Check Out Dominique Cuzzone’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Cuzzone.

Hi Dominique, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Since I was young, I have liked anime, which inspired me to draw because I was always convinced I would be an animator or a manga artist. As we grow older, we understand that sometimes the dreams we pick aren’t always as achievable as we thought. Around 2013, I started live painting at music festivals, which integrated me into the art scene! Years later, I phased out of that and entered my tattoo apprenticeship in 2021. I officially finished my tattoo apprenticeship in April of 2023!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Becoming a tattoo artist was one of the most challenging journeys I’ve ever loved. I spent 4 days a week for the first few months working as a beverage server at a Casino from 10 pm – 8 am and then sleeping for a few hours and waking up at 11:30 am to head to the tattoo shop around noon, which I stayed until about 7 pm and then went to work at 10 pm. 18-hour shifts as a single mother aren’t for the weak, but I knew with all my heart I would make this work and pursue my dream as a successful tattoo artist!

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Tattoo artist at Nocturnal Tattoos in Cincinnati! My mentor, Noct Miller, opened a beautiful full-sized shop on Colerain! I specialize in anime, pop culture, and neo-traditional – anything that isn’t realistic. I’m most proud of the improvement in my designs overall; they feel more cohesive and put together! What sets me apart from the rest? That’s a hard question because everyone here in Cincinnati is so talented in tattooing—my ability to reach out and ask questions and strive to learn as much as I can help. I pride myself in offering my clients a safe space to be their weird selves, considering I’m just a dork overall.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The best qualities to have as an artist are supporting your peers, always asking questions, and reaching out for advice. Creating a support system is very important to success and growth overall. Never stop trying to network and learn; the day you feel like you’ve done or know everything is the day you should quit! Stay humble and always strive for improvement.

Pricing:

• 125/hr

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nocturnaltattoos.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoekagehoekage?igsh=MTNwaWRzem9henFibg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NocturnalTattoo?mibextid=LQQJ4d