About | Cath Michael Art

About Cath

I’m Cath, a Brisbane-based emerging artist with a passion for nostalgia, particularly Mid Century Modern, Vintage and Retro.

I credit my creative abilities to my mum who was a high school art teacher. Mum encouraged me to be creative from an early age and passed down the knowledge and skills that she learnt growing up Holland and also from my Ukrainian Oma, who was a very gifted craftswoman.

I began painting seriously in 2023 after being diagnosed with a chronic medical condition. My career up to that point had been in finance and superannuation, so it was a huge change to have to give that up. My artistic practice has been the silver lining that I needed and has helped me find a sense of purpose again.

I paint at home from my converted garage studio and have a son in primary school and two crazy cats to keep me company. They often join in on the fun!

Why I paint vintage and nostalgia

And wistful musings of the past...

It's a question that I am often asked and sometimes l find it hard to articulate because of the deep emotions that connect me to my art. So I thought l'd put pen to paper... (you know, like back in the day when we actually did write on paper)! So, here we go...

Because I have a wistful yearning for the past where life was simpler and slower. When items were handmade to the highest standards by craftspeople and passed down to future generations, instead of mass produced to be tossed away after one season. Because they remind me of my childhood in the 70's and of family, now gone, that I loved.

One of my fondest memories of my childhood was how my brother and I would disappear for the day, exploring the neighbourhood. Mum and Dad told us to be safe and have fun, waving us off, knowing we'd be gone for hours.

We'd hike up walking tracks in the bush behind our house to the local university, jump the fence and go swimming in the pool. We'd buy 1 cent lollies from the local lolly shop and come home after a long day, sunburnt, exhausted, but happy.

There are many elements of today's times that I appreciate, however the trade off with current technology, hectic pace lifestyle, and constant need to keep up with the Jones's (and going into debt for it), is burnout and dissatisfaction. Akin to a hamster running on his ring constantly going in circles.

The past, however, keeps me grounded; like an anchor - providing perspective and stability when life becomes overwhelming.