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

Hi Cat, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I recently worked on a personal comic essay for the gender section of the Washington Post. It surfaced thoughts that I struggled with during my postpartum experience. After having my baby, I had a hard time navigating not only the immense lifestyle change that I went through, but also the physical changes to my body.

The most meaningful aspect of this project was not just having the opportunity to share my story, but mostly the connection it fostered with other women who had undergone similar feelings. Realizing that I wasn’t alone in my struggle, and that by creating this piece I helped other people to feel less alone in their struggles, was a truly powerful experience.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an illustrator based in Brooklyn, NY. I write and illustrate books, create personal comics, branding, editorial, and poster art. After studying fine arts and art history as an undergrad, I moved to New York City and pursued a masters in Illustration, which was a great period of growth for me as I found my artistic community.

I love working with clients to create vibrant, emotive artwork for their brands. Researching and illustrating compelling figures for illustrated books is also a passion of mine. Illustration is such a powerful tool, as it pulls people into a world of your choosing, and has the power to uplift, inspire, and captivate. I aim to synthesize ideas into visuals that attract and delight the viewer.

In my first published book, The Queen of Wands, The Story of Pamela Colman Smith, the Artist Behind The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck (2022), I elevated the story of an incredible woman from history who was underpaid and discredited during her lifetime. Telling her life story through graphic novel-style illustrations was an honor, and I believe I’ve done my part in sharing her many accomplishments with the world. My forthcoming second book, Women of Tarot, highlights my further research into the many women who contributed to the evolution of the practice of tarot, and it will be published in 2024 by Running Press.

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

When you pay a creative, you are not just paying them for the product or output they produce. You are also paying them for the time it took them to develop their practice and unique style, for their expertise in creating something for you that will make your brand stand out, and ultimately to do something that you could not do alone. Payments should also reflect future usage of the artwork, so please trust their rates and pay creatives fairly!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Making my own schedule is extremely rewarding for me. I come from an economically challenged city, and I started working at a very young age. I spent many years working first in the service industry, followed by office settings. When I first moved to New York, I also worked in marketing in a 9-5 environment while finishing my masters degree. These settings are rewarding for many people, but I alway struggled with working hours that were dictated by other people and experience serious burnout. Now that I am freelance, I am very fortunate to be able to create my own schedule around my and my family’s needs, and it is a reward of the job that I revel in.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.catherinewillett.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catxwillett/