No limit for local artist Cathryn Mezzo
From graphic designs, to paintings to children’s books, Cathryn Mezzo’s artistic prowess knows no boundaries. The Mineola resident has an artistic style all her own, fusing her knowledge of graphic composition with fine art techniques, which has allowed her to produce an impressive portfolio of diverse work throughout her career.
(Photo by Luke DeLalio)
“I love using color and texture to convey movement,” said Mezzo. “My goal is expressing emotion, rather than technical accuracy.”
Since early childhood, Mezzo knew she had a natural inclination toward art and an eye for beauty. She began as most children do, experimenting with simple drawings using crayons and markers. As she grew up and practiced her craft, she began creating scenic backdrops for performances at Saint Aidan’s Summer Stage. It wasn’t until years later in high school that she would discover her admiration for the art of graphic design. After graduating from Herricks High School, she decided to continue to expand her knowledge of the field by attending the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City and majoring in graphic design.
Mezzo’s undergraduate work proved successful and after her four years at SVA, she began working as an art director for Omni Magazine and Longevity Magazine. She later continued on to work for a company called Iridium Inc., specializing in editorial and corporate design.
It wasn’t until Mezzo became a mother years later that she had an opportunity to step aside from the corporate world and explore other artistic mediums. Though she went into college and the workforce with the desire to be a graphic illustrator, she always maintained a certain level of admiration for fine art in the form of expressionist paintings and sketches.
Mezzo’s exploration into other artistic methods propelled her in an entirely new and unique direction. She began by creating and maintaining a blog entitled “Hair Raising Thoughts,” in which she aimed to post a different illustration each week for a year. This idea then evolved into a fusion of illustrations and creative writing, and then into a collection of her personal photography and writing.
From sketches of guitars and human faces to generic suburban photographs of the neighborhood, Mezzo’s blog was soon filled with an eclectic compilation reflecting the scope of her talent. She took a particular liking to a technique inspired by artist Alexander Calder, in which a single line could generate an entire sketch. As a busy mother, she often found that she didn’t have the time to produce full-scale paintings, but these sketches could be done anywhere at any time, allowing her to draw inspiration from her immediate surroundings and day to day activities.
“The best way I could describe it would be expressionistic, folksy outsider art,” said Mezzo.Her sketches soon became more than just an activity. She found that she could easily translate her art into apparel and other products through a site called Redbubble, which allows independent artists to submit their work and apply it to products such as T-shirts, hoodies, posters, stickers, cases and more. Though this serves as a fun outlet to showcase and circulate her work, it is not the focus of her life and career.
“I just apply my designs and repeat them with different patterns and colors, but they manufacture and ship,” said Mezzo. “I don’t want to be a businesswoman. I want to be an artist.”
The artist certainly did not stop there. Combining her experiences as a mother and her expertise in design, Mezzo published a children’s book entitled I’m Not Afraid Of…, which shortly after publication became available in approximately 12 bookstores on Long Island.
Mezzo is currently in the process of writing and designing another children’s book, as well as a young adult novel. The inspiration behind both works was derived from personal experiences and the way she perceives the world around her, much like the rest of her art.
Mezzo currently has an exhibition called “Unexpected Visitors” at Sip This, a lounge-style coffee shop at 64 Rockaway Ave. in Valley Stream. Her work will be on display until Wednesday, Aug. 31.
Mezzo said she hopes that her experiences and range of projects in the world of art can serve to show other young artists to let go of their fears and explore all of the options available to them.
“Create quantity and quality will come,” said Mezzo. “Keep creating volumes of work, tons of work, and something interesting will unfold if you keep passionately working.”
To find out more about Mezzo and her work visit www.cathrynmezzo.com/home or her Instagram page @cmezzoart.
