Rising Stars: Meet Catalina “Cat Donuts” Bolivar of Los Angeles (Highland Park)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catalina “Cat Donuts” Bolivar

Hi Catalina “Cat Donuts”, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California in Highland Park to Mexican immigrant parents, I remember my interest in drawing and art began at a young age. Whether at school or home, I found solace and joy in drawing. Most of my earliest art supplies were from dollar stores. Growing up in a low-income immigrant household meant limited access to resources and art supplies. However, it was during my first year of high school that my perspective on visual arts shifted significantly. When attending a student art show, I saw the incredible work of two peers, Rerun and Josk, who later became close friends. Their art sparked a newfound determination within me that made me want to become a better artist. I eventually found an apprenticeship next door at the Avenue 50 Studios at the age of 14. I learned what I could about acrylic painting, linoleum printing, dry pastel, and any other medium I came across up until age 17. Aside from the apprenticeship, I took an intro to drawing class at PCC. Having no formal training besides what I knew already, I taught myself how to draw or paint anything through YouTube or looking up techniques on Google. I am still learning and exploring new techniques or mediums to use in my work. I also started creating digital art not too long ago as well. I would eventually get into film photography during the pandemic.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing up my parents gave me the best that they could with what they had. It was later in my early teens that I began to struggle with depression and trauma. I went through certain situations not knowing it was trauma at the time. Never really having learned how to properly self regulate my emotions either it made sense that I would use art to comfort myself but also engage in drug use as some people might. From the beginning of the pandemic until June of 2020, I went through the most severe depressive episode of my life. Coping with trauma and overwhelming emotions during uncertain times, I turned to drugs as a means to escape. I lost interest in things I enjoyed doing, especially art and found it difficult to find the motivation to create when in all honesty I had lost motivation to live. I eventually was able to get myself out of the mind space and tried again. A large part of it was thanks to photography. In June of 2020 a friend introduced me to film photography and I was able to look forward to something again. Photography helped me get out of that despair and depression I was in and opened new doors and friendships to me.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a self taught visual artist and film photographer. I mostly work with acrylic on canvas as well as charcoal, pencil, ink etc. Since I shifted my interest and time to film photography, I am more known for shooting film. I enjoy capturing portraits of people, young and old. I aim to capture the authenticity of life around me. I prefer candid shots to posed and photos that capture moments and human experiences. Ultimately I strive to produce work that others can relate to or learn something new from, with the hope that they can take something meaningful from what I create whether it be from my art or photography.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Creating work for yourself above all else. Much of art and the creative process is personal to myself and to other artist. A lot of great art and photography is. Trying to show who you are through your work without showing straight up who you are. This is part of the reason I don’t really show my face. People aren’t just what you see at face value they’re accumulations of experiences and influences of other people. A lot of the reason why I make art to is to connect to others too. Humans are still social creatures at the end of the day no matter how introverted you are.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catdonuts35mm?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/catdonuts?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Hector Garcia
( For Artist’s portrait and photos of canvases of artist’s work)