Today we’d like to introduce you to Catalina Restrepo
Hi Catalina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Colombia, when I grew up I decided to study medicine but I’ve always been very artistic so I got bored really easily studying to be a doctor, I didn’t feel passionate about it. One day when my brother got his first tattoo, he told me that since I was such a good artist I should be a tattoo artist, I then immediately told him that he was crazy and that being an artist wasn’t going to give me any money and I was so wrong, specially because when I later finally got curious about tattooing, I realized that it wasn’t going to be completely about money, when I started being an apprentice it was like a “click”, it felt so new and scary good but at the same time so fulfilling, like I didn’t want to do anything else besides that.
After 4 months of going to the shop where I was being an apprentice, from Monday to Monday (I was there for at least 4 hours, sometimes more), I finally got the green light to tattoo someone. I remember I had a few friends that kept waiting for that moment where they could get tattooed by me, it was so scary tu put ink on them FOREVER, I kept thinking, what if I don’t do it right? What if I mess up their skin? But at the end they came up good.
Then I moved to USA to live with my brother, he used to live in Texas so my first paying clients where some of my brothers friends and then voice to voice other people started inquiring and that’s how it all started.
COVID happened soon after that and I think that was how I really started tattooing a lot. People were desperate to get ink no matter what, so it was really good for practicing and getting better.
Then I moved to Miami because a shop in Hollywood asked me if I wanted to be one of their resident artists. I stayed and kept learning at that shop for three years until I got a better proposal at the shop where I am now and I’m still learning from the people that surround me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As artists we struggle with lots of things, mentally, emotionally, physically, every single day but I feel like nothing has been that hard to say “hey! This situation made my life really hard”. Even when COVID happened, for me it was all very good in terms of tattooing, me and my family stayed healthy and I got to do what I love the most.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a tattoo artist at the beginning you want to try every technique but my favorite artist since the beginning is a guy that does something called whip shading, which is the technique I fell in love with and the one I’ve been trying to be the best at. The magic behind it is that yo create a “stippling” effect on the skin with the use of a single needle, so it requires a lot more patience since it takes longer than other tattoos to complete the pieces.
I also specialize in micro realism with that technique but I’m mostly known for the attention that I put into details, that’s my biggest obsession with every piece and definitely what sets me apart from others.
What does success mean to you?
Success is a very subjective term. It could mean the accomplishment of goals, or just a state of mind. For me is a collection of moments and goals achieved that bring me happiness but also tranquility. I’ve felt successful lots of times and hopefully I’ll be more successful in the years ahead.
Pricing:
- $400 minimum
- $2500 full session (8 hours)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ktattoo_/
