We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cat (Cailey) Tervo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cat (Cailey) below.
Hi Cat (Cailey), thanks for joining us today. Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?
In my last role, I had the immense pleasure of working under design director Jenna Freitas. She lead our team with incredible empathy, and understood that great design came from teamwork and collaboration. She really took time to know her employees, and cared what was going on in our lives outside of work.
There was one particular instance where I was going through a tough breakup, and I really threw myself into work as a means of distraction. It wasn’t going very well. In our next one-on-one meeting, without prying into what was going on, Jenna could tell I was going through a tough time and encouraged me to take some time off to recharge. In a time I felt very isolated and alone (our team worked remotely), I really appreciated the empathy that was extended. After taking some time to rest, I was able to jump back into work more motivated than ever.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am an illustrator and designer who likes to get a little silly with it. I bring my passion for whimsy and storytelling into all aspects of my creative work, resulting in thoughtfully designed content infused with genuine fun.
When I was about 11 or 12, I learned about concept art from “behind the scenes” extras on the DVDs of some of my favorite animated TV shows (Avatar the Last Airbender & Invader Zim, specifically). I quickly became obsessed. I watched these shows dozens of times, with and without cast & crew commentary, and made up my mind before the age of 13 that my life plan included the following steps:
1) Go to Art School
2) Become a concept artist for animation
3) Create a beloved animated classic to inspire the next generation of artists
4) ???
The clarity of the first goal made it easy to accomplish. I got my BFA from the Columbus College of Art & Design, majoring in illustration and minoring in animation. I directed an animated film my senior year that went on to screen at a few festivals and win awards, and I had work published in a local comics magazine “The Sequentialst” before I graduated. Whil Wheaton even shared a Star Trek comic I made on his tumblr! How very 2014.
Post graduation is where I started to diverge from 13-year-old-me’s life plan. Instead of working in animation, I got a job in fashion. I designed graphic tees for kids, and created social media content to promote the brand. While not “ideal”, I was happy to be making a living drawing things and making stuff. I was building a portfolio more akin to marketing design than animation, but it was the right kind of work to get noticed by Cartoon Network’s marketing team. Through a fellow illustration student at CCAD, I got hired by Cartoon Network to create content for the (now-defunct) streaming service, Boomerang! I moved from Columbus Ohio to Atlanta Georgia for the gig, and my life plan took a major (but welcome) departure.
While working in marketing design for my 9-5, I used my free time to double down on my illustration endeavors. Some of my favorite projects have been:
1) Holiday cards for Planned Parenthood Southeast
2) Several posters and t-shirts for my #1 favorite podcast, My Brother My Brother And Me
3) A kids book for Disability Rights Ohio
4) A few fun beer labels for Hacienda Beer Co
5) Illustrated Gifs for the Working Families Party
6) A spot-the-difference illustration for Kazoo Magazine
7) One time Liza Minelli retweeted a piece of Les Miserables fanart I made (not really a project just a cool thing that happened)
I feel so lucky to be drawing silly things for my job, especially when I’m a fan of the people I’m drawing those things for.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Collaboration! As an illustrator, I am often working on my own to execute works. I am grateful for my experience in marketing design, as it taught me the importance of asking for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for someone to review your work, help you execute a tough drawing, or even pose for a reference picture!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
At my core, I’m a storyteller. I want to use my skills to tell some of the stories that have been brewing in my brain the past few years, and I haven’t completely abandoned my 13-year-old-self’s life goal of developing an animated TV show. I was a lonely kid who used art to find myself, and I want to create something for the lonely kids out there to find some comfort and maybe even inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://turbotervo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turbotervo/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-tervo-78303258/
- Other: https://turbotervo.tumblr.com/