Feb 15

Feb 15 Suzi Mora | Tattoo Artist + Owner, GiftShop Tattooing

Suzi is a tattoo artist, painter, and co-owner of GiftShop Tattooing. Born in Cuba, she spent half of her childhood in Chicago before relocating to Tampa, FL, where she and her business (which opened just before the pandemic hit) currently reside. A lifelong lover of art with an entrepreneurial spirit to boot, her current artistic style includes a blend of 60s/70s inspiration as well as Art Deco and botanical illustrations. Suzi has so many exciting goals and plans for the future of GiftShop, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.

The Basics:

Hometown: Born in Cuba
Current city: Tampa, FL
Very first job: Sandwich Artist, Subway
Hustle: Tattoo Artist + Owner, GiftShop Tattooing; Painter

The Interests:

Babe you admire and why?
@LittleBabyLinda is a talented tattooer who owns a gorgeous shop in Dallas, Texas.

Favorite quote or motto?
All change requires discomfort.

Go-to coffee order and/or adult beverage?
Oat milk matcha latte, and Aperol Spritz is my go-to drink. I make them at every party.

Last great book you read?
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

The Hustle:

Tell us about your hustle.

As owner and tattoo artist at GiftShop Tattooing, a huge part of my job is homework. I spend a lot of time planning and designing tattoos or personal art projects, which is the most important part of my work. I also have to be on top of my bookings and social media, as well as pick up supplies, cleaning, running social media, and making sure the business runs smoothly, etc.

Have you always had a knack for creativity? How about an entrepreneurial spirit? Did you always know you’d pursue these things in your career?

Yes and yes! I’ve always been a little weird—creativity has always been a part of me. Finding my love for art when I was 12 unlocked so many parts of myself, and I knew then that I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I've been hustling and coming up with business ideas since I was a kid. I loved the feeling of getting work done and earning money (mostly spent buying art supplies from Walmart). I remember my peers in school commissioning me for art since middle school, and I've actually tattooed a lot of them in more recent years.

In addition to tattooing, you’re also a seasoned painter. Is painting something you would pursue for a living or is it more of a creative outlet?

I absolutely love painting—it’s something I make a living off of, just not as much as tattooing. I have seasons where painting takes center stage. One of my goals is to make more time for painting and participating in more art shows. I approach them very similarly, but there's a lot more freedom with painting.

How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?

I don't have much academic experience—my education was my apprenticeship. It prepared me to deal with real world situations and the difficulties of being an independent artist. However, there was no structure. Being in an environment where you’re solely responsible for your work without having someone tell you what and when things need to be done, will lead you to making many mistakes. Especially since I started when I was 20, I learned from those mistakes and created a structure that supported my career and the quality of work I want to produce. Today, I’m continuing my training. I meet monthly with Phil Holt, a talented tattooer and painter in Tampa. I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and have a mentor I trust to help me further develop my craft.

You opened the shop at the beginning of 2020. What would you say has been the most challenging part of the process? The most rewarding?

Opening a shop at the age of 25, two months before a pandemic hit, was very challenging. 2020 started with so much energy and the pandemic robbed me of it for a while; it was difficult to find inspiration after a stressful situation. The most rewarding part has been pushing myself to grow and accomplish things that used to make me so uncomfortable. I’m very excited to share some very big changes coming this year with my shop—these are changes I didn't think would be possible for a few more years.

How do you describe your artistic style? Where do you draw inspiration from?

I feel like I’m still developing my style, but I love the direction I’m currently going in. I draw inspiration from groovy/hippie art from the 60s and 70s, as well as Art Deco and botanical illustrations. I love blending styles to create something that feels natural and energetic.

How has being a woman impacted your professional experiences? What can we collectively do to support and empower women in your industry today?

Throughout most of my career I was usually the only woman in the shop, and I felt misunderstood and judged at times. Most commonly, men would tell me I was “only busy” because of the way I looked. For those reasons I didn't post myself on social media, I wanted to be seen for my work only. It was extremely frustrating when I worked so hard to constantly improve my skills and have others just focus on my appearance. I actually got fired from my first shop because I opened up to my boss about the way someone he hired for an event was speaking inappropriately to me and other women. I was met with the comment “If you don't like it, you're in the wrong industry.” I have since removed people like that from my life, and have found amazing people in my industry who support and respect women. I think we need to remember that women are capable of being more than one thing, we are so much more than our physical form. We deserve the space to be a person and be successful without judgment. I also started using social media to not only share my artwork but myself and the person I am without feeling judged. I was able to let go of that stigma.

What does success look like to you? What’s something you’re hoping to accomplish over the next few years?

Success to me is held in the quality of my life, I value work/life balance and daily joy. I’m hoping to carve out more time to just be an artist in the next couple of years—I would love to primarily paint and tattoo just my designs. I’m already on that path, and hope to continue that journey to my goal.

You’re also big into sustainability. What actions have you implemented into your everyday life?

I could talk about this all day. I haven't used paper towels in my household since April 2020. We use reusable silicone bags, freezer bags for freezing, and save food instead of being wasteful ordering out. I use reusable water bottles, and I'll go out of my way to buy beverages in glass bottles instead of plastic. I save all the glass jars and bottles we use for food or cleaning product storage, and I use cans for growing new plants. I can keep going, but I think you get the point.

How do you relax, unwind, and recharge after a long week?

I like to sprinkle rest and self-care into each day; I meditate, journal and do some type of physical activity daily. It keeps me from feeling burnt out. If I really want to unwind, my boyfriend and I make a charcuterie board and drink wine around a fire.

What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career so far?

I’m proud to say I've built a life that I feel I don't need a vacation from. I enjoy my day-to-day, and every changing season, and I can say I make a living as an artist. That's what I've always wanted.

Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?

Claudia De Sabe, Little Baby Linda, and Savannah Colleen.

Career and/or life advice for other babes (both inside and outside of your industry?)

Don't fear change, even the most uncomfortable changes. If you're not satisfied with your career or life, make the moves to change it. You'll get through the discomfort, but you can't get your time back.