I'm a Maker Because...
Miniviews series - No. 9 with Cat Bates
You’ve landed on the ninth installment of the Maker Miniviews (mini, two question interviews) series. Learn more about these maker interviews and view a list of all Miniviews.
Cat Bates is a Maine-based artist and jewelry maker who is actively involved, graduated from, and contributes to the Maine College of Art.
Check out this interview with jewelry maker and artist, Cat Bates.
What inspires you to keep making things?
"This isn't a very romantic answer, but it is just what I do. Needing to make a living is a pretty good fire under one's butt. That said, I LOVE my job and am tremendously grateful that this is how I get to support myself. In terms of what inspires me to make the work that I do, I think a lot about accessibility and how to make pieces which are tremendously beautiful but not necessarily very expensive.
I research manufacturing technology a lot, historical and contemporary, and often design work with a specific process in mind, so that the 'fingerprints' of the process can serve as surface ornamentation. The sand casting I specialize in would be a prime example; it leaves a distinctive texture and rather than girding that texture away, I design forms which will show it off."
What one piece of advice would you give to other, budding makers?
"Design for your self. Make the things which you want and avoid trying to please other people. You are the only person with your specific tastes, ideas, and aesthetics.
When I was starting out folks would often say 'It would be cool if you made.....', which was supportive, like they believed in me, but it wasn't MY vision. If you want your work to have originality it needs to come from within, and from within alone."
Drawing inspiration from a life lived in and around nature, Cat is creating pieces that are very unique.
"If you want your work to have originality it needs to come from within, and from within alone." — Cat Bates
Check out Cat’s jewelry store and website and Cat’s Instagram.
Thank you all for reading this article, now get out there and make things!
