We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cat Charles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cat below.

Cat, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am definitely happy as a creative. I’ve realized that being an artist is really the best way I can serve the world.

I always wonder what it would be like to have a more stable job. There was a time when I would think about it; if I made different decisions in life, and I would see an image of myself that was happier, wealthier, and safer. But now when I picture this, I realize that I would most likely be incredibly unfulfilled. And that’s not to say that all careers don’t offer a sense of fulfillment, they certainly do. But, I’ve found that being an artist truly aligns with my values in life. I didn’t realize that being a creative allows me to serve my community with so much joy and pride.

When I began college, I was a Biology Major. My plan was to study hard, maybe transfer to a more prestigious school, go to med-school, attend a medical illustration program; the whole thing. It took one semester for me to realize that I was meant to take a more creative path. I still think about what it would be like if I did become a Medical Illustrator. I still think it’s one of the coolest jobs in the world. But if I’m being honest with myself, I’d probably not be a great one. And I’d probably not be the happiest. But who knows.

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 am an artist living and working in Los Angeles. I specialize in painting, sculpting, mural work, and 3D design. I also happen to be an actor and director, and these jobs also inform a lot of my art. My work mainly focuses on surreal and grotesque subject matter.

When I found out that I really wanted to put my everything into being an artist, it wasn’t visual art I was focused on, it was acting. For most of my life, it was always acting. And it still very much is, but for me, personally, I get a sense of purpose from visual art that is a lot more accessible.

I’ve always done art projects for others as a bit of a side gig. Sometimes it felt like really more of a party trick. But like so many others in the entertainment industry, when Covid rolled around, I realized I needed to invest in another creative outlet. That’s when I started painting.

The work I do is a pretty wide range. I’m often hired to create paintings to be given as gifts for others. Sometimes the subject matter is very personal and very vulnerable. That makes me feel really special; being trusted by another to handle this material. It also makes me feel like I’m a part of the act of gift-giving, which is my favorite.

I also create a lot of materials for other artists. I’ve created album art for musicians, posters for comedy shows, props for theatre and film. No matter what the job is, it always feels like I am uplifting other creatives. It is an awesome feeling.

And then there is my personal art, which I always thought would be more of I thing I do for myself. But when I found how many people resonated with my bizarre pieces, I realized that I found a new way to communicate and connect with others. A lot of my work is inspired by my own experiences, but once its in the eyes of the viewer, it’s their experiences too. It makes me feel like a part of the world.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Creating purely for others. When I first started painting more seriously, I also happened to be pretty chronically online. I was really focused on what people would like, what would get me views, and what the most popular online creators were doing. I was convinced that there was a specific formula I had to follow. I had to create certain subject matter, always record, edit it together meticulously, post it at a specific time, etc. And of course all that didn’t work for me. When I started creating for myself and from myself, the people who resonated with my work naturally gravitated towards it. When you are truly authentic, there is so much less pressure.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I would have known that for artists, everything is a resource. Literally everything. Literature, film, history, music, essays, all of it. There was a time where I was hyper-focused on achieving success as an artist and making work that “mattered”. I would consume a lot of books that focused on becoming a “successful” visual artist and that alone. And all that was great, and it did help me. But when I gave myself permission to relax a bit, I found myself consuming things that made me so much more inspired. Things that felt totally irrelevant. There’s a whole world out there, and there is nothing that doesn’t matter. Everything is a resource.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.catcharles.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cat.charles.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cat.charles.art/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catcharles/
• Other: TikTok: @cat_charles