Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Catton.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’ve been creating things since I was very young. My parents encouraged my imagination throughout my childhood and supported my journey into art. They bought me a book on my 12th birthday that taught me how to draw in a comic book art style and later, they supported my decision to go to art school for university.
My art has evolved from the fascination of people. I love how complex the human body is, thus my love for anatomy. I’m intrigued by our minds and the vast array of perspectives we can have because of it. My art reflects my love for understanding people better, which I’ve come to realize also means understanding myself better.
I took one art class in high school before I went on to the Academy of Art to study character modeling in game development. Since going to university, my craft has expanded into using so many different mediums, like ink illustration, sculpture, and digital work.
Please tell us about your art.
I’ve been dabbling in and out of different mediums because they all have different parts that I love. My illustration work is more explorative, trying to see things with my eyes and translate that to a page. My sculpture work features an ecorche (a to-scale breakdown of superficial human anatomy) and that of faces. I’m actually working on a piece right now that will include faux flowers… I’m excited for that one. And then with my digital work, I’m creating video game characters from scratch. I love finding stories for them and imagining them move and what journey they’re on. It’s so exciting for me to finish a character because I feel like I’ve brought something to life.
I don’t consciously think about how my art would make someone else feel. I make art based on what I feel or what the character feels. That’s what I love the most. How is this person feeling? How can I portray that? How can I tell their story in visuals instead of words? It makes me think about how I look on the outside. Can you see my story on the outside of me? This is what I think about when I’m creating something. I also find my work to be introspective. I like “looking inside”… which is probably why I love drawing bone structure.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Art is as much a self-exploration as it is a showcase of an individual. I think that pursuing art is difficult; it is not for the faint of heart. Any artist struggles in some way or another, no matter their circumstances. I believe that in order to foster the artist, you have to start young. Humans innately have a nature to create and develop. If we foster that from a young age, art can thrive again. I’m glad that art education is commonly available now, but it does break my heart that they take it out of first and secondary schools now. That’s exactly where we should be encouraging it.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I’m on Instagram, @ladycatton! That’s primarily where my work can be seen. I’m going to be opening up an Etsy shop later this year, so if you follow me on Instagram, I’ll be posting about that journey also.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ladycatton.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/ladycatton
- Other: artstation.com/ladycatton
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