For the past 20 years, I have been following my dream of creating sacred art for the purpose of inspiring myself and others to awaken to who we were meant to be, to who we’ve always been.
An interesting truth about this dream: It was an accident. Being an artist was not part of my life plan by any stretch of the imagination. Until age 33, I was one of those people who said, “I don’t have an artistic bone in my body.” (Sound familiar?)
In my family of origin, I was viewed as the unartistic one. I was often told I should be a counselor or teacher, but artist, definitely not! My parents were talented hobby artists — they loved to draw, paint, sculpt, and write. But not me. From K-12, when I attempted anything creative, my father would “help” by revising what I had done to the point where it was unrecognizable as mine, even by me. Of course it would receive an ‘A’, but I never felt like I deserved it, or more importantly, that I had any creative talent.
My true calling found me when I stopped looking for it, and started noticing what gave me joy.
First Collage
This unexpected path started in the middle of a rewarding-but-very-stressful job as a university career services director. While guiding others to find their true calling, During this time, I began questioning my own. I put myself through the same exercises I gave my students, and one in particular changed my life: writing down the things I loved to do as a child without anyone telling me to.
Smack in the middle of my list was collage. Suddenly I remembered 10-year ole me proudly holding my very first collage. Yup, this is this rudimentary collage (pictured to the right) that sparked the journey to find my true calling.
So, on a whim (or maybe a flash of inspiration), I gathered up magazines, catalogs, and a glue stick, and made my first collage in 20 years. As I looked down at what I’d created, I realized that I was having FUN. My heart exploded with joy. I didn’t want to stop, ever.
That moment in 1993 became the spark. For the next three years, I created collages almost every day.
I framed many of my “beautiful” creations, and decorated my office at the college with them. Colleagues and students made comments like, “Oh, you have children.” I didn’t, but that didn’t bother me. These reflections of my soul were children to me, and I loved every one of them.
Creating collages as a hobby was an amazing source of stress relief, but unfortunately it didn’t change the way I felt about my job – I still didn’t like it.
Then after 6 1/2 years of complaining nearly every day about my job, this phrase suddenly popped into my head…
What you resist, persists.
I had heard that saying many times before, but suddenly it had new meaning. I realized that I had been resisting my college job, and thus it was persisting. So I decided to change this pattern by silently saying “this moment is my destiny” EVERY time I found myself resisting where I was.
For instance, when an employee was complaining to me, and my “lizard brain” saying that I didn’t want to be there, I stopped my myself mid-thought and silently said “this moment is my destiny”. Then I relaxed deeply into being with my complaining employee, thinking to myself that I’m meant to be sitting here, because that is where I am. THIS moment is my destiny because I’ve lived my entire life to get to THIS precious moment, complaining employee and all!
For three months, this scenario played out over and over again, until one day I realized that I had fallen in love with my job, AND never wanted to leave. Wow!
And that is when the miracle happened.
Out of the blue, I was offered a dream job with the publisher of the MBTI® personality assessment, something that I had secretly wished for years earlier.
The bottom line? By surrendering to where I was, I opened the door to something far beyond what I could have ever planned.
Awakening as an Artist
So I left my beloved college job, in spite of being in love with it, and went to work for the publisher of the MBTI® for the next four years.
During this time, I took my first collage workshop, and my skills and confidence quickly grew. I ended up gifting one of my new collages Original Blessing to a friend. She hung it on her office wall, and a client of hers saw it and wanted to buy a print of it.
That small sale changed everything.
Original Blessing
I bought a professional printer, taught myself how to mat and frame art, and sold my very first print. Suddenly, I could (realistically!) imagine earning my living as an artist.
By 2001, I quit my job at the MBTO publisher and leapt into full-time art. During the next four years, I learned h ow to be a self-sustaining artist, and had the time of my life creating and selling art. I loved Monday mornings because I got to return to creating art. (Itook weekends off to focus on other parts of my life, like my husband and friends. Work-life balance, as they say.)
By 2004, I was winning awards at competitive fine art festivals, having solo gallery shows, and selling to both retail and wholesale accounts. I was easliy paying the bills and was nearly where I wanted to be as a professional artist.
Then my journey took another unexpected turn.
On October 4th, 2004, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was completely blindsided. I had always taken good care of myself, both physically and spiritually, and had no family history of cancer. At only 44 years old, and otherwise healthy, I now faced the very real possibility of losing my breasts, and possibly my life.
What could have been my darkest chapter turned out to be one of my most joy-filled. Waking from cancer surgery, I declared it was my birthday, the day I got to start over we had an impromptu :birthday party” to celebrate.
Thar experience taught me (once again) to live in radical acceptance, to say YES to what life placed before me.
Wedding Bliss 7.18.15
But my journey through breast cancer led me back to my day gig with the MBTI publisher (a job I dearly loved). It also brought about the end of a 24-year marriage to my high school sweetheart (who I now jokingly refer to as the “starter husband”), and eventually into a heart-filled, peaceful new marriage with the love of my life, Robert.
My intention was to stick with the day job for ONLY one year, and return to full time art as soon as possible.
But one year turned into two, and in a flash it was ten. Sadly, I had created very little art in all that time.
Returning to Art
Finally in January 2015, I decided to stop making my day gig an excuse for not creating art, and made a plan. Despite intensive travel teaching the MBTI (sometimes 3 or 4 weeks every month), I reorganized my life to focus on what was most important. I started bringing my art studio with me on the road by packing two – 50 pound suitcases, one full of art supplies, and doing art from hotel rooms at night. I remained focused on creating art almost daily, fitting it into the nooks and crannies of my life.
One small step at a time, I found my way back to what I most loved (read more about this here, here and here), and all while working full time.
Then in 2017, inspiration struck again: whit if I worked my day job only 5 days a month, leaving the rest of my time for art? To my surprise, I proposed the idea to my boss and she loved it.
So, in January 2018, I returned (almost) full-time to art while traveling one week a month as a contractor for my day gig. For the first time, I felt I had the best of both worlds.
Fully Stepping In My Calling
I worked just 5 days a month for my day gig through 2024, and then in 2025, I finally released the safety net of my day gig and claimed the title I love most: full-time artist.
Now my greatest joy is not only creating collages, but also guiding others to discover their own artistic voice. To see that they, too, are creative, no matter what they’ve been told. And it’s in that discovery that collage reveals its true power: to heal, to transform, and to reconnect us with who we really are. For those who believe they can’t create, collage is the perfect doorway into art, at least it was for me.
The path to becoming an artist isn’t always straight. It’s layered, unexpected, and full of detours, like any collage. My hope is that my journey reminds you to listen to that loving whisper inside of you, the one nudging you to “try this”, and take the next step toward the life your heart is calling you to live.
With love, Cat
My Guiding Principles
The universe is rigged in my favor, always. Even when it looks “bad”, the universe is pointing me toward my next highest good step.
What I resist – persists. As soon as I accept EVERYTHING exactly as it is, what I have been resisting, maybe even for years, lets go, like magic. Sometimes I lose site of this truth, and how well it worked in the past. As soon as I remember again, life magically unfolds, with ease and peace. Living in complete non-resistance is my spiritual path.
I say yes to ALL that shows up, no matter what it is. A friend makes a negative comment about someone I love – I internally say YES, and let go of the next thoughts that come into my brain. A politician stands for things I don’t agree with – I shout YES, and let go. No resistance, nada. My boss announces a policy I don’t agree with, that affects my job – a big whooping YES. Again, no matter what it looks like, everything happening around me, is for my benefit and is rigged in my favor. No exceptions.
Be happy. No matter what drama is swirling around me, I choose blessed happiness. Quite the challenge sometimes, but this is my daily intention.
Smiling for no reason is fun and good for my soul. It lifts my spirit, and the spirit of those around me. Its especially fun to smile in public for no reason and have your smile infect those around you, even strangers.
Thoughts have power, so I let go of the negative ones as soon as I recognize them creeping into my consciousness.
So-called “failure” is the Universe pointing me in a new direction, one that better reflects my highest good and that of all concerned.
Life is not happening to me, its happening FOR me.
EVERY moment is my destiny, and the next one, and the one after that.
Thank you, Catherine, for all of the love, creativity, emotion, and gorgeous elements that you bring together to create truly stunning works of art. I love seeing my piece of art every day on my desk as I work. It reminds me of the importance of staying true to my own journey and what I’m on Earth to pursue each and every day.”
– Emily – Raleigh, NC
Insider secrets
What few people know about me – but now YOU do!
I LOVE my very part-time day gig teaching the MBTI assessment. This is not a secret to those in my workshops. Other than collage, I can’t imagine anything more fulfilling.
My MBTI preferences are for ENFP, although I often flex to ENTJ for my day gig.
I name almost every object in my life
My red Prius is called Sippy (she sips gas). This is “her” first family pic!
Our dear home is called Marci, “her” formal name is Marseilles
The most amazing fridge I’ve ever owned is called Ellie (short for LG)
Robert’s car is named Geva after his grandmother
Robert’s red raider motorcycle is Scooch (short for scooter, which it definitely does NOT resemble. More like a Harley)
After months of searching, we finally named our new Bosch dishwasher Barbara. Barbara Bosch – get it?!? This was my sweet husband’s idea – I’m still getting used to this unusual choice, but I guess all the names are odd, so it works!
This list could go on for quite a while…
I have no biological children, although have always considered my nieces grandchildren. I simply cherish every one of them.
I have walked on fire, and didn’t get burned, although I don’t plan on doing this crazy act again any time soon☺️!
Robert, the love of my life, took me to Paris on my 50th birthday – that act alone made him a keeper.
I drink Dr. Axes green powder, juice from one lemon, and a teaspoon of Menuka or organic honey and water every morning before I meditate and begin creating art.
I am very attached to my Fitbit and am in daily competition with my darling Robert and sister for the most miles.
I have more sweaters and shirts that most people I know – I simply love variety to choose from each day.
I donate at least 1/3 of my wardrobe each year to charity to make room in my closet for new treasures, which are usually extreme sale items from The Loft, Banana Republic and Lucky.
I did 7 internships in college, trying to decide what to be when I grow up. True to my MBTI type, I’m always open to new possibilities for earning a living, but have narrowed the choices to MBTI trainer and artist (thank goodness).
I was married for 24 years to my high school sweetheart, aka “starter husband”. I learned a ton from my first go-round, enough to make the second one last and thrive.
Speaking of my enchanting second marriage, I met my darling Robert in 2008 on a blind date. He prefers ESTP, and I cannot imagine a sweeter, kinder, more generous, loving partner than this dear soul. We got married in a romantic backyard wedding surrounded by our family and friends on July 18, 2015.
I grew up in a crazy household, with a mentally ill mother, a loving co-dependent dad, and younger sister who I defended and mothered when no one else was there to do it.
If I had been given the choice of mothers, I wouldn’t have consciously chosen mine, however she was absolutely the one I needed to become the person I am today – strong, brave, resilient, giving, loving and kind – all descriptors I strive to live up to every day, and how I like to imagine she was really like behind her illness.
Being mentally healthy is one of my strongest values, and I’ll give up food before I would give up a counseling session or long chat with a trusted friend.
