Meet Kate Cloud | Traveling Artist /Long Distant Hiker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Cloud and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I choose my career in art for a few reasons… Art can say things words can’t which can be very healing, Art is limitless, exotic and emotionally moving-ever changing; it never gets old. Art can capture memories, give a new perspective, record history, can take your spirit and make it viewable…that may be what I love most about art. It’s the ability to take all the dreamy things in my head and making them available for everyone to see. ..like taking a dream and making it into a movie to be watched.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think there are a number of things that set me apart from other artists. 1 my lifestyle in general, living nomadically out of a tiny purple vardo exploring the country with a goat. Creating and sharing from all I experience and see. I also don’t limit myself to just one form of art, As a creative, I enjoy creating in general and do so in many forms. I make everything from little crafts like rainbow casters, and dream catchers to sell in coffee shops and road side. I paint all-size paintings and murals…draw professional portraits of humans or beasts, occasionally I’ll host a painting party, or set up a face painting booth. These other forms have been a bonus in helping sustain my livelihood. I also love creating videos for my YouTube channel of living my life on roads and trails with my goat. And probably one of the biggest oddities about me is I refuse to make prints of my work, Many artist like to do this to continue to profit off of a single piece but I believe my works will hold more value by being the only one. I will repaint a piece I’ve already painted for someone who wants a copy…but the strokes and colors will forever be unique to each individual work.

It’s easy to do what you are passionate about, it never really feels like work to me. I believe people do better work in general when it’s something that fires up their souls.

What I’m most excited about is what the future holds… I want to grow! I want to mark the map. I’ve currently been working on my first children’s book series. Illustrating the Disney life my goat and I live, To date my goat has been to over 40 states and has done such things as Floated in a hot air balloon, Sailed on a ship from 1812, and dined with the rich and famous in Nashville and more. I want to have my own series similar to The Berenstain Bears but the stories are real- the animal character is real, And we could tour and she can meet all the children that fall in love with her stories,

I got where I am by trial and air and I’ve still lots to learn. I still go through those periods of stereotypical “starving artist” but I joke and tell myself through those times… ” I may be hungry but I look good!! lol
Every project I learn something new and I love that. I constantly want to learn new forms of art…. like stained glass or large scale sculpting. Every time I create something new I learn a little more and there is always more to learn, it’s exciting and I crave change. It is the only thing constant in the world after all.

What lessons have I learned along the way… The main one has been ” The only thing constant in the world is change.” which I’ve learned to love and embrace… there really is no other way.

What do I want the world to know?
It’s not so much what I want the world to know, as much as what I want them to see and feel, It appears to me that there is a lot of disconnect with the world around us- nature and others. I want to open closed minds, I want to stop someone in their tracks, not just to smell the rose but to recognize its short-lived beauty, and its outstanding color and to hold that moment of awe, I want to encourage connection.

What I want the world to know about my story?
I want them to know all of it! I want them to watch my daily videos as I hiked first from Georgia to Maine and than from Mexico to Canada across 17 states living out of a back pack along the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails. To see the few places out there still untouched by man, that most will never get the chance to see themselves. My paintings and photographs of so many wonders…my stories of the people I’ve met and what living for 3 years out of a tiny purple vardo with a goat on the road has unfolded, so many wonders and adventures this beautiful ball we’re all buzzing around on has to offer.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite spots would be just outside the city., those nature spots. I would try for an overnight hiking trip somewhere beautiful. Spend at least one night camped under the stars and cooking over camp fire. We would most definitely hit up a farmers market at some point and spend some healthy time on the less touristy beaches and some beach side bars when we want some good people watching. One of my favorite things to do with friends in town is to go try out restaurants we’ve never been to…mom and Pop always fall at the top of the list to try.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There were two stones in my life growing up, my grandpa Errol and my grandma Helen. From opposite sides of my family, each played a major role in my success as an artist but in different ways and times. As a young girl, my grandpa saw my love and passion for art- he was truly my best friend, my whole world and at one point he made me promise that I would never give up my passion. I loved him too much to ever break any promises to him, so I will forever create, that promise as a driving force to hold onto what undeniably filled my heart with joy.
My grandma Helen, who raised me while my mom worked long days and nights now 92 allowed me to take the leap into my career as an artist, In 2016 I called her one evening while experiencing a major break down- I was a single mother working multiple jobs, I had become emaciated from not eating enough, stressed, and worn out due to lack of sleep, no time for fun let alone art. I called her for guidance in the hopeless state I felt I was in, Guess what her advice was. QUIT. Quit all your jobs and focus on your art, sell it! Do art shows
!! Offer commission…murals !! Go for it!! I didn’t believe I could provide enough, for my daughter and me so I was always too scared to attempt a living with my art. But like my grandpa Errol she saw the same thing he must have. To convince me to give it a shot she offered me a crutch…she said should I need help with rent or food etc. while in this new pursuit, she’d be there to financially help me, And guess what! Over the course of the next 2 years, I only needed her help twice. The shift opened my eyes to what I was capable of and I never would have known had I not had her support and faith in my ability,
In these later years, I owe the majority of my living to the support of my followers from a combination of my YouTube, Patreon and Instagram. those who have enjoyed watching me hike across 17 states painting all that I see, and the shenanigans that have unfolded after rescuing my unusual partner in crime a small goat named Little Leaf. They are my most common buyers and I so appreciate their support for they have allowed me an uncommon life on the road exploring and adventuring.

Website: https://www.KateCloudArt.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kate_cloud_feathers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kate.m.cloud

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@KateCloud

Other: My Goats Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_leaf_goat My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KateCloud

Image Credits
Kate Cloud