Sit Down With Our #090 Featured Artist

Cat

Instagram / @cvt.art
Featured Artist / #110 ScrawlrBox 

My name is Catalina, but I go by Cat online. I've been a professional artist since 2023, consistently sharing my art online since 2019. I love experimenting with colors and shapes, and my style has evolved around these elements over the years.

While I'm best known for my animal illustrations, I also enjoy painting portraits, backgrounds, and organic subjects. Watercolor is my favorite medium, but I consider myself a mixed-media artist because I love combining pencils, markers, gouache, liners, and much more... Digital art is super fun for me too and I like to give it a traditional feel.

I'm 24 y.o and my goal is to become a freelancer, run my own online store, and share videos of my art with people from around the world, as that’s also my passion. I’d love for you to join me on this journey!

Your illustrations are adorable! We love how you capture the character of each animal - is this something you strive to do with your artwork?

Thank you! Yes, I love giving every animal their own personality on my illustrations, that’s why I always keep in mind the expressions and poses I want to use to represent them! It makes them more interesting and fun, in my opinion. I can imagine them living their own lives.

We love all your sketchbook spreads you post on Instagram. Do you prefer to work in your sketchbook than loose paper?

I love sketchbooks, I enjoy having a book full of my art that I can flip through, and it makes me happy seeing them finished and full. I also like taking them with me and just turning the page when I don’t like the result of a drawing. I prefer doing quick art, and sketchbooks give me a lot of opportunities for that.

Are these pieces planned or are they ideas you’ve tried and liked the outcome?

I usually just start with an idea I want to create and go for it. If I like the result I post it; if not, I just try again or move on to the next one.

Is there a piece of work in your collection that has significant meaning to you?

I remember my first post that did well and gave my account a significant grow. It was a watercolor of a Golden Retriever I painted in 2021. I like drawing that breed of dog because my childhood dog, Stella, was a Golden. I’ve painted her specifically a lot throughout the years, and every artwork inspired by her means a lot to me. She had the most precious face.

Do you think it’s important to practice regularly to improve your techniques?

Yes, every time someone asks me how to get better, I can’t avoid saying the cliché phrase “practice is key”, because it really is!! I improved the most when I was drawing and painting 8 hours a day between university and personal art, so I can assure that it’s true from personal experience.

What is the first thing you do when you get brand new art supplies?

Swatches! I love seeing how they look on paper, the textures, the colors, and how they work with other materials too. A doodle is completely necessary after that. For paper I like to try different mediums on them to see what I can create and how it looks.

Is creating something you make a part of your routine every day?

Most definitely. I need to create every day; it’s just part of me now. This year, I haven’t had as much time for creating as I’m used to, and I can feeeeel it. It’s like a necessity at this point.

How do you keep your motivated to create when inspiration isn’t quite there?

I just start sketching doodles. I like to do simple sketches and flow with the lines and shapes. Keeping it simple makes me want to spend more time on one of them when I start liking how it’s turning out.

What are your go-to supplies?

A mechanical pencil is a must for me, and for painting, I just HAVE to choose watercolor. It was my first medium and now feels comfortable and safe. I also enjoy adding colored lines with pencils and fineliners. Since I’m a mixed media artist, I also enjoy using markers, gouache, and I love oil painting, even if I don’t share that medium much on Instagram.

Is there an art supply you dislike using/ avoid using?

I don’t use charcoal often. I don’t hate using it and I think I can create pretty things with it, but I enjoy adding colors too much. Plus, I have more fun drawing lines with a mechanical pencil.