Meet Tiffy Sea | Creative Artist / Storyteller & Breast Cancer Survivor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiffy Sea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiffy, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Augusta, Georgia but primarily raised in North Augusta, South Carolina for majority of my life. Growing up I was always in the presence of my grandparents (Grams and Poppee). They adopted me when I was in the first or second grade because my mother was absent in my life and nobody had any knowledge of who my biological father was. Being raised by elders is an experience in itself. The way I would analyze things as a child would always impress teachers and those around me. Attention to detail and being very confident in my own self expression; which was greatly encouraged by both of my grandparents. My grandfather was a truck driver for over forty-two years, and my fondest memories were our picnics we would have in the backyard, our hiking trips in Tennessee (where he was born and raised), all of the traveling we did when I was a child, and how he is the reason I am the artist that I am today. He was a man who never met a stranger, the first to open the door for someone, and the last to fix his plate with his evening beer. Though I was a Poppee’s gal through and through, my grandmother taught me the importance of being independent, keeping a tight grasp on my individuality (especially in relationships), and to always be excited about learning and exploring new things. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away in 2011 a month before I graduated and the same month that I would get to stand out in our Spring school play. Since then it has just been my Grams and I. Our house has and always will be a safe place for those who may not have that, and because of that I want to to continue to create spaces that are safe, loving, accepting, and supporting.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a child I was always painting, writing, reading, playing with clay, or watching indie and arthouse films. Many in my family seem to have an artistic touch so it didn’t surprise my grandparents too much when I would rather go to an art supply store versus a walmart. Throughout my teenage years I would attend art classes, join art clubs, and I loved being on stage. But as I got older I would become preoccupied with other things; like most young adults do and would often set my art on the backburner. Before being diagnosed in 2022, I had picked up clay work again, replacing my acrylic pouring and abstract paintings. And as I’ve gone through my journey I fell back in love with my art again. The room across from mine is my designated art room and space so I’m currently working on coasters and clay jewelry that I hope to one day start selling again.
Now being a social media manager for April Graber Photography I’ve been able to dive back into graphic designing and even begin to dabble in creating and designing websites.
It has been such an incredible feeling to know that I can express myself through art in more ways than just one. I can do pottery and play around with branding and moodboards. What I’ve learned is to stop putting myself in a box, because I’m bigger than that. We all are.
Learning to trust myself and knowing when to stop and take a breather to get back on track, instead of just tossing something away with lack of confidence. Failing is where you learn most of your mistakes if you’re open to receiving those messages.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When I worked at the Hilton Garden Inn and The Crowne Plaza, I quickly found out how little I knew about the area I was raised in. Crazy, right? We would get people from all over the world coming in and asking for recommendations so I made it a goal to research myself and also combine my personal favorite spots and keep a homemade itinerary in my server book.

Living in the CSRA there are a few surrounding areas that have great spots to hit. North Augusta, Edgefield, and Aiken in South Carolina. And then there is Augusta, Georgia which is across the river and most visit for the James Brown Arena and memorabilia around the town.

Downtown North Augusta is stunning and it looks like it belongs in a movie. The SRP Park is there, which is a baseball stadium that they also flip for concerts that come into town; they also do firework shows in the summer as well. Pink Dipper is a ice cream parlor (mom and pop shop) that has been around before I was even thought of, and their ice cream makes you feel like a kid all over again.

Edgefield has a quaint town square that is littered with turkey statues that have been painted by local artists (The National Turkey Federation is located outside of the square). But my favorite is riding under the tree arch and seeing all the peach trees in blossom.

Downtown Aiken is full of art, antique shops, and homegrown boutiques. Their art gallery is stunning! And for food, you HAVE to go to Casa Bella. It is authentic Italian in a Victorian mansion that they turned into a restaurant. If you want a “main character moment”, you put on your best and enjoy the night out. Lots of cobblestone and it’s very normal to see people riding their horses on the road and through town (yes, there are horse walking signs). It’s really a dream.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Grandmother who hasn’t once left my side, especially through my breast cancer journey. She continues to encourage me and remind me that I can do whatever I put my mind to…as cheesy as it sounds, it is true!

April Graber who recommended me for this opportunity. We have a wonderful work relationship as well as a personal friendship with each other. But she is truly the one who planted a seed into my mind by offering a job to me while I was going through treatment. At first I thought it would just be friends helping friends and supporting one another, but it has flourished into something I never thought I could do. Because of her I’ve been able to find my own niche and what I want to bring into the world.

And lastly but certainly not least is my iAM Gaming community which was founded by iAM_iKandi. This is my chosen family. The thing about this community is the diversity and the outpour of support they we all give to each other. It has taught me how to be vulnerable, how to let people help you and support you, and how to always keep going.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/datiitz_