I picked this Topic as I feel like my life has been nothing but challenges and risks that i’ve taken!

A big part in being successful as a creative is taking risks. You have to be uncomfortable in order to get the best out of your skills. Staying in your safe zone may feel nice but you’re only holding back your true potential.

I was born in Dubai, UAE and was raised in a strict, traditional srilankan Household. My parents had alot of issues they were working on and unfortunately resulted in a divorce.

At 18 I left everything behind and moved to New York to figure my life out. For college I attended Pratt Institute for interior design.

As a young woman in New york city, I felt like i was taking a risk everyday. It was a melting pot, Just endless opportunities just waiting. I started brewing a passion for tattooing and took on an apprenticeship during my senior year as a young interior design. I had heads talking, saying this was a mistake and that I should focus on my thesis. But there was a voice inside of me that told me to keep going.

Everyday I Kept riding my bike after class to the tattoo shop where I spent a few hours. I would then come back to the studio and break night trying to finish my autocad render.

Fast forward to my life now, 12 years later, tattooing has been my full time career for the past 7 solid years. I’ve worked in different cities all across America, did conventions, opened a studio here in Miami. So yeah a lot of risks, and i’m SO proud of myself for doing so.

About me, well my name is Suro I got that name for a high school friend who just started calling me “Sur “ Suranghee is my first name and Roshinee is my second so voila! SURO :)

I started tattooing about 12 years ago, finally established myself as a full time artist for about 7 years now. I started in Brooklyn, NY and I currently tattoo out in Miami, Florida.

I was that girl that would just carry a sketchbook and doodle all the time. If i were to go back in time and change one thing, i would probably whisper to my younger self and say, “you always had this. Don’t think any less of anything”

Long story short I was and still Am my own worst critic, I always said man i’m not good enough, Even though i was tattooing and had people from every corner in brooklyn wanting to get a tattoo from me.

I still felt like it wasn’t enough. Maybe this was childhood trauma where my dad always expected me to come home with straight A’s. I was never an A grade student but always did well on any art assignment.

What motivates me is that I truly love what I do AND I love my clients. Since my first real tattoo shop in Lower east side NY, red baron Ink, I have always had amazing experiences with my clients.

Travel has also played a huge role in my career and is another reason why I love what I do.

Since I started I have tattooed in NY, Philadelphia, Austin TX, San francisco, hawaii, Florida , And as well as Toronto and Madrid,

My most proudest moment is when I went into Target here in Miami, and an employee saw me and looked so starstruck. She said she loved my work and that she follows me on Instagram. She hopes to get a tattoo from me and at that moment i was like wow man, this feels so surreal. I smiled and said i hope that I get to work with her one day.

I’ve had to go through some traumatizing life experiences. Moments like my parent’s divorce, Being an immigrant amongst peers who weren’t (not that any of them gave me any trouble, it was just hard to find things relatable like work, travel, etc) Then being pregnant in a pandemic.

Amongst all of these life chapters, one thing that always stood clear to me was ART. Whether it was painting, drawing. tattooing. Nothing else makes sense to me.

And I say this with the least amount of resentment, however if you aren’t an artist, independent contractor, basically someone who works for yourself, you will NEVER understand why we can’t have days off in the beginning.

I used to hate when I get invited to things on a Saturday, I’m like “guys, this is the day that I make the most income!”

So this is why we charge what we charge. We don’t get sick days, we don’t get maternity leave nor do we have 401 k. We literally have to work double as hard.

Creating your lifetime career from what normal people may call a “hobby” is no walk in the park. It takes hard work, dedication and NOW I’m finally seeing the results.