Mooncath

Art is more than just colors on a canvas, it’s a reflection of the soul, a window into emotions, memories, and untold stories. In this conversation, we step into the world of Mooncath, an artist whose journey is woven with childhood wonder, life’s challenges, and the unbreakable bond between creativity and self-expression. From early sketches inspired by anime to finding solace in art through moments of grief, Mooncath shares a raw and honest look at what it means to create from the heart.

Through this interview, we explore her inspirations, the emotions embedded in her work, and how Web3 has reshaped her artistic path. Whether you’re an artist yourself or simply someone who appreciates the power of visual storytelling, Mooncath’s words will leave you with a deeper understanding of the soul behind the art.

Eduard ( E ): Many of us are born with a passion for creation, though for some, it starts as a small spark that grows over time. Was your artistic flame ignited from birth, or did it develop later? When did you decide to fully dedicate yourself to creating art?

Mooncath ( M ): As a kid, I have always loved drawing. But it was because of my dad’s encouragement that really inspired me to draw. I was around 5 years old when he said that my drawing was really good. I drew a flower which I felt was unique at that time. Translucent, with semi-pointed long petals. It wasn’t based on any particular flower, but more like based on my imagination of how a magical flower looks. It was inspired by the neighborhood garden that I often visited, and the anime/fairy tale cartoons that I enjoyed watching.

Throughout my childhood, I continued drawing characters mostly from anime shows. Before playing outdoors, I remember drawing Sailor Moon Characters for my siblings and cousins. They were delighted to see my drawings which they also said looked really good. I felt a sense of accomplishment when I was able to draw what I wanted to draw from my imagination or reference, creating stories and characters, getting lost in my own world while drawing, and also because others felt delighted with my creations. But as time passed by, I don’t know why I stopped drawing. Maybe because of responsibilities like getting schoolwork done. Looking back, I think a contributing factor is that I was advised by my parents not to take up art or design-related courses back in college. I remember wanting to enroll in courses like Fine Arts, Animation, and Interior Design/Architecture. But they said I can study art even without going to a university.

“There’s no money in art” was also a prevalent topic in their generation. So, I got into an Economics and Social Sciences course, in the hopes of taking up law later on, to bring prestige to my family. But that didn’t materialize as well. I eventually realized it wasn’t what I wanted. Instead, I became really interested in studying human behavior. I was often an observer too as a kid. So my profession has always been in behavioral research, and market research, and eventually, I found my way into UX research or human-centered design research, allowing me to get a bit of both worlds, mixing “design” and “research”. Right now, I still have not dedicated myself fully to creating art. Because it’s my research profession that is still supporting my financial needs. Also, I prioritize my time as a hands-on mom to BabyKN. But, I have already started a small business for my art. In my mind, when everything eases out and BabyKN will be mostly at school when I’m able to save enough financially until I’m older and retired, I will continue to create more and do more art.

E: Every artist has a muse—be it people, places, experiences, cultures, or even themselves. Who or what has been your most influential muse, and why?

M: I have different inspirations when it comes to creating art. But watching anime since childhood has definitely been a big influence on my art.

I love the (1) design of the characters (where else can I see people having blue or pink hair or aquamarine eyes in the early 90s), (2) the places (e.g. castles, outer space, supernatural, I was interested in things out of this world), and more importantly, (3) the story and the emotions that I feel when watching the shows.

I often draw fan art as a tribute to characters I admire not only based on design but also on their values as a character, protecting what is important to them (friendship, family, love, and justice), values I can relate to as a person. But when I joined Lens and saw my creations being collected and supported, I wanted to face art more seriously. I have been studying to improve my art style, and I’ve been wanting to create original characters. My biggest influences at the moment include modern artists like RossDraws, SamDoesArts, and WLOP, for their painterly art style I’m going for, and Marc Brunet for his guidance on proper anatomy and perspective when drawing. For classical painters, I am inspired by Claude Monet, since the impressionist art style helps me to paint faster while capturing any emotions I have in a particular time.

E: Art often mirrors our deepest values and beliefs. How do you think "Moon" is reflected in your pieces of art?

M: I feel that in any creations I make, I leave a soul or a part of me in these art pieces, whether it be rough sketches, paintings, or photography. I am mostly driven by emotions when creating. So I hope people who see my creations can somehow have a glimpse of whatever I’m feeling or thinking, during those moments, and probably inspire them in their life decisions. An example that I can give is my art piece called “Lucid Dreaming”, based on my personal experience. I shared this even though other people don’t believe in things like this, but it happened to me, and I care less about people’s judgments. Another piece I can share is my photography “Hope” and “Silent Pours”, to let people know that it’s okay to feel vulnerable, to feel sad, but never lose hope.

Light shines brightest in darkness.

 

 

E: There are moments when the world feels heavy, and creating can seem impossible. What inspires you to return to art during those times? What keeps you creating, even when everything feels like it’s falling apart?

M: For me, the stronger the emotions, whether positive or negative, the stronger my desire to turn to art to express myself. My darkest moment would be the time when my mother left the world in 2023. Since then, I have begun creating more art to heal myself. My desire to improve and make my mom proud was also stronger. When I can create something, the grief and pain seem to go away. I am able to process my emotions and accept them as a part of me. These are examples of art pieces I made during those times. I often visited the ocean to reflect and calm myself.

 

E: The journey of an artist is one of constant growth. How has your art evolved over time? What discoveries or experiences have shaped your artistic style or expression?

M: I used to draw more anime style and also vector style. But last year, I had been improving my style to have a semi-realistic and painterly effect. I was attracted to the flowy brush strokes and I find it faster to paint with this new style. I also feel like I’m able to portray emotions more using this technique. I have not yet finalized the new art style I’m going for. But at least, I have already started the journey toward this goal. I’m also venturing into other mediums like clay art. Later on, I’d also like to explore 3D art, inspired by fellow Lens frens.

 

E: While fans and curators often form their own perceptions of an artist, I believe it’s vital to understand how the artist perceives themselves. Who is Moon at her core? If we peel back the surface layers, what defines you as an artist and individual?

M: To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I should call myself an artist, because my long-time profession is a researcher. I used to consider myself more as a hobbyist. But the first time I was able to sell my art from my small business, and also in Lens, I became more confident that I could also pursue the artist path. At my core, I’m just an artist, a normal human being, who likes to express myself through my creations, to connect with other people, and to make them understand who I am. Art has become a language that allows me to communicate with others.

E: Art is often infused with pieces of the artist’s soul, but some may create primarily for popularity, risking the loss of authenticity. How do you ensure your work remains true to who you are? Among your creations, which piece do you feel encapsulates your essence the most?

M: When I create art, I create based on what’s in my heart, whatever I feel like creating at the moment. Because if that is not the case, I simply can’t find myself creating something. I’m not the one who just follows trends. I’m not even updated with what’s trending in art, or which ones are good based on numbers. Right now, an artwork that best represents me is the digital painting below, entitled “Out of Control”. It represents the progress in my art journey, the start of the painterly art style that I would like to pursue. Also, it’s symbolic to me having been engulfed in darkness, with all the life challenges I have faced, but I am still holding the light despite all that. That is the other meaning of this artwork. This is another version of my collectible post, “Out of Control”

In terms of photography, this piece entitled “Enchanted” best represents Cath’s Eye Photography. It represents my love for nature, the little things that we often take for granted, and my fascination with macro photography. It almost seemed magical to me, by manipulating light and colors for this photo.

E: Web 3 offers a new paradigm for artists, breaking away from traditional industry constraints. How do you feel the Web 3 space can impact your journey, and in what ways do you believe it empowers artists as a whole?

M: Web 3, in particular Lens, has already impacted my art journey, by giving me a space where my art can be seen and even supported. I feel like I have already improved my art style just because of the support that I have received so far. It was just a dream for me to reach an international audience, to connect with people around the world. I tried reaching a local audience before and had already experienced a hard time with Web 2 social platforms because of algorithm issues and having to spend so much on ads. With less than a year in Lens, I never knew I’d be recognized this soon as an artist.

That’s why I’m very grateful to be invited by Eduard, by Mismir for this interview, and even by the Orb team for sticker creation. Maybe a factor is that we are still early, and there are not many people yet compared to Web 2. But even so, I think Web 3 platforms offer new ways for artists and creators to truly monetize their work, and it’s not just the big companies who earn. I just wish that there would be a way to make this sustainable for both creators and collectors, not just for Lens, but for all platforms.

E: Artists often stand at the forefront of cultural movements, simplifying the complex and elevating the overlooked. Yet, their contributions often go unrecognized. What role do you think artists play in shaping collective consciousness and everyday life?

M: I’ve seen some art galleries with artworks depicting socio-political, and economic issues and inequalities. These artists are able to create awareness and captivate people’s emotions using visuals, while others, through words or even music. I think artists already play an important role in representing marginalized voices and possibly igniting change and actions that are not necessarily attributed to their artwork.

E: Every creative journey has its purpose and destination. What motivates you to create, and what ultimate goal or destination do you aspire to reach through your art?

M: My main motivation for creating is to express myself, to express whatever I’m feeling. I don’t really have a clear goal right now other than to have people resonate with my art, to feel appreciated, and to leave a part of me through my creations.

E: If you were restricted to creating art with only one color for the rest of your life, which color would you choose, and why?

M: This is actually a difficult question for me because the colors that I like are based on whatever mood I currently have. But if I were to choose only one color when creating art, I would choose blue, because I can already foresee myself being able to create a lot of things I love using only this color: Water, ocean, sky, planets, blue rose, and abstract painting to symbolize emotions like calmness and serenity.

Mooncath’s journey is a testament to the power of art, not just as a means of self-expression, but as a way to navigate life’s highs and lows. Through her work, she captures emotions that words often fail to express, inviting others to find pieces of themselves within her creations. Her perspective on art, Web3, and storytelling serves as both an inspiration and a reminder that creativity knows no boundaries—it evolves, adapts, and continues to shape the world around us.

To explore more of Mooncath’s art and stay updated on her latest works, you can follow her on Lens, Instagram.

Mismir is more than a brand, it’s a movement that believes in the power of creativity, collaboration, and storytelling. If you want to be part of the journey, follow Mismir on Lens, Twitter, Instagram, Farcaster and discover what’s next in the world of fashion, art, tech, and most importantly, community.