FROM SARAH'S DESK: We are pleased to have the opportunity to introduce you to some good friends of ours this week! We met Garrett and CeCe Holt several years ago when we lived in South Carolina while Matt was working on his graduate degree at Clemson University. Back then, Matt and I were exhausted parents to 3 little babies and Garret and CeCe were adorable newlyweds. They are now (still adorable) parents to two cool kids and still actively pursuing their talents and passions in the arts. They are incredible caricature artists. Today, I interview CeCe- I love her. I know you will too!
TAG: When people ask you what you “do”, how do you answer?
CECE HOLT: I draw caricatures at events and do studio caricature work.
TAG: Do you have a day job? What is it? What does it mean to you?
CECE HOLT: I do! I am the business manager for the International Society of Caricature Artist. I am able to work with and be inspired by caricature artists all over the world. We have an annual convention where the artists gather to draw, learn and compete. It's amazing!
TAG: Tell me about your family. How do you manage your time? Art/work/kids/house balance? Does it balance? What are the struggles of having to do both? And what are the benefits?
CECE HOLT: My husband and I are both caricature artists. We have two boys ages 9 and 6. Art is very important in our family. We have a lot of caricatures of our family up on the walls in our living room. We encourage our children to draw. We also let them know that there is a time and place, they have to get permission from their teachers at school before they can draw there, but there is plenty of time at home. We draw with them at home too. Balancing a family with a schedule like ours has been something that we have had to work at. We both work a lot of Saturdays, so we schedule days throughout the week to have family time and one on one time with the kids.
TAG: Has there been a shift or change in your life or work that has led to what you’re making now?
CECE HOLT: Well I have been drawing caricatures since I was a senior in high school, but I did that in theme parks, which is very busy during the summer. When I had my first child, I changed my schedule. Now I work at events which is only 1-3 times a week.
TAG: What does having a physical space mean for your process, and how do you make your space work for you?
CECE HOLT: A physical space is very important. I have a glass drawing board that is situated on an incline so stuff cannot be put on it. I have a light clamped on it upside down to make it into a light table because I do a lot of sketches before I do the finished piece in my studio. For live event work, I only need a small space to set up my easel and two chairs. I do not mind if it is crowded and people can watch over my shoulder as long as I do not get bumped (that has only happened once and I just started over) I don't like it to be too loud (like a loud D.J. situation), not for the art work, but I like to talk to the subject while I am drawing them. I can see their personality better that way.
TAG: How would you describe your subject matter or the content of your work?
CECE HOLT: I draw faces, the themes and body situations vary from subject to subject.
TAG: What mediums do you work with?
CECE HOLT: I work with bullet tipped markers (which is really good for line quality and adding depth without shading) and Prisma color sticks. I also use acrylic paints and computer software.
TAG: Besides your art and design practice, are you involved in any other kind of work?
CECE HOLT: As the business manager for the ISCA and for my own business, Painted Monkey Entertainment, I have to be involved in the business and finance side of running a business, which luckily, I really enjoy. It is a change of pace and I feel important and like I'm playing grown up when I am entering data. I also like to problem solve, so that gives me a chance to do that, like I am a detective. I guess you could say I like to play pretend in real life.
TAG: Is there something you are currently working on or learning about?
CECE HOLT: I feel like it is important to keep learning and try to be the best you can at what you do. Garrett and I are taking a digital coloring course. I have learned a lot about Photoshop even though I have been using it for years. I am excited to get better at digital coloring.
TAG: What are your biggest challenges to creating your art and how do you deal with them?
CECE HOLT: The biggest challenge is a bad photo reference for a studio piece. I deal with it by asking for multiple photos to choose from, or in one case it was for a friend, so I went to her house and took my own reference photos.
TAG: How will you know when you have arrived?
CECE HOLT: I hope I never stop learning, but if I ever win the “Golden Nosey” then I can say I have arrived. The Golden Nosey is the award voted on by other caricature artists for the best caricature artist of the year in the world. I am a ways away from that honor.
TAG: What are you presently inspired by— are there particular things you are reading, listening to or looking at to fuel your work?
CECE HOLT: I look at other caricature artists work. There are a lot of different styles. I like the realistic caricatures. I am trying to work more on those skills.
TAG: What are you most proud of?
CECE HOLT: I really like painting and I usually like how they turn out. I am proud of a piece I did for a school who wanted me to paint a caricature of a music teacher who had passed away. I got a lot of good references and the teachers said that I totally captured his personality. He looked like a fun, happy guy. It is hanging in the school.
TAG: What do you want your work to do?
CECE HOLT: I just want to make people smile.
TAG: What advice has influenced you?
CECE HOLT: “Remember, You get to draw today!” :)
