Who's That Gal: Kat Maus, Owner of Kat Maus Haus Illustration & Design
Name: Kat Maus
Age: 34
Occupation: Illustrator, Owner of Kat Maus Haus Illustration & Design
Hometown: Southampton, NY
Current ‘hood: Brighton, MA
Currently reading: Company of One by Paul Jarvis, and How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
Favorite workout: Hiking
Favorite hike in New England: Looping around the Beehive Trail and across the Gorham Mountain Trail along Cadillac Cliffs in Acadia National Park. Ocean and heights, the best combo.
Favorite quarantine activity: Sitting on my porch taking in as much nature as possible, and snuggling with our french bulldog, Omar.
Dream vacation: Going back to Iceland to drive the Ring Road and hike and camp along the way.
I never leave home without____: a face mask, hand sanitizer, and a water bottle.
Tell us a little bit about your career. How’d you get interested in art?
Art has been a part of my life since I was very young, but becoming interested in illustration was actually born out of necessity, out of a need to find a new outlet after my regular activities became an impossibility. During college at Tufts University, I majored in art history, took studio art classes, and danced with several student-run groups. After college, I wanted to continue dancing but then began experiencing severe back pain, and then some years later, I began having hip pain and was diagnosed with femoral-acetabular impingement (essentially bone spurring in my hip joints) with labral tears and needed surgery.
The surgeries and recoveries were very tough both physically and mentally, but I came out a year later without any physical restrictions and a new zest for life. This is when I started hiking in New Hampshire. Hiking! How had I made it to my late 20s without venturing to the White Mountains just two hours away? I love the challenge of reaching a peak when my body is completely drained. I love the breeze in my face when I finally pop out above the treeline, feeling a million miles from civilization and completely in awe of all the beauty to explore. I started on a quest with my sister to hike all 48 of the New Hampshire 4,000 footers – a challenging and time-consuming endeavor many New England hikers embark on.
And then I was once again sidelined when I re-tore the labrum in one of my hips and the cartilage in both my hips had started to show wear. I was devastated. I was told I’d have to restrict my activities for life or I’d accelerate the rate of decline, making a full hip replacement a certainty.
During this time of doctors visits, painful injections, and physical therapy I just wanted to escape. Hiking had become a therapy for me and it was not an option. So I started to teach myself digital illustration techniques so I could immerse myself in the mountains once again, but this time through an artistic outlet.
What made you want to found your own studio?
Once I took the terrifying step of sharing my illustrations with friends and family on social media, I began receiving requests to purchase prints. This I was not prepared for, but I was willing to run with it. For 7 years, I had been working in higher education administration and despite numerous role changes I never felt like I belonged there and knew something needed to change. Though I didn’t yet fully see the potential of Kat Maus Haus, I knew it was worth pursuing as a side-hustle.
I spent all my free time for months learning how to build a website, how to print and ship illustrations, and just generally how to start a creative business. I launched an Etsy shop in October 2016, and I was completely amazed when my first order was from a stranger. And not only that, but this individual had bought one of each of my New Hampshire themed prints I had at the time. That was when I first thought Kat Maus Haus could actually have some traction. In September of 2019 I quit my job to pursue illustration full-time.
What’s the best thing about starting your own business?
Having the freedom to follow my interests wherever and whenever they lead me.
What’s the hardest?
Knowing which interests are worth pursuing and making the decision to move in that direction. This also involves developing the ability to say “no.” I’ve become very familiar with the term “decision fatigue” over the last few years.
What skill is most important for you to be successful? Why?
Being an effective self-motivator and dedicated learner are so important to being successful. Everyone is making it up as they go, picking up new skills and knowledge they need along the way. I think being open to new information is key to keeping your business nimble and relevant.
Congrats on finishing your 100 days project! What inspired you to work on that project?
As you probably know, the 100 Day Project is a challenge where all types of creatives create something for 100 days, usually based on a theme. Participants post their daily works on Instagram to share their progress with the larger community using the hashtag #The100DayProject.
It was about a month into the COVID-19 lockdown when the challenge officially started. I had seen my whole business plan for the year collapse as cancellations for trade shows and markets came flooding in. This was going to be my first full year relying just on my illustration income, and I was devastated to see all my plans go up in smoke. I missed interacting with customers at markets and generally just felt very isolated and unmotivated. I decided to participate in the project the day it started (talk about the benefits of self-employed flexibility). I would create a mini digital painting each day, and I realized that by asking my Instagram followers to send me photos of their favorite places as inspiration, I could create a sense of community around this project. It has certainly worked! Hearing from people that they look forward to my illustration each day has been such positive reinforcement, and has really helped me stay out of the deep, dark, creative rut that would be so easy to fall into right now. I’ve come to realize that 100 days is no joke (Day 100 was on July 24). It’s hard to look back on it with anything but positivity and pride.
What made you decide to start your “Create Change” initiative? How much money have you raised so far?
Like many white Americans, I’ve been grappling with the role we’ve played in the systemic oppression of Black people in this country. The recent police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the horrifying lynching of Ahmaud Arbery, and the mistreatment of peaceful protestors in the weeks that followed left me feeling angry, deeply sad, and ashamed. I’m not a community organizer, I’m not very good with words and speaking out, and I don’t have the resources to make large donations, but I needed to do something. I picked through the photos that had been sent to me by my Instagram followers, and found a beautiful image of trees lit against a starry sky, and thought that it was the perfect combination of somber and hopeful.
I reached out to the photographer, Danielle Rootes, with my idea for an illustration based off her photo that would raise money for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. Danielle did not hesitate to say yes. To date, the “Create Change” print itself has raised $1,466, an amount I never thought possible. And thanks to a generous friend who made the initial $1,400 donation on my behalf, we were able to double that amount through their employer’s matching gift program. I know it’s really a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things, but it made me realize that there can be more purpose behind what I do, and that has made me very motivated to help more.
Any advice for other professional ladies?
Be kind to yourself! During this crazy, challenging, unpredictable time we’re living through, it’s important to give yourself the space and time to breathe, to grieve, and to do the things that can still make you happy. I have to remind myself every single day that I’m allowed to do nothing if I need to (and this has been often). This is okay, and this is normal.
How can JUGs readers support your work?
At katmaushaus.com you can find all of my work for sale. I make art prints, postcards, stickers, tote bags, and greeting cards featuring illustrations of unique and beautiful places around New England and beyond. If, like me, you are a bit strapped for cash right now, connect with me on Instagram, and if you like what you see, share a post or two! Word of mouth and organic exposure are so helpful for a small business like mine. I also send out a monthly newsletter where I release new products and share new projects - the sign up can also be found on my website.
Love reading about Boston women?
Lindsay Gardner is an Instructional Designer living and working in Boston. You can follow her on Instagram @lindsaygardner09.
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