Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cait Maloney. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cait, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I actually started my creative career pretty early, doing some freelance work before I graduated with a degree in illustration. That was in 2008 and occurred around the same time as a big economic crash. I found a job doing more technical design work, with the occasional environmental design or illustration project sprinkled in.

They allowed their designers to moonlight, and since my original goal was to freelance full-time, I took the opportunity to build up a solid base of clients while working full-time. It was a lot of work and late nights. I stayed at that job much too long, had learned everything I could, and was ready to leave it sooner than I realized. I finally took the leap in 2018 and have no regrets other than wishing I had done it a handful of years earlier. Sticking around too long caused a lot of unneeded stress, wasted hours, and took time away from things I would have enjoyed doing more both personally and professionally.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve always had a major interest in art. And macaroni and cheese. But slightly more in art. I think because my mom did a lot painting as a hobby, supplies were always available. By the time I got to high school, I had already decided art would be part of my career somehow. I didn’t want to be a “fine artist” because I knew I had bills to pay. I didn’t know much about illustration when I chose it as a major in college, I thought it was all just children’s books, which I wasn’t particularly interested in at the time – but I loved drawing.

I quickly knew I made the right choice and found out that illustration touches so many different areas, which is one of my favorite aspects of my job; each project can be so different. After getting into the field I realized the value of cultivating my design skills as well as illustration. When I could control all parts, then it made for the most satisfying work. I like to think of myself as a visual problem solver approaching each project with attention to detail and an open mind to develop a fresh, original design.

I am currently senior art director at Columbia, SC-based integrated communications firm, Flock and Rally. Alongside that, I run Cait Maloney Creative focusing on specialty illustration, design, and mural projects; working locally, nationally, and sometimes internationally.

I have collaborated with clients like Abita Brewing Company, The Atlanta Braves, the National Park Service, Diesel Fragrance, the YMCA, S.C. Education Lottery, and the S.C. State Fair. My work has been recognized by American Illustration and the SC Chapter of the American Advertising Federation, among others. I’ve shown in various exhibitions and have been included in the art + beer initiative with Collective Arts Brewing (Hamilton, ON) for seven different can designs.

When I’m not working I’m drawing for fun, listening to a live band, having conversations with cab drivers, ordering wine at a local brewery, reading magazines at the beach or napping.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love when people can identify with and appreciate my work. This especially goes for my personal pieces, since I don’t set out to create for others in those cases, it’s always nice when people “get it”.

One of my most rewarding projects was my first public art piece, “Lady Vista”, a large-scale mural in downtown Columbia, SC. I got an amazing opportunity and I couldn’t pass it up, despite the fact that I’ve never done anything that large scale. I had to work through a lot, but ultimately the community received it with even more love than I could’ve anticipated.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Creating spaces for artists to paint on walls, sell their work, and interact with their community is huge. That can look like anything from commissioning a mural, to hosting an artists’ market, to creating gallery space (no matter how big or small). Building creative communities can start really small and also benefit everyone – the local business that needs more people in the door to the individual who needs something to hang in their bathroom.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://caitmaloney.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitmacncheese
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitmacncheese
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitmaloney