We were lucky to catch up with Katherine Parada recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Katherine , great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
I believe it started with my mom. She has always been my role model, and she showed me that persistence and taking risks—especially when facing the unknown—can open incredible opportunities. Despite living with an illness, she never let it stop her from taking bold steps to make our lives better. Watching her taught me that you can chase your dreams even when others tell you it’s impossible. She always supported me, encouraged me to make my own decisions, and helped me build the courage to take risks and grow every day.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My journey as a tattoo artist began from a deep love for art and drawing that I’ve had since I was a child. I actually studied architecture because I’ve always been drawn to design and aesthetics, but over time, my passion for tattooing became stronger. I realized that what truly makes me happy is creating art, drawing, and designing pieces that people can carry with them forever.
What makes my work special is the connection I build with my clients. I take time to listen to their stories and emotions so I can turn their ideas into tattoos that feel deeply personal and meaningful. Seeing their reaction and the happiness on their face when they see the final piece is the most rewarding part of what I do.
My style focuses on fine line, microrealism, and ornamental tattoos — I love how these styles allow me to express precision, softness, and emotion through delicate details. Right now, I’m focused on continuing to grow my brand, connecting with new clients, and expanding my portfolio to share my art with more people who value meaningful, timeless designs.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I’d say the three qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey were persistence, resilience, and a constant desire to learn. When I first decided to become a tattoo artist, not everyone around me supported that choice. It was hard at the beginning — I was still learning, didn’t have many clients, and often had to work two jobs to support myself. But I never gave up.
I traveled to different countries — Colombia, Israel, Mexico and the United States — to keep learning and growing as an artist. Every challenge became an opportunity to get better. Whenever I had free time, I took courses, practiced, and studied more about art and tattooing.
My advice for anyone starting out is to stay consistent and patient with your process. Don’t be afraid of slow beginnings or mistakes — those moments are part of your growth. Keep learning, surround yourself with people who inspire you, and trust that your passion will lead you where you’re meant to be.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I believe it’s important to work on both — but in the right order. In my experience, before going all in on your strengths, you need to understand and improve the areas that hold you back mentally or emotionally.
When I was younger, I always knew I loved art and tattoos, but I wasn’t completely sure if that was what I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life. During that time of uncertainty, I focused on improving myself internally. I took courses in emotional intelligence, communication, and business coaching because I wanted to strengthen my mindset and better understand people and the world around me.
Once I worked on those parts of myself, I felt ready to fully embrace my strength — art. That’s when everything started to flow naturally. I realized that developing self-awareness and emotional growth gave me the clarity and confidence I needed to focus on what I truly love: drawing, creating, and growing as an artist every day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kat_parmu?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatParmu?
- Other: https://www.goldenchildtattoo.com/artists/katherine-parada/
Image Credits
For my first picture: Photographer:Tracy Croxen Golden Warrior Photography.
The drawing picture: Its my mom ( pencils and chacoal)
The picture with the another person: She is my mom and the biggest inspiration behind my entire journey.
The tattoos that I share are microrealism and the lettering (fine line)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
