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Careers in the Arts - Our Story By Cathy & Melissa Richardson (as shared with Steve Friedman)
Every creative journey is unique, filled with triumphs, setbacks, valuable lessons, and immeasurable growth. Local artist and graphic illustrator Cathy Richardson and her daughter, recent SCAD graduate Melissa Richardson, offer their personal experiences to provide insight and encouragement for artists.
CATHY’S STORY - A CREATIVE INTUITIVE JOURNEY
Cathy's lifelong love of art took root during her studies at Syracuse University, where she explored fine art and design. A notable early experience was creating a memorial for her fellow students lost in the Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing, which was displayed in Lockerbie, Scotland.
After graduating, she moved to NYC, apprenticing with artist Clayton Pond, working in publishing, and with boutique design firm; Kick Design. However, her passion led her to leave the corporate world to create her own art. To make ends meet, she took on various jobs as a bartender and a messenger on rollerblades.
It was behind the bar on the Upper West Side that she had a life-changing encounter with the Disney Consumer Products creative team, leading to a design position and a move across the country to LA. Launching a 20+ year career with Disney. In 1997, she established her own design studio, Cathy B. Design, and has since worked with Disney and a diverse range of clients globally.
Now, in Dripping Springs, Cathy enjoys helping clients and other artists bring their visions to life through branding and creative confidence. She has a particular fondness for local projects like those for the Hill Country Galleria and the City of Dripping Springs; while also managing the licensing of her artwork.
Cathy's suggestions for all creatives:
• Trust Your Inner Voice: Follow your intuition and don't be afraid to try new experiences.
• Embrace Imperfection: Neither life nor art is about perfection. Learning new things is your superpower!
• Parents- Nurture Creativity: Encourage and support your children's passions Empowering creative confidence is Cathy's passion. She particularly cherishes her collaborations with Melissa, and motherhood for all 3 of her children, is her most fulfilling experience, impacting her creative perspective.
MELISSA’S STORY - BORN TO CREATE
Growing up in a creatively rich environment at home and school, Melissa naturally sought artistic opportunities. Before graduating from Dripping Springs High School, her talent shone through in the design of a vibrant mural in the school's engineering wing. Her mother has always been her greatest inspiration, teaching her graphic design and freelancing before she could read a chapter book.
This passion for art and design led her to the renowned Savannah College of Art and Design. At SCAD, her artistic explorations spanned architecture, fashion, painting, and sculpture. Holding the unique distinction of having a permanent sculpture in SCAD's Lacoste, France campus sculpture garden – a first for an undergraduate, Melissa ultimately found her niche in Illustration.
Between working with SCAD’s leadership team to empower initiative in her fellow students, winning multiple fashion competitions, designing sneakers for a Sam Edelman collaboration, starting a nonprofit, interning at American Eagle and Natural Life, and in Costa Rica there was nothing she didn’t do at SCAD to truly grow as much as she could both as an artist and as a person.
Currently, Melissa is the marketing director for Lucky Lab Coffee. Her creative spirit thrives on bringing people together through various artistic avenues – entertainment, design, social media, and more. She believes everyone is an artist in their own way and has the power to chase their dreams, for as she always says, “It is only when we believe in ourselves that anything becomes possible.”
Melissa's advice for aspiring artists:
• Cultivate Resilience: Embrace the grit to pursue your passions fiercely while also extending yourself grace during challenging moments.
• YOU DO YOU!: Invest in building your brand – it's key to building confidence and charting your career path.
• Travel Often: explore to broaden your perspective and fuel your creativity.
These ladies are great examples of passionate artists who have paved different paths to career success in the arts. Please visit their installations in “Stars of Dripping Springs” on Mercer Street.
