Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathy Maguire.
Hi Cathy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
My love of art all started at my childhood home in Port Chester, NY. I would watch my very talented dad paint and draw for hours, hoping and praying that I, too, had the same talent.
My first artistic endeavors were the beautiful models on the covers of magazines such as Glamour. They were amateurish, but I loved them, and my father encouraged me to do more, so I did and decorated my bedroom with them.
I have always loved drawing people, faces, and animals. I am told I bring them to life by capturing their inner feelings and emotions through facial expressions and eyes.
As I grew, so did my love for art, and my skills developed. Finally, at age 16, a pivoting point made people stand up and take notice of my talents, including me. I picked up a number 2 pencil and drew a leopard cub on my bedroom wall. Surprisingly, my parents were very supportive. Murals were not uncommon in my house; we already had a beautiful mural of a fawn and doe on our playroom wall that my dad painted.
Word spread of my leopard cub. Relatives and friends would visit, donating their leftover paint cans from their homes. I poured, mixed, stirred, and painted; like a mad scientist. Sometimes I would pretend I was one of those eccentric artists like Vincent Van Gough, alone in my world of color. Of course, things got messy. Once, I accidentally stepped in green paint and walked down the hallway; a little soap and water did the trick, and we all survived. The truth is the messier I get, the more creative I become. My parents loved the cub so much that they created a jungle motif around it when I moved out.
I enrolled in a three-year program for fine art in Greenwich, Ct. named Propersi School of Art; this was a small school where I received a lot of individual attention. As a result, I honed my art skills and learned different mediums. Later I attended Riley Leauge of Artists in White Plains, NY, with my father, where we took life drawing and portrait painting.
Art has always been a fascinating and huge part of my life. It has ebbed and flowed depending on my life circumstances. Raising my three children and homeschooling (unschooling – child-led learning) was my priority, but as they grew, so did the time I spent on my art.
I moved to Columbus from New Jersey and, before that, Connecticut. Hands down, Ohio has the best art community I have seen. My art has been exhibited at different venues, and the commissions are pouring in. I am a member of the Dublin Area Art League (DAAL), Ohio Art League, and Wild Goose Creative.
They say mastering something takes about 10,000 hours. I can safely say I have invested more than 10,000 hours and am still learning new techniques daily.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes, I do have challenges and struggles; here are three of them:
Marketing is one of my biggest challenges. I post my newest pieces on social media, but people seem most interested in reels, stories, and live feeds. I must admit I have been remiss when it comes to this. People want more connection to an artist than just a 2D picture. I am making plans to change this and show my process.
Public speaking is a challenge for me. Exhibits, for instance, require me to engage people and talk about my artwork, among other things. Being the center of all this attention can cause anxiety, but the more I do, the better I get at it.
Parting with some of my art can be very hard. My art is very emotionally driven. The emotion I feel is hard to put into words. My pencil and brush are an extension of who I am and how I communicate with the world. Each piece I do is like a form of mediation, an almost spiritual experience that connects me to it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I do not have a specific niche like some artists, but if I have to pick what I am mostly known for, I would say it’s my portraits of people and animals.
I am told I capture their essence. I believe this is because when I create a portrait, I develop a connection with whomever I am painting., even if it’s someone I have never met. Because for me, painting a portrait is a most intimate and personal experience. I see beyond their exterior and what lies beneath their eyes, expressions, and posture. When creating a portrait, I am definitely connected and bonded to that person or animal on a deep level; I am all in.
What am I most proud of? I am proud of my persistence over the years to pursue my art. It hasn’t always been easy. Making a move from hobby to career was scary, putting myself out there as a professional artist and applying for exhibits and shows. Taking on paying clients took a certain amount of courage which I didn’t know I had, but proud to say I do.
I am also proud of my art; If I had to pick which two pieces, I am most proud of, I would say my Blue Ballerinas and Jimi Hendrix.
My Blue Ballerinas is a whimsical watercolor I did many years ago in school. It is presently hanging on my living room wall. The other is my portrait of Jimi Hendrix; while painting Jimi, I listened to his music full blast for hours at a time, as I do with all the musicians I paint. I felt a particularly strong connection with Jimi. I didn’t have a plan as to what colors or techniques I would use; it all happened effortlessly, authentically, and spontaneously, as if it was Jimi painting, not me. As hard as it is for me to sell it, it is for sale and presently hanging in The Old Mohawk Restaurant in German Village, along with some of my other pieces for the month of January. I am sure by the time this article comes out if he will be sold or on the walls of another establishment.
What sets me apart from the other artists? I feel all artists’ work is unique; it represents their own perspective on the world. If I had to choose what makes me stand out from others, I would say it was my use of color.
My children recently told me that I was a color expert. This kind of took me back because my use of color is very instinctual and usually not planned. But, again, it’s all done in the here and now, and it comes from my core being.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
When I was a young girl, my parents had friends that lived in the country with a huge pond. We would go there several times in the winter months to ice skate. We would build a campfire, roast hot dogs and marshmallows, and drink hot chocolate. I have such happy memories of us ice skating. My favorite memory is dancing together with my father on the ice.
Contact Info:
- Website: cathyannsart.com
- Instagram: Cathy Anns art
- Facebook: Cathy Fidelibus
