Meet Caterina Sauro

Late October, in Starbucks, Caterina sat quietly in the corner, sparking my curiosity. Little did I know, a creative mind was at play. Meet Caterina Sauro—a young artist, community builder, and entrepreneur from Mississauga, Ontario. Blending visual art and literature, Caterina's journey unfolds—from self-publishing book "Hi, My Name is Monella" to founding @exproseyourself. Join us to discover how Caterina's passion creates a story that goes beyond the usual.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a multi-disciplinary artist who loves storytelling through visual art and literature. Throughout every stage of life, I remain a creative individual. As I’ve aged and grown into adulthood, my desire to create art has grown into a dream of creating spaces and experiences where others can make art in community.

My favourite outlet as of recently has been creating digital illustrations. The ability to pick colours, brushes, and manipulate layers with precision gets me excited. It's also environmentally-friendly and takes up way less space in my apartment. When I want to write, I either write poetry or come up with silly stories. I was recently able to combine my two loves into one passion project when I self-published my book of poetry and illustrations, "Hi, My Name is Monella" in 2022. When I'm not creating, or brainstorming for my next project, I am cuddling with my cat Benedict, bingeing sit-coms from the 90s until bedtime.

What type of art do you specialize in or enjoy creating?

My style varies piece to piece, although, as I've noticed consistencies in the pieces of mine that shine brightest, I'd have to say that I specialise in pieces that include nature, including florals, or food. It's important to note that pieces celebrating architecture and animals are tied for second.

What are your thoughts on digital art vs. traditional art? What are the pros and cons of each medium based on your experience?

The comparison of digital art to traditional art is a difficult one to navigate as they are both incredibly valuable to the evolution of art and how we make it. There is more than enough room for both.

With digital art, you are able to truly create anywhere and at any time. You are also able to edit, undo, and refine your pieces as much as you like. Colour palette matching is a fave. On the flip side, you can always count on tech to crash so constant saving needs to be prioritised.

Traditional art offers a completely different experience. Mixing paints, holding the paintbrush, and feeling the texture of the canvas against brush bristles is the pro of all pros. Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it takes up a lot of space. Yes, it's messy, but if you can make it work it's so worth it.

There's a level of connection between artist and art with traditional outlets that digital lacks, but the environmental and anti-clutter lifestyle digital offers balances both methods. Do what you need to do, as long as you create.

Reflecting on your journey, can you share the details of the most challenging painting you've ever created and the reasons behind its difficulty?

The most challenging painting I’ve ever created was a portrait of a family member. I tried so hard to make it look perfect, but my constant editing ended up making the piece unusable. This piece taught me that my work may not always be perfect, but if it’s complete then that is enough.

Who has had a profound impact on you or has been a source of inspiration in shaping your identity?

There is an artist out in the world named Reyna Noriega. She is a digital illustrator who has grown into an incredible artist with a portfolio that speaks for itself. She showed me that the best thing you can do for yourself and your work is to just do it. Do it for you; the rest will come.

What art movement resonates with you the most, and how does it influence or inspire your work?

Post-impressionism is my favourite art movement. Van Gogh’s work, specifically, influences my approach to layering colours, and his brush strokes are what inspire me to continue creating traditional art.

As the founder of @exproseyourself, could you provide some insights into the purpose and essence of this group?

Through Exprose, those of the local writing community within Mississauga have a location where they can come to write surrounded by others who are also excited to write about the same thing; the featured poet’s work. There is a symbiotic sharing and receiving that happens in this space, and that is exactly what I wanted to happen.

If you could inhabit the life of any animal on Earth, which one would you choose and why?

I would love to be the beloved family dog in a suburban home. They get the most love out of any other animal I’ve ever seen.

Are there any fun facts about yourself that you'd like to share with the community?

When I’m not creating, I’m playing video games and learning how to code. Having a wide range of interests is important!

Learn More

As we conclude Caterina's interview, I truly appreciate her diverse talent—from self-publishing a book to the community group @exproseyourself, she seamlessly blends creativity into every venture.

Follow Caterina on Instagram @cat.sauro or visit her website at monella.ca. You can also reach out to her directly at caterinasauro3@gmail.com.

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