time, I started thinking a lot about tattoos and tattooing. In high school, I’d draw up tattoo designs for friends and acquaintances; I was that girl doodling in her journals and on her work all period long. During my senior year, I told my guidance counselor, “I’m going to be a tattoo artist,” when she asked, “What are your plans after high school?” When I said it, I honestly cannot tell you if I was 100% serious, but talk about some serious foreshadowing.
I’ve always had family recognize and appreciate my talent, but I grew up in a traditional American Caribbean household. So anything outside of a conventional 9-5 or a job in a career field where you’re guaranteed money was not good enough or intelligent. For a while, I tried the usual 9-5 thing working retail, spent 5 years there trying to move up within the company, and went nowhere but in circles. Then COVID and lockdown came. During lockdown, I only did paint and draw; I was the happiest in 5 years in 3 months.
After lockdown, I got offered an apprenticeship by a high school acquaintance, and I denied it because “it wasn’t the right time.” Every day, I clocked into my retail job after the lockdown and the offer; call me dramatic BUT, I felt myself dying. It’s like a piece of me chipped off every time I clocked in. Around this time, I started to think about being an artist full-time. I talked to my family about the apprenticeship and they all said it’d be a bad idea. Then I met someone I’ll call Bear, and he gave me the push I needed to go after what I wanted and was passionate about in life. I reached out to that acquaintance about the apprenticeship, and almost 3 years later, here I am, tattooing!
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
From defying all of the advice from family and cementing myself as a black sheep to juggling all of the uncertainties that came with quitting a full-time job to pursue a career as an artist, it has not been an easy journey. For most, this following sentence will be crazy, but I swear my apprenticeship was easier than after my apprenticeship 😭 I will say it has been gratifying. After every speed bump, I can honestly say I learned an important life lesson or was put on an even better road. So, although it has not been easy, I am forever grateful to be taking the ride and am enjoying the journey.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am better known as a tattoo artist based in Orlando, FL, and have been tattooing for about 2 years and 8 months. I wouldn’t necessarily say I specialize in any specific style of tattoos as I currently am open to doing them all except for color realism 😅 but I can tell you your lines are going to be crispy clean 😂 the tattoo overall, of course, but those lines?! The foundation?! Crisp & Clean. High school me is proud to be known for very clean lines. Outside of tattooing, I also paint, draw, write, and do other creative things. I’m integrating all my art and creations into one space on my site, Art & More By Bunny.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
My Aunt Kiesha, older cousin Roslynn, and family friend Pete taught me my earliest art lessons, and my grandmother has always encouraged me to pursue art when I spoke to her about it. Bear was most definitely my number one supporter and cheerleader, unprovoked. I would not be tattooing today or as far into tattooing as I am if I had never met him. And, of course, my clients and supporters! There is no way I’d continue down this path if not for them. I’ve met and had heart-to-heart with some and others; their mere presence served as an affirmation for me in some way. So yeah, my current, past, and future clients and my supporters.
Pricing:
- My hourly rate: $150/hour
- Appointment minimum: $200
- $50 flash days on random days during the month
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.shopambb.com
- Instagram: @bunnytattoos
- Tiktok: @_ebbunnyy_
