Meet Melanie Jacobs

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melanie Jacobs. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Melanie, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by filling my art with humor and quirky feline antics. My art became fun again when I focused on a subject I’ve always found entertaining. Everything I now create has a funky feline twist and I find inspiration everywhere. From meeting people at markets and hearing their personal cat stories to goofy videos on social media, my creativity can be sparked by a single comment about a cat personality quirk. I also love keeping a “Cat Loaf Guest Book” handy whenever I vend at a show so anyone who stops can sign their cats’ names into my book and share some fun facts about them. This is a great way to connect with my customers and helps me collect ideas for future art pieces.

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?

My name is Melanie Jacobs and I’m the owner and artist behind the brand Cat Loaf Studio. The heart of my brand lies in capturing the charm and comfort our feline companions bring. My brand mission is to add a bit of cat magic to our everyday lives. I started this brand to make art that brings joy. Life is often taken too seriously so I love reintroducing a bit of playfulness.

I create each digital art piece entirely by hand on my iPad with the Procreate app. From there I turn my work into art prints, stickers, stationery products, and apparel. Just last December I expanded my business to wholesale for retailers and have since shipped my products to 9 stores across the US. I hope to expand to more retailers and focus on bigger shows and Comic Cons this year. For interested retailers here is my Faire wholesale direct link: https://faire.com/direct/catloafstudio

At Cat Loaf Studio, I believe the simplest moments—like a twitch of a whisker or a perfectly formed loaf—hold the magic of pure joy.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The biggest thing that propelled my art career and business was being true to myself and letting go of everyone’s expectations including my own. Before Cat Loaf I was an artist who tried to create art that I thought everyone wanted and expected out of me. I held onto my college major and allowed my previous work experience as a fashion designer to influence my artwork. I then challenged myself to produce something completely out of my comfort zone and stumbled upon the most fun I’ve ever had creating. My best advice to anyone searching for their artistic voice is to be true to yourself; the art you’re meant to create will come.

Take risks! If you never put yourself out there and take a risk on yourself and your art, you will never find your audience. Start small with a local art show or a social media page dedicated to your art. I started with a small art show which gave me feedback and motivation to keep going. This year I did my first out-of-state Comic Con and while it was scary initially, I’m glad I took the risk. Even baby steps are steps forward.

Being personable and having customer service skills is also incredibly important as an artist. While I’m typically an introvert, I’ve taught myself to turn that fear off while I’m at a show. An artist who can easily converse and connect with potential customers will ultimately sell more art. While my cat art is easily relatable, I also love complimenting people and hearing stories of their fur babies. I have had everything from laughter to tears at my booth over past pets and I value being a safe space for everyone. There is a hidden meaning in the name of my business: cats loaf when they feel safe.

Be true to yourself, take risks, and let your personality shine.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to build an incredible community of artist friends and fellow vendors. We often underestimate the value of a strong community but being surrounded by like-minded individuals is life-changing. While many of us in the artist community here in Des Moines have similar goals, we are all rooting for each other to win. Numerous people have influenced my journey, but a few of them have stood out.

Cassi Miller and Mallory Leonetti both pushed my boundaries and skills as an artist. These two people I trust for advice on new ideas and have supported my every step. Both are incredibly talented and offer different perspectives when I get tunnel vision. We challenge each other to try new art styles and mediums and when life becomes too serious, these two bring me back to fun.

Jaclyn Duke and Rowan Shoppa who own Of Moss And Flames came to my rescue when I got my first wholesale orders. As fellow handmade business owners, these two understand the overwhelming feelings that come with large orders and tight deadlines. We have done many shows together this last year and support each other unconditionally. Being in business comes with many highs and lows, but having these two incredible individuals in my corner helps me persevere.

My partner Sam has also been an amazing supporter. He pushes me to take risks and has believed in me long before I had self-confidence. So, while I can’t say there has been one individual who stands out as being more influential than another, the different perspectives of these amazing people have helped me develop essential skills and find new ways of facing whatever challenges may come my way. Without my community, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

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