Meet Tom Cattany | Artist and Architect

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

Hi Tom, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had been enjoying doing artwork as a hobby in my spare time while working full-time as an architect. My wife Valerie and I concluded that we would need to earn more income to pay for our daughter’s college education and retirement. Then it came to me that I could earn additional income selling artwork, by doing something that I enjoy and am good at.

A few years ago on a first Friday on Santa Fe, I saw a 3-dimensional art piece that caught my attention for its reverse perspective illusion. About a year later I started creating 3D reverse perspective art pieces that required some carpentry skills to build frames that are variations of a truncated pyramid. A little while later I discovered British artist Patrick Hughes on the internet, the grandfather of this type of art who coined it “reverspective” art.

For the next couple of years, I participated in the Golden Fine Arts Festival, and the Summer Art Market put on by the Art Student League of Denver. At these events, I displayed my 2D artwork alongside the 3D reverse perspective artwork. These two art types worked great together because the 3D art pieces would catch the attention of people walking by and then they would end up inside the tent checking out the 2D artwork. This is when I realized that I have a unique brand of artwork that people appreciate and find interesting.

Another concept that derived from these art festivals is that my brand of artwork lends itself to T-shirt designs. So, in March of 2023, I created an online store, (atomicatart.com) where I have wearable art, prints, bags, mugs, etc. for sale. This makes my artwork more affordability and accessible for customers who can’t afford originals. In 2023 I also participated in five Colorado Art Festivals which helped to build an audience and get my artwork out there. Then, in late 2023 I teamed up with Golden, Colorado distillery VanJak to create a custom label celebrating more than 50 Colorado oddities, curiosities, and attractions for their Reserve Vodka which will be showing up on liquor store shelves shortly. Lastly, I opened an Etsy shop, (atomicatart.etsy.com) at the end of 2023. As you can see this business has been a process of evolution, and will continue to evolve.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
At a young age I was introduced to the work on Salvador Dali and M.C. Escher, ever since surrealism and illusion has been a driving force in my artwork. There are aspects of entertainment, interactivity, and interpretation in my artwork, along with light heartedness, humor, and absurdity that seems to bring people together. Hearing people describe my artwork as clever, creative, and unique is all the motivation I need to keep producing my brand of art, which I believe is what sets me apart from many other artist.

It has taken some commitment working late nights and weekends in my spare time to get to where I am now, and I honestly feel that I still have a long ways to go to get where I want to be. This is definitely a journey that will continue to involve learning new skills to advance my artwork and branding. In a way I feel blessed that the unique artwork I create not only fills my creative soul, but is also appreciated by many others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Colorado’s great outdoors would be at the top of the list. If mountain biking, Kenosha Pass, Apex, or White Ranch. If going hiking, the Flatirons, Hanging Lake, or head down to Manitou Springs to do the Incline if up for it. It doesn’t get any better than Red Rocks for a concert venue, but Mishawaka near Ft. Collins is a good option as well. Pearl Street and Boulder Creek are great places just to hang out in Boulder.

Moving indoors, I would make a stop at Mountain Sun while in Boulder. Hops and Pie on Tennyson in North Denver is the place to go for pizza. For Mexican food and Margaritas, Patzcuaros and El Chingon Bistro in Denver is the place to be, and Casa Bonita is a must just for the experience. Meow Wolf is another experience you don’t want to miss, as well as the first Fridays on Santa Fe and 40 West.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Hands down shoutout goes to my lovely wife Valerie and daughters Natalie and Niki who have encouraged and supported me including art festival set up, take down, attendance, and helping me with marketing efforts to build upon my art business. A shoutout also goes to my sister Susan for promoting my artwork in Arizona.

I would like to give a shoutout to Jon Guelzow and the VanJak team for bringing me on board to design their Reserve Vodka label. Also, I want to give a big shoutout to all of my customers who have visited and purchased my artwork at art festivals and online, for helping to support my art business. One last shoutout to the Santa Fe Art District and 40 West Arts Organization for providing community programs and first Fridays to keep the arts alive and accessible to Denver and Lakewood communities.

Website: Atomicatart.com

Instagram: @atomicatart

Image Credits
Tom Cattany