ART JUNQUI: Tiffany Perez

When you first meet Tiffany Perez you can tell she’s more than average. I met Tiff my Sophomore of Highschool at Rosa L. Parks Fine &Performing Arts Highschool in NJ. It was her freshman year as Fine Art major. Everyone Tiff was great from the first day, she was better than a lot of the seniors and I was proud to call her my friend. Now in 2010 I am still proud to call this legend my friend.

 When did you start getting into art?
At 2 years old was when I first started drawing. Usually at this age, children scribble and make marks that are unintentional but I, on the other hand was creating pictures of objects and things.When I drew something and my parents would ask what it was, I’d answer them with the little words that I knew and my little pictures always looked like what I said it was. So, I guess you can say I have been into art since the day I could talk.

 Who is your favorite artist?
My favorite artist is actually a tattoo artist from Puerto Rico named Juan Salgado. He’s an incredible artist. His work is so clean and he draws with perspective. In other words, none of his tattoo designs are ever flat or 2D. They are all created with movement and flow so perfectly around whatever part of the body it is being tattooed on. He is also extremely creative and he has a style that I don’t think anyone can duplicate and to me, that is what makes him stand out the most.

 What’s your art background?
In High School, I took one year of Fine Arts and 3 years of Advertising Art and Design. I also graduated Montclair State University with a Bachelors degree in Art Studio with a specialization in Drawing and some Art Education. However, I have never limited myself to different forms of art. I have had experience with painting, airbrush, graphic design, life drawing, sculpture, jewelry making and photography.

 What made you want to do tattoos?
I actually never thought that I would get into tattoos this extreme, until I received a tattoo machine from my father on my 21st birthday. Upon receiving the machine and supplies, I tried to learn how to tattoo and thought it would be “easy” because through my eyes, tattooing is like drawing on skin, but without the proper guidance it became very difficult for me. I never saw anyone get a tattoo, I didn’t have any tattoos and I didn’t even know how to set up a machine. So, with that being said, putting all these supplies in front of me back then was like trying to put pieces of a puzzle together. At one point I did give up trying to teach myself because I felt that if I didn’t do it “professionally” then I would be doing everything all wrong and the last thing I wanted to do was: tattoo wrong on someone. After about a year later, through connections and word of mouth I ended up apprenticing at a shop in Newark, NJ. I loved tattooing so much and had such a passion for it that from then on everything sky rocketed from there and I never turned back. 
 
How’s Miami  life different from NJ?
Miami to me is like vacation everyday. Palm trees, Southbeach, the sun and hot weather -just the whole environment alone is relaxing and in a way-inspiring to me. In Jersey, we don’t have these things. We have snow and we for sure can’t drive 10 minutes to a royal blue clean water beach. I love Jersey and nothing can ever replace what I had up North, but without a doubt I am more focused out here in Miami-more concentrated on my career and more ambitious. I guess making the decision to get up and leave everything in NJ has put me in a more self-improving state of mind.  I left everything  and everyone back home in Jersey so the least I can do is adjust and treat this move as a new beginning for myself and most importantly to make my mother, father and family happy. Miami is a very exciting place. There is always something going on whether it be a festival or an event, and definitely more opportunities. Miami, however is a little slow-paced for me and the fact that I have to pump my own gas still bothers me a little but I guess it’s just the whole fast-paced (on the go) lifestyle I had my whole life in Jersey. Anyone from up north will see this difference. Besides that, life in Miami has been more beneficial to me since the big move from New Jersey five months ago.
 
How’s the tattoo experience different from Miami & NJ?                                                                                                                                                     In New Jersey I use to do a lot of black and grey work and majority of the time, I tattooed nothing but males. In Florida, it’s the opposite I do more color and tattoo a lot of females. I also noticed that in Florida, a lot of my clients tip and they don’t usually complain as much about a pricing of a tattoo of its high. So at the end of the day, I’m doing much better out here. I also love the fact that I chose a great tattoo shop with award-winning artists. My experience with my owner and co-workers has shown me what loyalty in the tattoo industry is about and we all (in some way) motivate one another and challenge each other, which provides an encouraging and improving work atmosphere. My boss also has a great reputation and networks with some of the most amazing and well-known people in the industry. Thus, allowing every artist in our shop  the opportunity to work at tattoo conventions, which can be held anywhere in the US and even in other countries. Being able to experience this alone is a blessing in itself. Instead of watching other people get tatted at these conventions, I’m the one who is actually doing them.

What are your future plans?              

I want to save up first and pay off my school loan, then I want to buy a big house. This to me is very important because after I take care of these two things I can proudly say I did it all on my own without the help of anyone. Then I can focus on my dream of opening a tattoo shop and possibly going back to school to specialize in cosmetic laser treatments and tattoo removal; for those who need to lighten up unwanted tattoos for future coverups. To me however, time is just an illusion, there is only now. Focus on what you can take care of now and with faith, let God lead you into the right direction step by step everyday. I know what I would like to do in the future but anything can change and I’m willing to grab any opportunity that comes my way. I never planned on becoming a tattoo artist 3 years ago and look at me now in Florida doing tattoos in the best shops in Miami. All I know is that with my persistence, ambition and drive I can get anywhere and the future is going to be a blessing everyday… from this day on whether it is planned or not.

Wow! Isn’t Tiffany wonderful? We here at theJUNQUI.com are big fans Tiff!

You can go to Chico’s Marked For Life 15166 SW 56TH in Miami, FL 33185 305-388-4146

For more work check out her Facebook Tattoo album: http://www.facebook.com/tiffanypperez

Contact  tifftats2@yahoo.com

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