Meet Catherine Baumhauer | Artist

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

Hi Catherine, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As a mother of three kids, it’s all about the work life balance. When my kids were very young, I had to put my art/design career on hold to raise them. It was a family decision we made and I realized then I couldn’t divide myself so much between life and work. I would sometimes paint when they napped out in the garage or at night but was it always a struggle with my energy levels. Now that my kids are a bit older, more independent and self sufficient, I can dedicate more time to my work. It still feels very much like a delicate balance of making time and space for my art as there are demands and needs being a Mom that never go away. The challenge is not to feel as if I lost time for my work. In many ways, a new chapter is on the horizon for me as an artist reinventing the wheel later in life. The balance now is about making time for myself and my art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. I went to art school at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago originally to study sculpture but landed with a focus on painting. I later attended Cal Arts for experimental animation thinking I could combine my love of painting, sculpture, film, story and animation. It has felt a like a long journey exploring and working in these mediums only to come back full circle to painting. Prior to starting a family, I worked in the animation and film industries as well but once I started having kids, my career took a backseat as I raised the kids. A decision that felt best at the time. Now, I look forward to a new chapter. It has been a process to learn how to juggle work life and kids. I am having to reinvent myself in ways that aren’t easily mapped out but I have learned and grown so much through all the multiple roles and fields I have been in. I look at all the various backgrounds/experiences as a palette. My exposure to so many art forms throughout my life influences my interest and experimentation in my work today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s a really tough question because LA has an exorbitant amount of things to do!! I’ll focus on my local community to make it easier.

For the South Bay, of course, we must visit the beaches to surf and/or swim. My local surf break is El Porto in Manhattan Beach. I go as often as I can daily if waves permit. I swim between the Manhattan Beach pier and Hermosa Pier. Both piers are fun to see and the Strand between them of course for people watching and exercise.

South Bay restaurants that stand out are: MB Post, Pure Vita in South Redondo and Georgia’s for cocktails. Pursue Coffee in Redondo is top notch too.

Another beautiful spot is Palos Verdes Cove for surf or a hike. The Wayfarer’s Chapel though I’m not religious feels like a spiritual retreat overlooking the ocean, and close by is another hike at low tide to see sea life at Abalone Cove.

There are some great little art galleries that are fun to see. Shockboxx Gallery and Resin Gallery in Hermosa.

That’s just a few! I haven’t even scratched the surface on the rest of LA….

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?
I want to shoutout to my family and friends for supporting and encouraging me to pursue this path especially since it’s not an easy one. I have also found so much support amongst my local surfing community (Wahine Kai women’s surf group) and open water swim community in the South Bay of Los Angeles. Alot of my art is inspired by my love of surfing and swimming, being in the Ocean and the communities that come together over a shared love.

Website: www.catherinebaumhauer.com

Instagram: catbstudio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063496842481

Image Credits
surfing pictures, courtesy of Lucio Gomes (portosurfer on Instagram)