Today we’d like to introduce you to Mara Brito.
Hi Mara, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always been an artist. I was born in Brazil to both engineer parents, after I was born we went to Leeds, England to expand their education, and thats where I learned English and the moving abroad began.
I lived in Brazil for most of my life, but I have lived in America before, from 2000-2004, and now I am back.
Very early my parents realized that I had artistic skills and were very supportive. I was able to start learning art mediums at a young age. I am grateful. But it wasn’t until the year 2000 when moving to America for the first time that I started to draw.
As a student in Brazil, I struggled in most classes, but changing to the American school systems I picked up art one by chance as an elective -at the time, I was writing embarrassing teenage poetry and was really into music, but I couldn’t write and listen to music at the same time, so I thought maybe I would be able to draw and listen to music, those seem to pair well- and that was it, I was obsessed, and I knew there was nothing else for me to do then art. I even started doing good in school…
Graduated with a bachelor’s in fine arts in Brazil, majored in oil paintings, ceramics and drawing. At the time, I was teaching English and doing oil paintings. I got my first tattoo when I was turning 17, it was a pretty big piece and I loved it, everything about it. I continued to get tattooed thru life but never thought I’d be able to do it as a career. My tattoo artist would always push me to do it, and I am thankful for that. I did a short apprenticeship with him, did some workshops around town and decided to take the biggest gamble of my life and move to America. I started with google, I researched the best cities in America to tattoo. At the time Miami, New York, San Diego and San Francisco were the options, I had lived in the snow before and that was out of the picture. Since 60’s and 70’s were my favorite music style, I chose California. The cost of living in San Diego was lower, although I didn’t know anything about the town, that was it.
It was hard at first, I had a beginner skill set, didn’t know anyone and had to start from zero. I worked at different street shops thru out town, first in city heights, then Chula Vista, OB, PB city, and Logan, moving around helped me build a big range of clients and eventually led me to where I am at right now, at Black and Grey Atelier. It’s an appointment only shop in East Village with a nice artistic gallery ambience and I love it!
Being my own boss allows me to manage my time, which is great because I get to control my lifestyle.
It’s wonderful to be able to tattoo and surf on the same day, and it gives me joy to be in the present. I chose to be driven, and I am always aiming to progress, and tattooing is amazing for that, it’s an ever-changing industry and it’s hard to keep up. I don’t see myself doing anything else.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but I was so determined and focus that I like to believe that the universe was lining up things just right. One of the biggest struggles has to be being a woman in a male-dominated industry, some places are accepting and welcoming and others not much at all. I do see that the industry is evolving and opening up to a wider range of professionals, which is great!
I am very grateful for my path here, good and bad.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a tattoo artist, I am going into my 5th year tattooing. I absolutely love it, and it’s a struggle for sure.
I mostly do floral and nature work, I love the outdoors and it’s great that I get to celebrate it with art.
Being at an appointment only studio gives me more time to do the designing for tattoos, so I feel that it’s a more custom experience, I definitely get “artsy” with it!
I’m always trying to progress, so my work is always changing and adapting.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Consistency is a big word in my industry, the more you do it the better you are going to get. You have to have determination to keep your consistency up because it’s very easy to give up. This line of work has so many variants, and every day is something new, so it’s a choice you have to consciously make every time. San Diego is a big tattoo hub, so it’s a great place to be as a tattoo artist and it’s also very competitive, which is amazing for the field.
Contact Info:
- Email: maratattooart@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.blackandgreyatelier.com
- Instagram: @mara.lunar_
