Meet Grace Gonzalez

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Grace Gonzalez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Grace below.

Hi Grace, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I spent the early part of my professional career climbing the ladder in sales, retail, and eventually tech — often in male-dominated spaces where I constantly felt I had to prove not only my capability, but also justify the way I led with empathy. I became known as the “team mom” — the one everyone came to for advice, emotional support, and guidance. While I was proud to lead and uplift others, especially young women just starting out, it began to feel like I was breaking myself into smaller, digestible pieces to make my value more palatable for corporate culture.

At some point, I realized I wasn’t just earning my seat at the table — I was building the table. And not just for myself, but for others to sit at comfortably. Yet, time and again, the spotlight was given to those who were better at playing the part, while people like me quietly held up the entire structure. That shift in perspective — seeing the illusion of authority versus the real work being done behind the scenes — was what cracked something open in me. I realized I was more than capable. I was overqualified. I just didn’t fit the mold that was traditionally celebrated.

So I made a choice. Instead of giving my life and energy away to companies that didn’t nourish me, I started building my own legacy doing something I’ve always loved: art.

Transitioning into tattooing and permanent makeup — a field that, like tech, is often male-dominated — came with its own doubts. I hadn’t picked up a pencil or a paintbrush in years, and I let that absence define me for a long time. I thought, If I’m not practicing art, can I still call myself an artist? That question haunted me. But eventually, I realized the answer was simple: just start again. The cure for that anxiety and imposter syndrome was action. Practice. Repetition. Passion.

Time and consistency became my proof — to others, but mostly to myself. All the skills I developed in my past life — hard work, emotional intelligence, resilience, leadership — transferred seamlessly into my new path. I knew I was good enough, because I had been good enough all along.

Yes, I’m still hyper-critical of my work (hello, Virgo moon), but I also take deep pride in what I do (Leo sun energy in full force). I’ve learned that being proud of yourself doesn’t mean you think you’re perfect — it means you know you’ve earned it.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a permanent makeup artist and tattoo artist — and honestly, I feel like I have the best job in the world. Every day I get to help people feel more confident in their skin, whether it’s through machine shaded brows and lip blushing or designing custom tattoos. With permanent makeup, I get to work with clients who want fuller, more defined brows or lips — sometimes it’s just for an aesthetic glow-up, and other times it’s deeply personal, like helping someone with alopecia or scarring. Lip blushing especially is such a fun service — it can reshape the lips, enhance their natural color, and help clients feel like they wake up ready to take on the day.

Tattooing is and will always be my first love. It’s the thing I have to do until I die — it brings me that much joy. I love everything about it: the art, the connection, the learning, and especially the way tattoos live on the body like a story in motion. My tattoo style blends illustrative, American traditional, neotraditional, script, folk art, and tiny tattoos — and I love customizing each piece to fit the person wearing it.

My brand is all about self-love, creating a safe space, and connection. Most of my appointments end in a hug (if that’s your thing), and a lot of my clients come back for multiple services — they turn into my besties. I’ve found the saying “clients are more likely to be your friends than friends are your clients” to be mostly true… but I’ve been lucky enough to experience both sides.

Recently, I expanded my services to include tooth gems and teeth whitening — which is such a fun addition because now we can have a full glam day together: brighten your smile, add some sparkle, touch up your brows or lips, and maybe even get a tiny tattoo.

I also have a background in wedding makeup and event planning, and that’s starting to come full circle. While I still do makeup by referral, I’m now bringing tattooing into the event world too — pop-ups, weddings, parties, even corporate events. I love curating a fun and elevated experience for people, and it’s been such a joy to watch tattooing become part of those celebrations.

At the end of the day, I just want to create beautiful things, share joy, and make people feel seen and loved — and I feel incredibly grateful that this work lets me do exactly that.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I think the three most impactful elements in my journey were emotional intelligence, resilience, and creative confidence. These weren’t things I necessarily started out with fully formed — they were built over time, often through hard lessons and big leaps.

Emotional intelligence was a huge one. Whether I was managing a sales team, helping a nervous client through their first tattoo, or guiding someone through a transformative service like lip blushing, being able to hold space for people — to really see them — has made all the difference. It’s how I built trust, community, and long-term relationships. My advice for developing this? Slow down and listen. Learn to read between the lines and meet people with empathy, not ego.

Resilience is the muscle you build every time things don’t go your way — and I’ve had to flex it a lot. Whether it was navigating male-dominated workspaces, leaving the stability of a corporate job, or confronting imposter syndrome head-on, I’ve learned that the people who keep showing up — even imperfectly — are the ones who grow. If you’re just starting out, let go of the idea that you have to be “ready.” You just have to be willing. Mistakes aren’t the opposite of success; they’re part of the process.

And then there’s creative confidence — which, funny enough, didn’t fully click for me until I returned to art after years away from it. I used to think that if I wasn’t constantly creating, I couldn’t call myself an artist. Now I know that creativity doesn’t vanish; it waits for you. For anyone looking to grow in this area, my biggest advice is: just start. Practice. Be bad at it. Be okay with that. Because with time and consistency, your voice and style will shine through — and that confidence will come from doing, not waiting to feel worthy enough.

All of these qualities have shaped not only my career, but the way I live and connect with others. If you lead with heart, stay curious, and keep showing up — you’ll be amazed at what unfolds.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my parents ever did for me was nurture my creativity without limitations. Both of them are artists, and they raised me with the belief that there’s no “wrong” way to create — and that mindset shaped everything about who I am today.

My dad spent every weekend teaching me something new. I went through so many phases — from learning pastels at age five to launching my own little pottery business called Grace’s Faces at ten, where I made mugs with faces on them. (Honestly, still iconic.)

What meant the most, though, was that my parents always encouraged me to explore, experiment, and even fail. They never expected me to be perfect, just curious and open. And even when they didn’t personally connect to the things I was interested in, they showed up for me anyway — which I’m endlessly grateful for.

They also let me draw with both hands when I was little. I’m ambidextrous, and I used to start drawing from opposite ends of the paper with both hands until they met in the middle. My parents never corrected me or told me to pick one — school eventually did that — but at home, the message was always: your way is the right way.

Even during times when we couldn’t always connect in other ways, art gave us a common language. That kind of unconditional support and creative freedom was everything. It still is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Gracegonzalezartistry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracegonzalezartistry/

Image Credits

Jesse Cobb Photography https://www.jessecobbphoto.com/