We recently connected with Tinni Karim and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tinni thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Taking a leap of faith and leaving behind my successful career as a pharmacist to pursue art full-time was a major risk that changed my life. Pharmacy school was great, and being a student was exciting, but once I entered the retail pharmacist world, something didn’t feel right. The job’s demands took a toll on me, and I started yearning for a change. Deep down, I had this strong desire to be my own boss and let my creativity shine. It was scary to think about leaving the stability I had worked so hard to achieve, but the pull of my creative dreams became impossible to ignore.

I started a YouTube channel as a secret creative outlet after work. Only my husband knew about it; I didn’t share it with anyone else in my real life. The channel featured my art and various crafts, and it allowed me to express my creativity on the side.

Everything changed when my YouTube channel started gaining a significant following. I was simply sharing videos of my art process and my hobbies of scrapbooking and decorative planning, but to my surprise, people resonated with my content. They began requesting that I sell my artwork as stickers. The idea of opening an online shop to sell my art was both exciting and nerve-wracking. I found myself at a crossroads, torn between the financial safety of my pharmacy career and the untapped potential of a life as an artist.

After battling self-doubt and receiving support from my loved ones, I took the bold step of changing my career. I used my savings to sustain myself while dedicating countless hours to learning how to run a sticker business, refining my skills, and building an online presence. Launching the online shop was a pivotal moment, filled with anticipation and uncertainty. I faced doubts and fears along the way, but the encouragement from my YouTube subscribers and the growing demand for my art gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward.

As time went on, my risk began to pay off. The online shop flourished, and my artwork found its way into the homes of sticker lovers around the world. Creating pieces that resonated with others brought me immense joy and fulfillment, and I couldn’t be happier living a life aligned with my true passions. Though transitioning from a pharmacist to a full-time artist had its share of challenges, the rewards far exceeded my expectations. Taking that big risk changed my life for the better.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Tinni, and I am a self-taught artist who found my passion in creating hand-made stickers and stationery. My brand is Bella Tinni and it consists of an online shop for my art (www.bellatinni.com) and a youtube channel under the same name. I started by creating custom stickers to use in bullet journals and planners. Now I have expanded to creating decorative waterproof stickers of my illustrations, as well as other stationery and accessories. What I am most proud of is the underlying theme and purpose behind my work. While I’m known for my simple and cheerful doodles, especially those inspired by K-pop, my main focus is to inspire and uplift others. I truly believe that art has the power to bring joy and healing into people’s lives.

Through my art, I strive to shed light on mental health issues, encourage self-care, and normalize conversations surrounding mental well-being. Growing up in the South Asian community, I witnessed firsthand a lack of understanding and support for mental health concerns. There is a silent suffering that often occurs, and I aim to create a safe space through my art where people can feel seen and belong.

By openly sharing my own mental health struggles and journey towards healing, my art serves as a gentle reminder to prioritize self-care, embrace positivity, and find moments of joy and healing. I hope that my vulnerability can inspire others to embark on their own personal journeys of growth and self-discovery.

Additionally, I hope to tap into the inner child within each person through my art. By creating pieces that evoke nostalgia, whimsy, and playfulness, I want to bring a little spark of joy to those who engage with my products. If I can bring even a brief moment of happiness to someone’s day, then I feel like I’ve accomplished my mission as an artist and brand.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

For the longest time, I held onto the belief that the things I had fun doing should be reserved as hobbies and not pursued as a serious job. I also believed that you can’t make enough money off of hobbies and I thought that achieving work-life balance was an unattainable luxury. These beliefs stemmed from seeing my hardworking parents struggle and work long hours to support our family. I internalized the belief that a career had to be difficult and serious in order to be responsible and successful. The idea that work isn’t supposed to be enjoyable felt normal to me, and I carried this limiting belief for more than half of my life.

But when I began working as a retail pharmacist, I began to question these lessons I taught myself and the impact it was having on my overall happiness. I started challenging the idea that doing something fun couldn’t also be a valid career path. Unlearning this deeply rooted belief was a transformative process that required self-reflection and a shift in my mindset.

What I ultimately learned instead is that not only is it acceptable to pursue a career that is fun, but it will also lead to a happier and more balanced version of myself. While every job has its challenges, finding fulfillment and satisfaction in the work I do has had a profound impact on my overall well-being. It’s clear to me now that when your career aligns with your passions, it not only brings joy and fulfillment but also has a positive ripple effect in other areas of your life. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a career that allows me to make a positive impact on my community while pursuing something that brings me happiness. It’s a reminder that work can be a source of personal fulfillment and contribute to a balanced and satisfying life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to make a positive impact on the public. It’s amazing to see how my art can make others feel happy, safe, seen, and so much more. When someone tells me that my work brought a smile to their face or that they resonated with my art, it’s the best feeling ever. Being able to connect with people through my creativity and bring a little bit of joy and inspiration into their lives is incredibly fulfilling. I love knowing that I can make a positive difference, even if it’s just with one person and moment at a time. That’s what keeps me passionate about being an artist and motivates me to keep creating.   

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bellatinni.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bellatinni
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/bellatinni
• Tiktok: https://bit.ly/bellatinnitiktok