“When I visit I always make sure to bring a sketchbook to draw the cats while I soak up the wonderful calm atmosphere. ”
If you’re a fan of the new Cat Nap merchandise in our online shop, then you have illustrator Alegra Figeroid to thank! In this interview, we get to know her and her work a little better, and learn how she first got involved with Cat Town.
Book cover of ‘Year Four’ by Alegra Figeroid
Cat Town: What is your biggest source of inspiration?
Alegra Figeroid: For me, drawing and writing are as important to my health as eating my greens or exercising. If I don't draw or write for even a short time I start to feel lethargic and sad. Also, my monthly student loan payment is pretty good at keeping me on my toes.
Secret Quarantine Project
CT: Do you have a favorite project in your portfolio?
AF: The project I’m most proud of is a book called ‘Year Four’ which is a collection of all the comics I made in my final year at California College of the Arts. It’s 100+ pages of completed stories, stories still in progress and short autobiographical comics. It’s very satisfying to have that little book as a time capsule of a particularly eventful and productive year of my life.
My favorite project is an in-progress LGBT adventure-fantasy comic. Thanks to the lockdown, I have all the time I need to dive into the worldbuilding: writing myths, creating a language, and setting down plot threads that will pay off hundreds of pages down the line. It’s certainly the most complex project I’ve ever worked on and I have high hopes for it!
CT: How did you get involved with Cat Town?
AF: I was really excited to hear that there is a cat cafe in the Bay Area, and especially that it is so close to my home! When I visit I always make sure to bring a sketchbook to draw the cats while I soak up the wonderful calm atmosphere. For the Cat Town design, I used one of those quick sketches as a base for the final image. I’m glad that one of my doodles paid off in such a cool way!
CT: Have you always loved cats, and do you have any cats at home?
AF: There have always been cats at home; brothers Rocky and Bullwinkle were adopted as kittens a shortly before I was born. Bullwinkle in particular, dark gray, was my guardian as an infant. Since then we have had Bear, black and white, and recently passed on was our little black princess, Panné. These past two months are the longest span of time that the house has been empty of cats. While my allergies are grateful, I’m sure we’ll be visiting Cat Town soon to find our next feline housemate.
CT: What other organizations do you support through your art?
AF: When social gatherings are allowed, I sing tenor with the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus. I started out in 2016 by shadowing during rehearsals and sketching the members. After graduating from college in 2018 I had the time to join as a singing member and also as the illustrator for their concert posters!
Alegra getting some kitten cuddle time in at an adoption event.
CT: Do you have any advice for artists looking to get more involved with their community?
AF: Nearly every community organization has a social media of some kind. A quick @ or direct message introducing yourself and your interest in getting involved can go a long way. If you get no response, there’s no harm done. But if you get an answer and they like your work, then that can grow into something interesting! And you never would have known unless you took that little risk in the first place.
Alegra’s design ‘Cat Nap’ is featured on several products in our shop
Alegra is available for illustration commissions, so if you’re looking for great art, reach out to her through her website!