We’re looking forward to introducing you to Tiffany Somar. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Tiffany, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Family Time. Whether we are keeping the fun at home, bouncing on a trampoline and playing board games, or going out to catch a movie or eat dinner, I just find soo much joy in spending time with my family. They fill my cup and keep me going.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tiffany and I’m a muralist and tattoo artist from Central Florida. I’m also the very proud owner of The Paint Parlor, a tattoo studio in Longwood, FL. I work alongside 4 other amazingly talented artists in a mostly appointment only space. The studio is run as a collective, where each artist manages their own business under the same roof. This allows for a certain level of autonomy and flexibility that isn’t always found in a regular street shop environment.
Mural work has become a huge passion of mine lately and I’ve been directing more of my energy towards growing in that field. I love painting colorful portraits and try to stay away from realistic skin tones so as to remain as inclusive as possible to everyone! A mural can impact a community in soo many ways and I’m very eager to be a part of that.
The biggest driving force in my career has always been my children and doing what I have to do to create a beautiful life for them.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I believed that giving into the desires of others would make me more valuable to them. I guess you can say that I was always a people pleaser and learned to swallow my own voice a lot. I let other people determine how much space I would take up in this world.
As an adult, I now know that maintaining boundaries is soo important and you will never be too much for the right people. While this is still an ongoing internal battle, I can say that I’ve come a long way… I no longer sit in boxes that people put me in. My value is no longer determined by others. I’m 1000% committed to taking up as much space as I want, whether on a wall or in life.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Your voice matters. Your art matters. Your thoughts matter. You matter. Bet on YOU every single time babygirl! God got you!
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. Is the public version of you the real you?
Hmm.. I’m going to lean “no” on this one. A lot of what most people know about me comes from social media. Social media is a place where people just post curated pieces of themselves or their work. Soo much of my private life revolves around my family and I barely post them or our moments. Not because I’m not proud, but because I feel very protective of my personal life and the people I love. I believe that no one deserves 100% access to my world and it’s ok to keep certain things sacred. You might catch a glimpse here and there, when I’m in a sharing mood, but most of my content revolves around my art these days. Just remember that I’m more than a tattooer or street artist; I’m a mom, partner, daughter, sister, friend, relative, etc… there’s a lot more to me than what you see online!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Although I think I’m pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of life, I do hope to leave a few people a little more inspired. I hope that when people speak of me they tell a story about a woman that believed in the power of community, who wasn’t scared to bet on herself and climb a ladder, literally and metaphorically. I hope to inspire people to try a seat at any table, even if only to learn that it’s not the right fit, because you won’t know if you don’t try. I hope to be remembered as someone with genuinely good intentions.. although chaotic and sometimes misguided, because it’s ok to learn from mistakes. I hope to inspire compassion, understanding and empathy in others because it’s cool to be kind. Mostly, I hope that the mark that I leave in places, whether with my paint or my presence, makes them a little brighter and lighter than before. People don’t necessarily have to tell a story about me, but I do hope that when I am mentioned, it is with a smile.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paintparlor.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/tiffypaints
Image Credits
None
