New York is the town of dreamers. Yearly, 1000’s journey from world wide within the hopes of constructing it in The Metropolis That By no means Sleeps. Michelle Santana was already established as a widely known artist in Colombia when she determined to maneuver to NYC, as a result of she knew that this metropolis churns out massive tattoo stars like no different. With loads of expertise, a little bit little bit of luck and simply $75 in her pocket, Santana grew to become one of the vital sought-out artists within the Huge Apple.
Take us by means of your upbringing in Colombia and the way you grew to become fascinated by artwork as a child.
Each of my dad and mom are Colombians who have been hustling on the streets of New York once they met. Earlier than I used to be born, my dad ended up in jail. Shortly after I used to be born, my mother met the identical destiny. So that they despatched me to Colombia once I was 7 months outdated. I spent my early years going to highschool in Cali, Colombia, and touring throughout any free time I had from faculty between New York and Amsterdam.
Since I can keep in mind, I’d discover pleasure within the time I spent with a pen and a bit of paper. My brothers have been actually into music and artwork. After I turned 9, my household moved from Colombia to Spain, so we may very well be nearer to my mother. I’d say the best way the faculties in Madrid train children about artwork is what actually obtained me to respect the effective arts. They’d do faculty journeys to each museum, it was a wealthy expertise that I couldn’t get sufficient of.
How did your profession as a tattooer start and who have been a number of the first folks you tattooed?
I obtained my first tattoo once I was 16, because of my older brother who was much less accountable and who additionally obtained me into shopping for tattoo magazines. However I didn’t have sufficient braveness to stroll into an actual tattoo store [looking for a job] in Madrid or Amsterdam as a result of I used to be afraid I’d be rejected for being so younger. After I turned 18 in Amsterdam, my stepfather obtained out of jail and was deported to Colombia so my mother determined all of us needed to go away our lives in Europe and begin over in Cali. There, I met a man who did tattoos and is now a really well-known artist in Colombia. He was working at a store that had tattoo kits accessible for everybody to buy, so once I came upon I requested my mother for cash and purchased one. As quickly as I obtained house, I known as my greatest buddy from my neighborhood and he was the primary one who obtained tattooed by me. He was additionally the primary one who believed I used to be gonna make it within the tattoo world. That very same day, my cousins came to visit and I tattooed the three of them.
What made you determine to maneuver to New York?
After I was dwelling in Colombia, I opened my very own store with my husband in 2014 and after working onerous for over a yr and a half, I felt it wasn’t sufficient to have the ability to make my goals come true. I felt that I wanted to depart and check out my luck in one other metropolis. By some means I believed New York can be that place, however nobody from my household actually believed in that concept. The one one who actually supported me and gave me the chance to attempt was my grandmother. She actually pulled one million Colombian pesos ($350) from underneath her mattress and handed them to me so I may purchase a aircraft ticket. After I arrived, I solely had $75 in my pocket.
How would you describe the fashion you do at present?
After 4 years of doing easy tattoos, I take into account myself a fine-line tattooer. I choose to tattoo issues that I take into account lovely, like flowers, lettering and any design that offers concord and fluidity to the physique. I like once I see a tattoo in the appropriate spot and it suits so effectively with the individual.
What’s the important thing to correctly executing a tiny tattoo?
I believe you’ve obtained to like and be excited to try this tiny tattoo and you need to have the appropriate instruments to do it. I believe with persistence and observe, you are able to do something you need.
