In The Artist Studio: an interview with greeting card legend Kathy Davis October 2011
Kat Caverly, an artist in the truest sense of the word… zany, brilliant, talented and not afraid to take risks… ~Kathy Davis
I was so excited excited when Kathy asked me if she could interview me for her series. After all she is Kathy Davis, one of most famous, most successful greeting card creators of all times. She is also the most generous, supportive artists I have ever met in my career.
She arrived with her husband and partner Peter, who shot the video and provided endless inspiration for laughter. My husband Tom helped as needed and as my “stage mother” made sure I was ready for action.
Kathy has sent me some question to help me prepare but I knew that I was born ready to tell my story, so I spent more time just reminiscing about my career and how I got started in the greeting card business specifically.
When someone asks you what you do for a living how do you describe your creative career?
I am a Renaissance Man as an artist, interested professionally in everything. What drives my career is an early commitment to being Happy and Kathy’s career is dedicated to Scattering Joy through art.
Some people know me as a photographer. some people know me as a greeting card designer. Some people know me now as a performer, some people know me as a producer…
There is an advantage in this Internet Age to be able to do a lot of different things. I’ve even worked as an iMarketeer, as an Adwords copywriter and a social media marketer and website developer.
I range poetical across all the phases of my career so far sharing about my work as a photographer and greeting card and graphic designer, all that led me to the Internet and reinventing myself as an ecard producer.
I know that you work with your husband… what are the pros and cons of working with someone that close to you? ~Kathy Davis
I don’t know if there is a con. It’s difficult to work with anybody and when you are passionate and choose the right people to work with, and you’ve chosen the right person to lives with… there’s no doubt about it… when you choose thet right people, it’s difficult, we’re all people and we’re not perfect. Tom and I are honest with each other, and unfortunately and I’m trying to change this, I am kinder with other people that I may be with Tom.
Tips for Young Artists
Follow your heart.
Be passionate about what you do.
What it takes to be successful, on your terms, not anyone else’s terms, but your terms, is that passion.
The thing you really need to develop is the ability to fail. Failure is not taught enough to artists, where you got to be willing to fail and what you do afterwards.
paraphrasing Darwin, it is not the strongest or the smartest that survive, but instead those who can adapt to change. ~Kat Caverly
There are some surprises; I even surprised my self with some of my answers.
If heaven exists, what would you like God to say to you at the Pearly Gates?
Give me a Hug!!