Meet Catherine Dvorak

We recently connected with Catherine Dvorak and have shared our conversation below.

Catherine, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My optimism grew from many years and time wasted as a pessimist.

Through high school and college, I burned the candle at as many ends as I could between classes, work, extracurriculars and maintaining a social life. I didn’t know what burnout felt or looked like in myself. I didn’t have the time or money to address mental health or get diagnosed properly for ADHD, which would go undiagnosed for another twelve years. My head space was not supportive or a happy place.

In the last six years, or since I started my business, I began to process how my pessimism has held me back. The more I improved my relationship with my body, mind and creativity, the more I noticed the flowers. I stopped treating my careers as if I was entry level and began viewing myself as an asset. I found more ways to participate in social and environmental activism which lead to meeting like-minded people who gave me hope. In hindsight, it all makes sense. If you want something to get better, the first step is believing it’s possible.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m a multi-hyphenate creative from Nebraska and am based in LA. I am working as an actor and artist, but as any artist would tell you, our career paths are rarely linear. Before LA, I was in Chicago, acting in the storefront theater scene. While there, I became an ensemble member with The Babes With Blades Theater Company, was a Coordinator at a Science Museum, traveled nationally to perform, earned my Certificate in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Chicago, started Catherine Does Art, had my first Solo Art Show, made to short films and co-created Leafy Greens Film with my friends and partner.

When I moved to the west coast, I found my path by utilizing all of my strengths and leaning on new ones. I got on sets as a PA, which I’d never done before. Some of those gigs lead to work on other projects which lead to me acting in another. Now, I’m talking with those same people who brought be behind the camera about making bigger movies together. While I acknowledge the wisdom in finding your niche and sticking to it, I am the biggest advocate for doing what feels right and trusting the process. The more you take the reigns in your own life, the more you realize everyone is making it up as they go.

Last month, I closed my west coast premiere solo art show, I’M FINE and I’m currently prepping to host painting workshops throughout the city. My art unpacks themes of mental health, the human condition and our relationships with nature; all largely inspired by surreal artists of the early1900s. Next month, I’m looking forward to directing my next film with the community I’ve cultivated. IN MEMORY is a sci-fi thriller about an overwhelmed director who learns her client is harvesting memories under the guise of healthcare. It will be the largest budget, cast and crew I’ve ever worked with and everything I’ve done this far has prepared me for it. Everything I’ve observed and learned has helped me refine my crafts so I can create work I’m passionate about, across mediums.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

For my business, Catherine Does Art, I needed to learn digital and social media marketing because otherwise no one would know about my art, outside of friends. Getting comfortable with marketing and talking about what I’m doing has been incredibly helpful in opening-up opportunities and connections and something you won’t learn about in most creative degrees. Coming from someone who had to re-establish themselves in a different city and community, social media was how I maintained relationships from previous projects and new ones. It’s how I find local businesses to host craft workshops at and venues that may need a artwork!
Share your interests and what you’re up to. It doesn’t have to be clean. Your authenticity and your presence is what’s important. People want to cheer you on!

I’m the first to admit that my mindset has, at times, been absolute trash, but I also recognize how much a healthy mindset gives you so much control over your life. It’s sometimes not easy keeping a positive mindset and I am not advocating for toxic positivity, but our words and our thoughts do matter. Speak kindly to and about yourself and those close to you. Anyone who’s given an acceptance speech will tell you their road was long and rarely smooth but surely enough, they got there. I believe I’ll get much closer to achieving my highest-self if I trust the process instead and continue making work that speaks to my mind, heart or soul.
Side note: Doing daily exercise is the hardest for me…so I do it maybe three times a week. I know my mindset is much better when I do exercise. Find your habits that encourage a positive mindset.

Never stop trying new things. Maybe it’s just fun to “catch-em-all” on Casting Networks and Actors Access, checking-off new skills like I’m picking-up Pokemon, but I think everyone should keep learning about things they’re interested in. We will always be in a state of change and be required to learn new things to keep-up in this world. Learning new things that YOU want to learn about keeps life fun and your mind happy!

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron came to me at the right time. It’s a book with daily/weekly instruction meant to guide you on your spiritual journey to creative freedom. It absolutely made me more in touch with my intuition and my souls purpose in life, though to be honest, its taken me a couple times to get all the way through. A big thing she advocates for is daily pages, or journaling. Through different prompts and weekly themes, you address limiting beliefs and do some deep internal work. I would recommend the book and practice to anyone as everyone could benefit from having a closer relationship with their intuition and creativity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.catherinedoes.art
• Instagram: @catherinedoes.art and @catherine_dvorak_actor
• Other: TikTok: @catherinedoes.art

Image Credits

Pictures taken by Jordana Sheara, Cathryn Farnsworth, Jonathon Irons, and Madison Stonefield.