Meet Isa Catto | Fine Artist and Designer

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

Hi Isa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have been a fine artist for nearly thirty years but have always been in love, with and fascinated, by textiles. I love how versatile textiles are, the history of their manufacture, all of it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Watercolor is underrated. It’s a medium linked to hobbyists, children, King Charles, and retirees. And me. I used to paint in oils until I developed a bizarre allergy that delivered hives. At times my arms looked like they’d been attacked by a mammoth, angry insect. So I moved on to water-based mediums like acrylic, but I always preferred watercolor. Here are a few reasons why I’m a fan of this particular medium Everyone loves a good underdog. Watercolor is alluring because it is not often considered edgy or in vogue. That said many famous artists have embraced the medium. Watercolor looks easy. It’s portable, doesn’t take up too much space, and is house-trained — it doesn’t make too much of a mess. But then comes trouble. It is very unforgiving and easily becomes overworked. One clean stroke can quickly become a blot, a blur, and a runaway train. Even after twenty-five years, I stumble on a regular basis. I have hundreds of duds sitting in my flat files that I turn into postcards or fold into mixed media. I used to teach watercolor painting and always had one student who would be on the verge of a nervous breakdown before the inevitable technical breakthrough. Learning watercolor basics is not gentle on the ego. Share
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upright paint brushes in container on studio worktable. Artist working in background.
Watercolor is underrated. It’s a medium linked to hobbyists, children, Prince Charles, and retirees. And me. I used to paint in oils until I developed a bizarre allergy that delivered hives. At times my arms looked like they’d been attacked by a mammoth, angry insect. So I moved on to water-based mediums like acrylic, but I always preferred watercolor. Here are a few reasons why I’m a fan of this particular medium.

First Love
When I was six, I used chalky watercolor pan paints and executed my first “formal” painting. I painted my chubby hand (the only self-portrait that made it out of the art school archives), clutching a bouquet of flowers. My parents framed it and hung it in their downstairs bathroom, and there it remained until an estate sale took it away. I fell in love with the ease of the medium, even if it took me decades to realize that I was probably copying (or inspired by) a Pablo Picasso poster hanging in my childhood bathroom.

Everyone loves a good underdog. Watercolor is alluring because it is not often considered edgy or in vogue. That said many famous artists have embraced the medium.

Watercolor looks easy. It’s portable, doesn’t take up too much space, and is house-trained — it doesn’t make too much of a mess. But then comes trouble. It is very unforgiving and easily becomes overworked. One clean stroke can quickly become a blot, a blur, and a runaway train. Even after twenty-five years, I stumble on a regular basis. I have hundreds of duds sitting in my flat files that I turn into postcards or fold into mixed media. I used to teach watercolor painting and always had one student who would be on the verge of a nervous breakdown before the inevitable technical breakthrough. Learning watercolor basics is not gentle on the ego.

Painting in watercolor forces you to amplify your color expertise — well beyond the basics of your introduction to color theory class in art school. The viscosity of the paint, the flexibility of the hue saturation, and the delicacy of the layers are unparalleled teachers. I travel everywhere with my watercolors and make notes — simple color diaries to remind myself what I saw that day.

Over the years, I’ve learned which hues correspond well together beyond the basics of complementary colors and which combinations vibrate simply by applying pigment to paper. There are always surprises. For example, a bruise-colored flower petal and sulfur green leaf look electric together. Taking note of what is literally at your feet or overhead is the best way to elevate a rudimentary grasp of color. If you want to further your understanding of color, pick up a brush and start mixing.

Hopping into anything new forces you into an intense learning environment. It’s not unlike immersing yourself in a new language with no mother tongue to fall back on. First, you comprehend nothing, then gradually recognize the occasional word. Next comes a sentence, followed by something approaching fluency and connection. Learning the small business vernacular is no different: Shipstation. Skus. Slack. Klaviyo. Fulfillment. Customer Experience.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spots in the Roaring Fork Valley

1. Lincoln Creek Road
2. Lenado
3. Matsuhisa
4. TACAW
5. Independence Pass
6. Maroon Bells
7. The bike trail
8. Free Range
9. Rafting
10. Skiing up to Maroon Bells
11. My garden
12. Aspen art museum cafe for lunch
13. Aspen Center for Environmental Studies.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I couldn’t have done this without my husband Daniel A. Shaw and the studio team: Jennifer Roberts, Ted Maertens, Savanna La Bauve, and Nancy Ihlenfeldt. And the studio dogs: Luna, Rose, and Gunner.

Website: Isacattostudio.com

Instagram: @isacattostudio

Linkedin: @IsaCAtto

Twitter: @isacattostudio

Facebook: @isacattostudio

Image Credits
Michele Cardemone for the photo of me with dogs at entrance to studio. The rest are my iPhones.