It was at her “tiny rural Waikato school” that illustrator Cat Chapman realised she had a knack for art, being “the kid you went to if you wanted a drawing of a horse’s head – with very long eyelashes!” But, she admits, she never dared dream it possible to do as a job.
“I do come from a creative family of painters, designers and crafty sorts,” Cat tells Verve. “My parents are in their 70s and both continue to live their lives to the fullest, as busy as ever and always starting new projects. I think the best thing they passed on was the freedom to follow whatever path we wanted to.”
Cat stifles a laugh when asked at what point she realised she could make a career from her chosen path – most struggle to earn a full time living from illustrating, she reveals, but she’s been able to balance work with “raising my kids, which suited our family situation”.
“After having my first son, I attended a course by Sandra Morris on illustrating picture books. Sandra asked me to join her agency and got me my first illustrating job. It’s awesome to see your work published and I continued to illustrate books through having my second son.”
Cat’s portfolio includes work with boutique and corporate companies as well as illustrating children’s books such as Yak and Gnu and The Best Dad in the World. She takes great inspiration from her boys.
“Their ideas and drawings are really cool,” she says. “Unlike me, they draw completely from their imaginations with no worries about realism or proportion and are always so happy with the result – I need to take that approach more! I think seeing me draw encourages them, especially now that I work half my time on an iPad.”
Does digital drawing affect how you approach your work?
“The drawing programme I use looks and feels like drawing pen on paper, so there’s not a lot of difference there. Colouring is very different, however, as I usually use watercolours. The digital watercolours are becoming more realistic, but I still prefer the real thing for its beauty and fluidity. If a job requires me to work digitally and in colour, I do change my technique and use more of a dense, digital gouache brush effect, amongst others.”
What’s your typical creative process?
“Mostly, I’m illustrating for clients based on their briefs. That can be interesting, though, as I’m challenged with drawing a wide range of things, some that I would never have thought of. Things like hammerhead sharks, cabbages, wallabies or mischievous cherubs. I think, ‘Oh, okay…’ and start researching and drawing to find I’m really inspired and into it.”
Illustrating just 32 pages can take up to eight months of “focus and enormous commitment”.
“Like any contractor, being an illustrator is tricky as the jobs come in waves,” adds Cat. “I am very fortunate however, to have a few amazing clients that call upon me regularly throughout the year for illustration work, and I also get new jobs through my website or Instagram.”
Cat’s most proud of her work produced in collaboration with her clients: “Each job is so different and it’s very satisfying to be able to turn clients’ ideas into illustrations.”
Since 2017, she’s worked with the family-run organic baby clothing and product company, Nature Baby, contributing illustrations to their fabric prints.
“Seeing the final designs is always exciting but it’s more so when a special combination of print and clothing garment is released and their customers fall in love with it,” she says. “The latest watercolour pansy print has been extremely popular for them, which is very satisfying.
“I’m also pretty excited about going to the supermarket at the moment and seeing all the freshly rebranded EarthSmart tissues, toilet paper, and wipes packaging I illustrated with Curious Design. I feel like I’ve spent too much time lurking in the toilet paper aisle, looking at the newly packaged products on display!”
Aside from her boys, Cat says what most inspires her is anyone able to deal with the emotional and financial rollercoaster that comes with being a freelance creative or running a business, navigating those frequent periods of self-doubt while remaining motivated.
“I’m often thinking of changing careers when I feel rinsed out, but then a new brief comes through, something totally random that I’ve never had to draw, and suddenly get excited about the new challenge. About seeing what I can produce.”
In the pipeline is illustrating a new custom-made fabric print with Kristine Crabb of clothing label Gloria (“We’ve talked about it for months, but it keeps getting put on hold as we juggle other commitments. Kristine has great style and I love her art direction”), while, more immediately, she’s looking forward to getting the whole family together for Christmas.
“It will be the first Christmas since the pandemic that we’ve all been able to meet up, so the celebrations will be starting when they arrive on 23 December. Summer’s my favourite season, savouring those long evenings.”
And as for new year’s resolutions?
“A bit more travel with my family is high on the list.”
Find out more about Cat and her work at catchapman.co.nz and follow her on Instagram @cat_chapman_illustration.
