Life and Work with Gia Catauro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gia Catauro.

Gia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At a very young age, I started drawing and have been ever since. Which lead me to study illustration at Pratt Institute focusing on children’s books.

I love how they tell a story or teach lessons through sequence of imagery.
After college, I worked at a toy company and also a jewelry company. While working those jobs, I started to learn how to tattoo which was about 8 years ago. That’s when everything started to make sense for me.
Especially creating custom pieces and working one on one. It has its challenges but also a lot of rewards.
My go to style is linework and dotwork with minimal color. I love color but there’s something about the simplicity of blackwork that I thoroughly enjoy.

I’m so grateful for the experiences that have led me to this point where I can trandlate my style into tattooing.

I’m currently working on expanding my artwork to other mediums like patterns for fabric, and children’s books. I have a special collaborative children’s book I am working on that I can’t wait to share when the time comes.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely been a rocky road for sure but I am grateful for staying the course.

It’s been difficult at times being a female in a male dominated industry.

I’ve struggled with people taking advantage of my kindness and then also being called a bitch for asserting myself. I’m a very sensitive person, so there have been times that I wanted to give up because I felt like I couldn’t find the balance, but I’m glad I stuck it out.

I’ve found it’s best to just go with your gut and what’s right for yourself.

Don’t sell yourself short.

If a situation you’re in doesn’t feel right, move onto the next and change so you can grow.

On the other hand, I’ve formed lifelong friendships with some amazing coworkers and clients.

Have to take the good with the bad.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Gia Catauro – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Botanicals and anything nature related are my go-to subjects and what I’m drawn to. From geometry in nature, sea life, flowers, vegetables, fruit, landscapes. I love it all.

I would say most clients seek me out for line driven or dotwork botanical themed pieces which is what I’m most proud of. I light up when a client comes to me with a natural idea, especially in simple blackwork.

Tattooing is my main thing right now.

I want it to be what I do for as long as I can, but I also want to expand.

Patterns on fabric, silk screening, and very special collaborative children’s book project I am working on are some of the other things I am so excited to share when they’re done.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Stick to what feels right for you and your work.

It’s ok if some people don’t agree with it or chose it for themselves.

If you keep doing your true self then you’ll attract the type of people and projects you want to work with.

Contact Info:

• Address: 458 wickenden st.
  Providence, RI 02903
• Website: Artfreektattoori.com
• Phone: 401-862-0385
• Email: giacatauro@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/giactattoo

Image Credit:
Gia Catauro

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