Meet Grace Cathey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Cathey.

Hi Grace, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 

At a young age, I discovered I had a passion to create along with being driven and competitive… Which let me to Haywood Community College Professional Crafts program in 1978.

AWH-I was immersed in the creation of craft and majored in the fiber art program.Haywood Community College craft program is a slice of heaven.

For 15 years, I marketed through galleries and craft festivals my weavings: clothing, scarves bags, and rag rugs.

Eventually my weavings were turning into wall hangings with wires and lots of texture. Pushing forward and always trying new ideas a constant.

1995, my mentor suggested we take a class

And I was desperately needing some new Christmas gifts ideas

So, I signed up for the welding class again at Haywood Community College.  it was a bit of a  learning curve fire, sparks flying and the heavy tools but the brain connected and it was meant to be. One year later I bought my equipment, cleaned out our 2-car garage and I have the most fabulous time creating sculpture. There was no indication that sculpting metal was going to be my life’s passion. I didn’t start off to be a Sculptor just to cut the steel and weld it together to make some simple forms for gifts.

In 1998 my Gallery and Sculpture Garden opened  in my husband’s, Clayton Cathey, service station Walkers Service in Downtown Waynesville.

2016 we closed the gallery- Sculpture Garden and Walker Service.

I’m still sculpting creating commissions as well as competing for the larger public art installations. Awh it’s exciting to compete.

Loving every minute

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say it’s been some ups and some downs but mostly a consistent journey pushing forward. It’s not the usual medium for a woman to be in. Men definitely have the edge, but I have created my own edge by specializing in flowers (not too many men sculpt flowers). My work is fabricated and has a feminine style with lots of texture, detail and color.

Oh, then there is the marketing. How does a person sell their product? There are so many ways to market but for me I started deleting the marketing styles that didn’t work for me like the street shows and craft fairs.

This only led to a few opportunities having my own gallery, or on consignment in galleries, and advertising private commissions. Also, being published is hugely valuable.

Juried competition for public art was one thing I tried early on, and it worked. I enjoy customer commissions, as well as Larger public art projects.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say it’s been some ups and some downs but mostly a consistent journey pushing forward. It’s not the usual medium for a women to be in. Men definitely have the edge, but I have created my own edge by specializing in flowers (not too many men sculpt flowers). My work is fabricated and has a feminine style with lots of texture and detail. 

And a little different the what you usually see. Also, I enjoy custom sculpture working with people on specific areas for home or office. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a fabricator in steel I cut shape and weld together simple shapes. I explain it like this it’s similar to a stiff fabric. I cut using my plasma cutter, Then hammer the pieces into shape and glue together with my MIG welder grinding smooth the bumpy and painting . Painting in representational styles and with realistic colors.

I mostly use rustolium paints, but also powder coat and automotive paint . Taking a few painting and drawing classes always improves your art work .

I was on HGTV a program called That’s Clever and this video show exactly how the pieces are made.

I am known for my sculptures of plants and flowers also animals, and I’ve created lots of mirrors, trees, and mountains for the wall.

My style expresses colors and texture with a feel of life in each sculpture for the garden, home, or street, and also memorials and public art.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?

Choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Quote from Confucius

I have learned to share information to inspire others and not to be afraid of failing. Someone is always better than you and someone is always worse than you. And one on my favorite things is to help artist grow and become who they really are. Also, have learned how important is to have support from your family and friends and fellow artist . I would not be the sculptor that I am today without the support of my family, especially my husband. I am so thankful and blessed.

Pricing:

• Outdoor sculpture start at $1,000 -up

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gracecathey.com
• Facebook: grace cathey