We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Miosotty Ortega Cruz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Miosotty, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Imagine doing all things by the book. Graduating high school on time; gaining a bachelors degree in criminal justice, as well as an associates degree as a graphic designer with focus in animation, but find yourself in a position of being empty handed. Applying to the military and receiving a gold metal of leader in excellence all just to find out that two weeks prior to the due date given for departure to boot camp i was standing on the foundation of entering motherhood. Biggest risk of my life in 2011 was becoming a mother. Mentally and emotionally I was in that moment un stabled.
Miosotty, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Let me mention first and foremost I struggle with chronic migraines and that’s a challenge within its self. I AM… a mother of three munchkins (two boys and one girl) all three full of life and carry a piece of my personality in which triggers and challenges my own struggles. Laylahlee is so talented; let me explain whatever she visually puts her eyes on she self teaches herself. Kaleb has such an intense and out of this world imagination which he can literally built anything from legos, but is his best critic and holds himself from his own greatness. Ezrah well he is such a giver that when you are not kind towards his giving he becomes the most emotional individual you’ll ever meet. Self taught, doubtful and giver. That’s a recap about ME.
2011 was the year I was given my first tattoo machine and was told that as long as I transferred my story telling art on to a persons canvas I would never need to struggle financially. Though in that moment it sounded glorious it became my truth. At the age of 16 years old my first tattoo read “for the love of art”. Art was told to be my hobby not my job. The reason why I went to college and gained not one but two degrees was a task accomplished not for me, but a trophy of accomplishment for my grandmother. I was told that once I had a “career” and a “degree” I could do as I pleased and create as I pleased.
There’s so many interesting stories in between my timeline that I could literally write a book, but I will share those details at a different time frame. What matters is the roller coaster ride that the risk of picking up that tattoo machine took me on. From taking four years to find an apprenticeship to building a safe and knowledgeable approach for clients within the tattooing realm. I consider myself a story teller tattoo artist; I find joy and peace creating unique pieces for clients which reflect what they have experienced in life whether positive or negative. Every detail matters. As a client knowing that you won’t get tattooed even with an appointment up until you are in love with the piece I have created for you is crucial. I have become a trauma informed tattooist during my eleven years of tattooing. I intentionally make space and am aware of the experiences within trauma/PTSD/C-PTSD that may raise in a tattoo session. Being able to be prepared to encounter and support my clients with safe practices and empathy as well as the physically approach by being verbal in every step of their tattoo session has become the highlight of their experience while being tattooed by me. For that I’d like to thank Tatiana Santibañez which I bumped into her social media account and took her course of “could this be magic? Tattooing as Liberation work.”
I strongly believe that “NOT every Artist is a tattoo artist and NOT every tattoo artist is an Artist” it takes ALOT to become one or the other but to be both in one is a blessing. The risk of having someone’s life in your hands and the step that you take into knowing that you’re the one responsable for every single outcome of that persons new art piece is exiting, but scary. Why? Think about it from the hazard microorganism approach you choose, to the choice of needles, to the ink knowledge, to the placement of the art within the anatomy of the body of each person; it’s ALOT.
As a mother and tattoo artist I have peoples life’s in my hand on a daily basis. Creating discipline is a MUST and a tough lesson learned.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
I can say proudly that the biggest key milestone for me was hearing my life coach, my life mentor, my guardian angel (as my grandmother calls him) tell me time and time again “Miosotty your like a bird for you to expand one must allow you to be free. When you are caged you become limited and find yourself imbalanced.” Those words hit me in that moment when verbally expressed to me. It hit a nerve because as a creative you must be and feel free to create without too many boundaries. Thirteen years as a dental assistant specialist and Dr. Alex Smolyar never stop believing in my potential or growth. If there was anything I have done right in this life time has been disciplining my children and being the best mother I AM. 2011 was the year I picked up my first tattoo machine but also the year that a career and opportunity was given to me. Tattooing was full time and dental became my side hustle. Both careers took turns becoming one or the other between side hustle and full time. I have persisted in my art as a tattoo artist because it’s what drives me each day and what seems best for me as a mother of three.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Woof!!!! I need to breathe for this one. Let’s just say that when you believe in yourself and know your truth everything else is irrelevant. I was pointed the finger at the next day of work at the shop I worked at that specific time and year for false information without any proof. This was a huge learning opportunity for my career and persona which allowed me to make the leap to open my private tattoo studio. The experience was a constant dodge of stones being tossed my way. If I start I won’t finish but to give you some insight I received a bag of hate and jealousy: the board of health was called on me, mystery clients would book appointments to verify the location of my studio; just to mention a few stats. However I stayed persistent in my own light at the end of the tunnel.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://square.site/book/W2FF3SQVWVV9J/the-fox-fable-reading-ma
- Instagram: Luvdruncartistryllc_
- Other: Email: [email protected] For booking if interested in experience getting tattooed by me visit the website and click book appointment. Website is the link to my current home shop.