We recently connected with Cat Bachraty and have shared our conversation below.

Cat, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My collegiate thesis to this day is the most meaningful project to me. I grew up from being a nerdy mythology loving kid into a nerdy mythology loving adult. As most college’s do; when developing your thesis you have to have some sort of deep, profound meaning behind it and as luck would have it my creativity had run out and I could not think of anything. So, I dug deep. What meant a lot to me that would make a statement to my professors? And then it hit me; we all have a base knowledge of mythology, and typically when you imagine a deity of war, you think something masculine. However, if you look, there are so many feminine divine beings of war. I believed that depicting these goddesses was an homage to the ancient persons who worshiped these feminine deities; as a way to embrace their own femininity to feel powerful. Women and other feminine people can be strong, can lead a war, can be destructive and then nurture in the aftermath. It was a way to integrate something I adore alongside a struggle that not only I, but many have. And so these watercolor (a softer-toned medium to use) depictions of Athena, The Morrigan, Freyja and the Valkyries, Bastet and Sekhmet, Oya, and Kali came to be.

Cat, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I hopped into creative fields at a young age; my mother is a seamstress and costume designer, wedding designer, and so much more, my father was musician and tech wizard. It was inevitable I would also travel that path, and travel I did. I refer to myself as a creative dragon; have a specific project type or medium? I have probably added it to my ever growing creative hoard. I firmly believe in the “jack of all trades” mindset and constantly research to learn new skills. You never know who will need what when.

My primary creative outlets are digital illustrations (original work and fanart), watercolor paintings, book binding, and jewelry making (repurposing old jewelry or other found items creating one of a kind pieces). However I also have training in costuming, prop making, creative photo editing, embroidery, and so much more. I think this is what sets me apart from most; we’re taught to hone a singular craft, but why? There is so much more out there in the world; why not try it all? For example, recently I partnered up with a dear friend of mine, Ezada Mills the owner of Wilde Flower Interior Designs, and we are currently developing a digital mockup of a kitschy bar called The Pink Pearl. She is doing the interior design work and I am creating all aspects of the menu and illustrative/ graphic design work needed.

My first real foray into the business end of this was when I started selling my wares in local markets, conventions and fairs, and haven’t stopped since. It is my favorite way to interact with people and provide my services. I get to witness them interacting with my products in real time. The in person interaction is truly unmatched in terms of connecting with clients. This also has influenced what new projects I attempt; collaborating in the smallest of ways can end up being the most profound thing, it could jump-start you onto something that could change your life for the better.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest thing I had to unlearn was everything needs to be polished and completed to perfection before anyone sees it, the sketch or thumbnail stages shouldn’t be seen. School years and being part of the digital age were the biggest perpetrator of this idea. No one wanted to see where you started, they only want to see the fully finished project, and just wanted to know you were “doing the work.” But, this process should be brought to light. Showing the messy stages, the un-worked lines and colors, the necklace pendant that went wrong a dozen times before it finally decided to cooperate, a sleeve that has just decided “no, I shall remain an untouched piece of fabric as I will not lay correctly, ever.” It shows the struggle, you are human and putting in hard work to bring beautiful creative pieces into the world. Keeping the humanity alive in the arts.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

In my personal experience, the most common question I get from non-creative people is “well, can you make money off of this?” or “it cannot HONESTLY take you that long to do (X), (Y), (Z), why don’t you work faster?” It is hard to ease people into the mindset of separating the business and the personal enjoyment when we live in the money driven society we do. Same with the instantaneous gratification that the internet has provided for the world. While yes, I can and do use my creative projects to make money, that is not ALL there is to it. There is the blood, sweat, and tears. The long nights trying to get one element of a project you are head over heels for finished. These things that bring me joy, I also want to have others enjoy, and the moment that a creative project turns into “just for the money” and can be easily pumped out, it loses that glorious feeling of “look what I made with my two hands!” and showing off how proud you are. Art shouldn’t (and isn’t in my opinion) be a few words popped into a generator to create a messy conglomerate of what already exists in the world of what it believes you are looking for.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vintagehoneybees/
• Other: If you wish to see Ezada Mills’ work, this is her website https://wildeflowerinteriors.com/ and her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wildeflowerinteriors/