We were lucky to catch up with Catherine Moore recently and have shared our conversation below.
Catherine, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Back in 2001, when I was still in art school, I developed debilitating anxiety. Unlike some who get agoraphobia with it, I didn’t want to be IN my home. I wanted to drive around in a car or go to the beach, or just really anything that was not being at my house. It affected me very physically. I was consistently nauseous and couldn’t keep anything down except some water or ginger ale. Shaking, shortness of breath, heart racing, the whole nine yards. And while I missed a lot of classes the semester my symptoms started, I knew that learning and getting my degree was so important to me, I just would push through the discomfort and fear.
I was lucky to have a very supportive husband who was the first to say that what I was suffering was anxiety and panic attacks. I did go to my doctor who confirmed this after ruling out anything physical. My husband drove me to many of my classes when I just couldn’t get myself there. So, I did it afraid. I did it sick. I just absolutely had to do it. But it was HARD.
A couple years later – after graduation – I did find a great therapist who helped me really get my anxiety under control. I was on several different medications until we found one that worked for me, and I learned different self-care techniques – some help more than others. Through that work, I was able to get back to my life, but it was different than it was before my anxiety disorder. I still have attacks. I still get anxiety, but it isn’t the monster it once was. I am usually able to get it under control myself, but now and then I have my medication to help out. Art is one of my first lines of defense, though. When I’m starting to feel that familiar anxiety creeping in, when those negative thoughts start whirling in my head, and then the tingling feeling in my arms appears, I head to the studio. Just drawing or working on painting helps focus my mind and eventually everything falls away until it is just about the creative process. I think some of my best work has come from pushing through those anxious moments on the canvas.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am visual artist who usually paints with oils, though sometimes I do venture into acrylic, watercolor, gouache, even digital! I do like to experiment with different mediums. Through the creative process I am able to explore both external components of life as well as the inner workings of my own psyche. I am fascinated with the magic and mystery of what we do not yet understand as well as the complete beauty of what is already proven and tangible. Like many, I am also consumed by the world of pop culture and with my having an education in traditional illustration, I love to create narrative works inspired by some of my favorite genres of movies, books, and folklore. These stories are often shrouded in the supernatural and darker parts of one’s imagination. Bringing elements of these worlds together in my work helps me share a bit of myself with the viewer and hope I connect to something inside of them.
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?
Wow! I feel like I could list more than three! But let’s see if I can narrow it down here.
1. Be prepared for rejection. Rejection can be painful. I’m 20 years in and I still get bummed out when I get a rejection notice. But I’ve developed a much thicker skin over the years. Rejection is part of the business, and when it happens, rather than allowing it to paralyze me, I use it to propel me forward. It’s a good time to ask questions. Is my work up to the level of other submissions? Was this done to the best of my ability? Did I choose the best images for this submission? What do I need to do to improve my chances next time? Sometimes it really is not you! And that’s ok. A lot of this business is being in the right place at the right time. I’ve been rejected by a gallery a couple times only to find an amazing home with the same gallery later. Don’t let rejection keep you from trying again.
2. Know how to “business”. I was lucky that my art school focused on running your art business as part of our curriculum. I see so many young artists that get in to the game without having the skills or knowledge of how to run a business. You don’t need art school to become a great artist, but I would recommend even a semester at community college to learn how to run a business. Bookkeeping, contracts, customer service, pricing, marketing, etc. are all imperative to the success of your business – even as an artist.
3. Failure is a good thing. Whether it’s a project, or painting, or I’m learning a new technique or medium, I have learned more in my art journey from failing than any other time. Failure is when the growth happens. My biggest “leaps” as an artist always followed a time where I just completely screwed up something. When everything is steady and consistent, I’m not learning anything, and I’m certainly not moving forward. So, like rejection, I don’t let failure stop me. I’ve learned to welcome it as a teaching moment that pushes me to try again with the lessons I have learned.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Ah, the sense of overwhelm. Not a fun place to be, but a feeling that is so common. When I’m overwhelmed I find it helpful to stop and try to regain focus rather than spinning. I like making lists – things that absolutely have to get done, and I try to prioritize those tasks. Breaking the BIG THING into smaller, more manageable parts makes it less scary and easier to move through to conclusion. Plus I really like running my highlighter over completed tasks!
Contact Info:
- Website: TeaAndCanvas.com
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- Other: Threads: @teaandcanvas
