Cat Mallard has been creating art since she could wrap her fingers around a pencil or open a jar of paste. In fact one of her first memories is how wonderful the smell of fresh play dough was.  It's a passion she shares with her daughters, 12 and 14, and her students in the public schools.

Cat works in variety of mediums but gravitates to watercolors and mixed media.  She’s been inspired by mythology, fairy, and folk tales all her life, and her work reflects an enchanted inner world.  Her creations are often inspired by beloved tales such as Red Riding Hood and the archetypes behind them. Others are from lesser known tales such as East of Sun West of Moon or Shinto tales of Japan. She also has a world of her own original characters that come to play on the canvas. Cat describes her art as a spiritual practice; she never knows exactly how characters will turn out and lets the images develop as she works. The hardest part is the letting go and letting the art happen.  Cat refers to herself as a bit of magpie and collect little bits of shiny wonderment that turn up in her mixed media works.  She also has a passion for Middle Eastern Dance, and you can expect to see that influence popping up in some new pieces. 

Says Cat, “The internet is filled with inspiring creative souls. I love blogging (visit Cat's blog here) and reading others blogs. Other sites I participate in, such as Deviant Art and Live Journal, are also a great way to stay connected to other artists and patrons. I actually started displaying my work online after the prodding of some internet friends. There are unbelievably supportive artists out there.”

Cat’s a native Floridian and a University of Florida graduate.  She says she couldn’t do it all without the support of her wonderful family and husband Dwayne, who is an avid fencer. Daughters Sunny and Savvy are both creative spirits themselves; Sunny is a writer and illustrator, and Savvy loves all types of art, from drawing to sewing.  Cat has been teaching art in the public schools for 19 years. She’s a National Board Certified Teacher in Young Adult Art and a mentor teacher. In April 2007, she was honored to receive the Memphis Wood Award from the Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art  for outstanding contributions in art education.  Cat is a member of the First Coast Art Spot, North Florida Society of Collage Artists, and serves on the Education Committee of the Mythic Imagination Institute.  Her award-winning work is in collections around world.  She is currently illustrating “Winter’s Muse” with writer and friend Dana Sterling. Visit here website here and her Etsy store here.