Today we’d like to introduce you to Kisha Fernandez.
Hi Kisha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hey everyone, my name is Kisha Fernandez but I go by MavelTatts on all my social media platforms. I’m 28yrs old and I’m from Honduras. I’ve been tattooing for 10yrs. I specialize in ColorWork, Black and grey, Realism, and of course creating art of all sorts. I’m super proud of my journey. Being the only Black female tattoo artist in Galveston county is mind-blowing. God has chosen a purpose for me that I never thought I’d have. I’ve been into Art since the age of 7 And I must say it’s who I am. It all started in elementary. I attended P.S 92 located in Harlem, New York. The school added Saturday Art classes and I remember jumping into the opportunity with no questions. I had a rough up growing so I turned to art as my escape. I never thought I would fall in love with Art the way I did. All it took was picking up a paintbrush and meeting my beautiful art teacher, who took her time to really introduced me to the beauty of art. I remember her telling me even though the art work is messy in the beginning you can always go back and make it what you want.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey in becoming an amazing tattoo artist was definitely the hardest challenge I’ve ever took on can but so beautiful at the same time. My mom moved myself and my 5 sisters to Galveston Texas. The move was definitely hard at first because we didn’t have no family and being the new girl on the block didn’t make it better. I got my first tattoo at 16 and immediately felt like it was equivalent to drawing. That’s when I told my heart this is another form of art I had to learn and I was dedicated in doing so. I purchased my first Coil machine at 17yrs old. No one supported my decision at the time and even laughed at the fact I was so passionate about it. I remember giving my sister a tattoo assuming it was like drawing but I failed. The ink didn’t stick at all (Lmao) But that didn’t stop me. I started getting tattoos from other artists and asked a million in one question. Some Tattoo artists was more nice than others. I had absolutely had no knowledge of the tattoo industry, I just wanted to learn and give people artwork. Eventually I just gave up and was like this is a waste of time, I still drew and painted.
At the age of 20 I decided to try tattooing again but wanted to go a different direction. I went to seek out an apprenticeship. I’ll never forget this, I walked into a shop in Freeport Texas, and showed them my drawings the guy at the time stated “ If you’ll like an apprenticeship draw 100 roses” No lie I was excited, that was nothing to a girl like me. I draw everyday. Went home and did exactly that, when I returned the guy never looked at the rose and told me “All my work was trash”. I cried but I knew deep down I wasn’t gonna stop. I was to determined. So I taught myself, watching a whole lot of YouTube videos, practice skin and even on people that was willing for me to practice on them. My bumpy road went on and on but here I am 10yrs in the game and tattooing around the state and creating beautiful Artwork.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Drawing and painting is a form of expressing yourself without speaking, like the phrase “A picture can speak a thousand words”. Tattoo history was always known as a “white male dominate field” but as time goes on and the industry grows myself and people that looks like me proved that it’s more than that. Everyones personality is different. Some tattoo artists are more mellow while others are more out going, rockstar crazy. I highly recommend those who are not familiar in which direction to take when wanting to get a tattoo do there research on artists, it’s higher recommended. We all specialize in different forms of styles.
Art is me and I am Art. I love creating and also teaching it. I definitely plan to continue sharing the love of art through tattooing. I’m still improving in my craft because I still have way more to learn. This is only the beginning for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MavelTattoos.com
- Instagram: @MavelTatts_
- Facebook: Kisha Fernandez
