Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarina Moore.
Hi Sarina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started creating instinctively—long before I had a plan or a business model. Art was never a hobby for me; it was an innate response to my environment and a way to survive and make sense of the world. What began with painting evolved organically into tattooing, floristry, and eventually building a space where multiple creative disciplines could exist together.
Without a blueprint or safety net, everything I’ve built has been learned hands-on through trial, long hours, and persistence. I taught myself not only the craft, but how to run a business, serve clients with intention, and keep moving forward through uncertainty.
Today, I operate a tattoo studio while also creating floral and painted works under one roof. My work is rooted in instinct, resilience, and originality, with a focus on turning raw experience into something meaningful and lasting.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nah—it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Building what I have meant navigating instability, financial pressure, and learning everything the hard way without much guidance or support. I’ve had to balance creative work with the realities of running a business, often while dealing with personal setbacks and uncertainty at the same time.
There were moments where burnout, self-doubt, and outside obstacles made things feel overwhelming, but each challenge forced me to adapt, sharpen my instincts, and keep going. Those struggles shaped how I work today—more intentional, more resilient, and more grounded in what actually matters.
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?
My work lives at the intersection of instinct and storytelling. I’m a tattoo artist, painter, and florist, and I specialize in original, intuitive work rather than trends. Visually, my focus centers on crime noir romanticism and Korean dancheong–inspired imagery, blending grit, symbolism, and ornamental structure across tattoos, paintings, and floral compositions.
I’m known for versatility and for moving between mediums without losing my voice. I don’t separate art from lived experience—my work is shaped by real life, not polish. I’m most proud of building something from nothing and continuing to create through instability, pressure, and uncertainty.
What sets me apart is how instinct-led and personal my process is. I work honestly and without pretense. My work isn’t designed to be clean or mass-appealing—it’s meant to feel intentional, emotional, and real, and the people who connect with it do so because it reflects lived depth rather than surface-level aesthetics.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I see the creative and tattoo industries splitting into two real lanes. On one side you’ve got people chasing trends, cheap fills, flash-in-the-pan styles, and all that undercutting bullshit — people I call “kitchen wizards”: cats who learned it off a YouTube video, cheap ink, cheap needles, cheap everything, and they run prices so low it collapses whole markets. They make it look easy, but it waters down the craft and trains clients to expect bargains instead of depth.
On the other side is the real respect movement — artists who treat tattooing, painting, and multidisciplinary work as a true craft, rooted in history, symbolism, and personal narrative. That lane will grow stronger as people get tired of surface-level stuff and want work with meaning, longevity, and character. The clients who value that aren’t going away — they want art that resonates.
I think we’ll see:
A pushback against cookie-cutter flash and race-to-the-bottom pricing. Undercutting might boom for a minute, but it won’t hold once people realize cheap tattoos age cheap too.
A resurgence of cultural and historical styles — like Korean dancheong, traditional symbolism, narrative work — gaining more respect and visibility.
More cross-disciplinary creators who aren’t just “tattoo artists” but storytellers in multiple mediums (paint, florals, design), owning a voice instead of mimicking trends.
A deeper interest in authenticity over aesthetics — meaning clients will respect artists who know why they put a line where it goes, not just how it looks in an Instagram grid.
The big shift isn’t about tools or tech — it’s about who’s respected and why. Real craft, real story, and real connection will outlast cheap gimmicks and kitchen wizard undercutting. People always come back to substance — that’s where the industry’s heart is headed.
Pricing:
- My studio minimum is $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chingupaint.etsy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chingutattoos?igsh=MXJ2OHBsdWR4dm95Zw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarina.maximillion/
Image Credits
Mary Louise Garcia III
