Cathy Chongqing - China @cathy_tattoo

Cathy was selected among the Top Five of our international competition and was the winner of the Color Realism category, evaluated by a high-level international jury composed of Paul Booth, Victoria Lee, Jesse Smith, and Shi Ryu. She is a Chinese tattoo artist with more than ten years of experience, specializing in color realism and hyper-realism. Self-taught, she has developed a personal visual language that combines technical precision with a strong emotional depth and an artistic vision in constant evolution.

1. Tell us, how did it all begin?

I didn’t start with tattooing. I was drawn to drawing first and loved expressing ideas on paper. My family didn’t support this path, so I worked on my own to continue learning.

One day, I passed a tattoo shop and realized art could be created on skin with a needle. That moment felt powerful and inspiring. Tattooing became a new way for me to continue my passion.

2. With more than ten years of experience in tattooing and a clear specialization in color realism and hyper-realism, how do you feel your artistic vision has evolved over time?

I’m entirely self-taught and don’t come from a formal art background. Over ten years, I learned through trial and error, constantly correcting and refining my work.

In many ways, this freedom helped me avoid creative limitations. Without academic constraints, I’ve been able to develop a more open and experimental way of thinking.

3. What led you to choose this visual approach, and how do you work to maintain such a high level of detail and quality in each piece?

I’ve always loved realism for its depth and refinement. Early on, my focus was technical accuracy.

Today, my work has shifted toward emotional realism—balancing precision with atmosphere, light, and color. My goal is to create tattoos with presence and mood, and to build a style that’s immediately recognizable as my own.

4. You have participated in numerous international conventions, sharing space with artists from all over the world. What does this constant exchange bring to you, and how does it influence your professional growth?

International conventions expand my perspective. They allow me to connect with artists from different cultures and artistic systems.

These experiences remind me that growth has no limit and keep me motivated to stay humble, curious, and focused on long-term progress.

5. In our international competition, you were selected within the Top Five among artists from different countries and also won the Color Realism category. What did this recognition mean to you in such a competitive context?

It represents high-level professional recognition. More importantly, it confirms that my work can be understood beyond borders and cultures.

For me, it’s not just an award, but a global acknowledgment of my personal visual language.

6. Being selected by a high-level international jury — Paul Booth, Victoria Lee, Jesse Smith, and Shi Ryu — is a very strong artistic endorsement. How did you receive this news, and how has this support impacted your career and the way you see your own work today?

Being recognized by such influential artists was incredibly meaningful. It strengthened my confidence, while also pushing me to raise my standards and approach my work with even greater discipline and responsibility.

7. Beyond the award, what personal and professional lessons did you take away from participating in this international competition?

It reinforced the importance of consistency and long-term commitment. Achievements at this level come from years of unseen effort.

It also deepened my trust in my own artistic direction.

8. How do you feel creatively today, and where do you sense your work is heading?

I feel more focused and intentional than ever. I’m less influenced by outside noise and more committed to building a body of work that can last over time.

9. What projects do you have in mind in the short and medium term, and what goals do you aim to achieve in the next stage of your career?

I plan to continue refining my work and appearing more in international conventions and publications.

I hope to represent myself as a contemporary Chinese tattoo artist and contribute lasting artistic value to the global tattoo scene.

10. Who would you like to thank, or what would you like to share to close this interview?

I’m deeply grateful to my clients, supporters, and fellow artists who’ve supported me along the way.

Most of all, I’m thankful for the DGN journey itself—the challenges shaped who I am today, and I’m honored to share this moment with everyone who believed in me.