Artist Spotlight: MonkeyCat Studio
Hi! I’m Liz, artist and owner of MonkeyCat Studio. Since I was young, I’ve always gravitated towards classes, projects, and careers that offer some sort of creative outlet: floral design, photo styling, retail and event displays, and now moss artwork. I’m intuitively drawn towards creative endeavors, people, and spaces. Creating (whether it’s art, cooking, home DIY, or gardening) is something that comes easily to me, and (for the most part) I allow it to guide me in my life decisions and goals.
What inspired you to become an artist; what are your passions?
The two elements that appear most consistently in my work are woodworking and the use of natural materials.
My dad is a general contractor, so he had a garage full of hand tools and scrap wood that my sisters and I would use to build forts and games when we were young. In college, I learned basic woodworking skills while building out large sculptural pieces. And post college, I continued to hone my skills on computerized equipment like the laser cutter and CNC router. The ability to create something tangible from an idea in your head is extremely empowering.
One particular job, at a flower shop, inspired my love for all things green. I loved the colors, textures, and scents of the flowers and how they were constantly changing depending on the seasons. In the fall you could look forward to stunning dahlias, in the spring tulips were out in full force. This love of nature eventually spilled over into my hobbies (hiking and gardening) and is something that consistently brings me joy and grounds me.
Could you tell us about your creative process and the techniques you use?
Often in my work, you’ll see woodworking elements that I’ve CNC’d or laser cut into organic shapes. I love creating circular frames for my moss projects, they’re more playful than traditional rectangular frames and I feel like they are the perfect backdrop for the moss. Because the woodworking process is typically very precise and refined, I like to let the moss assembly happen more organically. One I’ve decided on which colors and texture work best with one another, I usually let the shapes of the Mood moss or Sheet moss guide the overall layout. Sometimes, for larger custom projects, I’ll create my moss designs in illustrator first, it just depends on the project and what type of design the client is looking for.
Are there specific themes or messages you aim to convey through your art?
I hope people can see and appreciate the amount of craft that goes into each piece. I’ve spent years building a particular skill set that has led me down this path of creating moss artwork. I take pride in the fact that I’m involved in every step of the build process, whether that’s designing, woodworking, laser cutting, painting, mossing, or installing.
What’s a MonkeyCat?
We’re so glad you asked! I’m a cat-mom to a very handsome feline, and his curly monkey tail is the inspiration behind MonkeyCat Studio.
What advice do you have to those looking to use moss in their art or any other advice that comes to mind?
Don’t be afraid to get weird! Let’s face it, moss is a pretty unconventional material so don’t hesitate to push the envelope and try new things. I often find that the weird projects I make just for myself, lead to other design breakthroughs that my clients love.
Contact details for those wishing to reach out to you?
You can see my gallery of work and shop my current collection on my website: www.monkeycatstudio.com
Keep up with current projects and behind the scenes on Instagram
Send custom order inquiries to:
