Former Florida A&M student Tatiana Morman decided to pause her journey in school to pursue her passion for art. In the process, she created a business that brings meaning to her life.
Morman, a native of Miami, continues to live in Tallahassee where she is building her career and business.
During her time at FAMU she majored in physical therapy. She was inspired by her aunt to pursue a college degree. Morman thought that she would be doing the right thing for not only herself but her family as well.
“The thought of being a lawyer, doctor, educator are all good things that could potentially make you a lot of money, which essentially was an inspiration for me to finish college. But it just wasn’t making me happy,” Morman said.
During her time at FAMU, Morman says that she made small art for her roommates and family members at the start of her freshman year in 2016.
It began when her roommate asked her to create a custom painting for her mother. It would be a gift for her mother’s birthday.
“The painting that Tati did for my mom is still up on our wall at home along with many other paintings she has done for me personally. She is the art GOAT,” Kierra Fortilliean said.
Morman grew depressed while she was in college and needed to find a different way to cope with her depression.
The school was no longer making her happy and wasn’t affordable anymore. She said she needed to find a way to deal with what was going on in her life, so she turned to her art.
Morman said it was hard watching some of her friends pass her by while she was creating art.
However, she understands that everything is a process and that she is, as she said, “Your local art dealer.”
She started her business Chalked, with custom paintings. She soon added hoodies, shirts and pants, and holiday bags and baskets.
Morman plans to return to college so that she can pursue a degree in business. She said that she would like to get a better understanding of how to be an entrepreneur.
She plans to enroll at TCC and transfer to FAMU so that she can still have time to build her business and get an education for herself.
Morman sets up her art in different parts of Tallahassee every Friday until she can afford her own studio.
“I see my friends’ hustle and I am so proud in what she has accomplished, I hope that she comes back to FAMU and strides in school and in her art. She has worked so hard to get to where she is,” Aaron Greenlee said.
Morman says FAMU prepared her to be the “bold” individual that she is.