Bel Fernandez shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Bel , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Tattooing always makes me lose track of time. When I tattoo, it feels like I step into another world — I’m doing something I truly love. I start a piece without fully knowing how it will look at the end, but as it comes to life, I fall in love with the whole process and the final result. The best part is watching the client’s reaction, seeing the surprise in their eyes and the smile slowly forming on their face. That’s when time disappears. Some days go by in a heartbeat simply because I’m fully immersed in a tattoo.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I like to say that my story is beautifully chaotic. I studied Law for six or seven years, but I knew deep down it wasn’t fulfilling me. I followed my instinct even though it wasn’t what people expected from me, and I started experimenting with tattooing. At first I focused on aesthetic tattoos and then on small designs, and from the very first moment, I fell in love with it.
My first tattoo was just a single word, and even though it wasn’t a big piece, I was fascinated by the power of expressing something permanent on the skin.
With time, I discovered my style — botanical. It has a natural flow that allows me to create without being limited to replicating something exactly. I can build something unique that adapts beautifully to the body. I love capturing movement rather than making a static drawing. I want my pieces to feel like a breeze moving through flowers or plants. I also enjoy creating contrast between softness and delicacy, which is why I include darker elements to highlight the light. I feel that this balance between realism and creativity defines me today. I always try to make each tattoo unique and truly special.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most and allowed me to start this career was my husband. He’s a tattoo artist and from the very beginning he helped me with everything — materials, advice, ideas, the best techniques. And even today, we work together and keep supporting each other, which allows both of us to grow.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me everything. It showed me how strong I can really be. It taught me that there’s always a way out, that time heals, and that what seems impossible to overcome today may later become the biggest lesson. It made me stronger and pushed me to grow.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I feel like my public version is a part of me. Over time, I learned to protect myself a little when it comes to social media. I’m lucky to be surrounded by people who lift me up and make me feel good, but I’ve also crossed paths with people who taught me — the hard way — to take care of myself. Now I share what feels right and keep the rest safe.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Today I truly believe I am. My 10- or 15-year-younger self would never have imagined any of this — the things I’ve done, what I’ve accomplished, or the dreams I’ve reached, even the ones I didn’t know I had. Life completely surprised me. This career is the most beautiful crazy thing that has ever happened to me. Being able to dedicate my life to creating art on people’s skin is incredible. It’s such an honor to be chosen to tattoo something that means so much to them. I’m deeply grateful.
