We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Analia Nicole a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Analia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
I love this question, because naming a business is one of those overlooked things that people don’t typically think about. You either see a business name and it fits, or it doesn’t. The name “Catharsis Ink” came to me when I was already a tattoo artist, but before I had started my own tattoo business. It began with an idea that I had- I wanted to get the word ‘catharsis’ tattooed on me, after hearing it in a song and then learning of the word’s meaning. The word itself is so beautiful to me, it kind of just rolls off the tongue. And the meaning resonates with me on such a deep level. So one day while I was fantasizing about starting my own business and what I would potentially name it, “Catharsis Tattoo” popped into my head. I quickly googled it to see if someone else had taken the name for their own business, and sure enough, someone had. So after brainstorming, I thought aha! “Catharsis Ink”. And that was it. It just felt right. I also love the fact that not everyone has heard of the word, so when people see it, it prompts them to look it up and find out its meaning. So, after all that, I quickly decided that once my business got going that that would be my name and my brand.
Analia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Ana, and I’m a tattoo artist. I began my career in the tattoo industry after having been a charcoal portrait artist during the pandemic. When everything shut down, I was a starving artist looking for ways to survive, much like a lot of people at that time. I was doing commissioned portrait art- mostly of my client’s children, family members, or deceased loved ones. Shortly after my drawings took off, I decided I was finally going to take the steps to begin a tattoo career. I had wanted to be a tattoo artist since I was a teenager, and I finally felt I was ready to delve into it. I am mostly self-taught in every aspect of my art career, from drawing to tattooing, with help from instructional videos and also from advice from friends in the industry. Now I focus mainly on tattooing, and I offer all kinds of tattoos, big or small! I try to stay within my art style when doing a tattoo for a client, and that includes black & gray, blackwork, fine-line, and microrealism. However, I do create tattoos in different styles if requested. Something I love to do is add pops of color to black & gray pieces, or any kind of free-hand color work like sunsets, watercolor, and color blending. I think what sets me apart is my attention to detail and my tendency to have perfectionism. I specialize in clean line work- something that I feel makes or breaks a tattoo. I also feel that being from the South, yet working in California, sets me apart because I kind of fully embody that Southern hospitality. I always want my clients to feel 100% comfortable from the moment they message me about an appointment, to the moment we finish their tattoo. Some people have spoken about how tattoo shops tend to “scare” them, or they speak about how a lot of tattoo artists can be rude or dismissive. I feel that that era has been falling off in recent years, as tattoos themselves are becoming more widely accepted and popular. And I’m happy to be a part of the new world of tattooing, where the norm will be a friendly and inviting atmosphere, instead of judgy or ‘scary’.
I’d have to say that what I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come on my own. When I started tattooing, I had little to no help from anyone. I couldn’t afford to take on a traditional apprenticeship for long, but I knew that tattooing was what I wanted to make my career. So I geared up and hustled alone. I taught myself 99% of what I know about tattooing, fueled by pure drive and ambition, and with the help of some friends who let me use them as practice skin. I also kept professionalism at the tippy top of my priorities, and before I tattooed anyone, I made sure I was BBP-certified and registered in the state of California. So I’m very proud of myself for that as well because that professionalism is ingrained in my business and is super important in the tattoo industry.
The main thing I want potential clients or followers to know about me is that I am extremely passionate about their experience getting a tattoo from me, and the aesthetic/inspiration they may get from my page. I’m also passionate about what I do, how I do it, and how my client feels. Giving someone a good experience is of utmost importance to me, and so is inclusivity. I will never turn down a client or design idea unless deserved. My goal is to continue growing my business, keep learning and furthering my passion for tattooing, and make sure everyone has fun along the way!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
When I started my business, I had very little money. I was working with hopes and dreams if you will, LOL. Really though, I was working as a restaurant server, as I have for many years and still do on the side by choice, and was slowly saving money to buy the equipment I needed to be a self-sufficient tattoo artist. The first thing I bought was my first tattoo machine, a Cheyenne Hawk Pen, from a friend and fellow tattoo artist who was selling one brand new. I’m a huge fan of the Cheyenne brand and its products, and I feel lucky that I was able to start with high-quality equipment. After I acquired my machine, I saved my tip money from the restaurant and paid for all my certifications, and then bought the rest of the supplies I needed. As time passed and I started to build up my appointments, the supplies started to pay for itself. I now own two Cheyenne machines- the second one is the Sol Nova Unlimited 5.0- and I alternate between the two, one for line work and one for shading. Given that tattooing tends to be lucrative, it didn’t take me too long to have everything I needed and to also have the ability to purchase good quality supplies for my business. I also enjoy using organic, and at times even vegan, ointments, creams, and glides for my clients. I feel that it’s worth the extra money to know that you’re using the best of the best. I suppose I’m a little pretentious with my supplies, but I’m a go-big or go-home type of person.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I have several inspirations and favorite tattoo artists who make instructional or tutorial videos on YouTube. These videos have taught me so much and impacted my entrepreneurial thinking while expanding my vision for my business. The artists/their channels include Pony Lawson, Art-Something, Ivan Panayotov, Chris Ravage, Daniel Yuck and Killer Ink Tattoo. There are more, but those are the main channels that I follow that are jam-packed with helpful information. I also just sometimes enjoy watching their tattoo time-lapse videos!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/catharsis.ink