'Drawing is my soul'
Graphite and pencil artist and winner of TV show Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, Curtis Holder, shares his day well spent
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Hello friends, I’m very excited to present to you the second interview on A Day Well Spent. A regular feature, I’ll be asking someone who inspires me, interests me and embodies the ethos of this newsletter (in their own way), 15 quickfire questions.
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I generally don’t watch TV, apart from two shows. One is Gardeners’ World (I hope to meet Monty some day). The other is Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year. And this is how I discovered Curtis Holder and his work.
I was captivated by both Curtis’ process and the incredible portraits he produced in each round. When he won the entire series in 2020, along with the prize of a commission to draw world-renowned Cuban ballet dancer Carlos Acosta (this episode is a must watch), I felt compelled to send him a direct message of congratulations, expressing just how much I had enjoyed following his journey.
Since then, we’ve stayed in touch and Curtis was kind enough to invite me to a private viewing of his debut solo exhibition back in November 2021, when we finally got to meet. Curtis has even offered to draw me some day, which is a potential prospect I’m too excited about to have properly processed.
Curtis is a London-based artist who works in graphite and coloured pencil to create large-scale portraits and figurative works on paper. He draws inspiration from intimate conversations with his subjects; it was this skill especially that drew me to Curtis so much.
It is my absolute pleasure and delight to introduce Curtis, his work and his view on the world to you all in this interview.
1. What makes up a day well spent for you?
Drawing is my soul. It’s how I’ve always connected to the world and the people in it. Conversation is my second language. I feel the lines come into my head first, and then I clumsily try to find the words to describe my ‘line thoughts'. So a day well spent would be me drawing and hopefully inspiring someone else to be brave. All the other activities are the icing on the cake.
2. What compliment have you received in recent times that's stuck in your memory?
Something said to me at a gallery once left me with a lot of emotions. A young black person said, “seeing you out there doing your thing made me feel like there was a place for someone like me to do the same, thank you”.
It made me feel both sad and honoured. It’s a lesson to us all that, just showing up, makes a difference.
3. What quotes or mantras do you try to live by?
Something I used to tell the children in my classes all the time was, “fear is just excitement in disguise”.
One, given to me by my partner whilst I was taking part in Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, was “be yourself, trust yourself and enjoy yourself”.
And one for when things get tough, “be kind even if the world isn’t being kind to you, everyone’s trying their best”. That’s one my folks instilled.
4. What practical skill do you have that you value the most?
I really value my ability to simply open my eyes and see the world. To see it so clearly I’m able to put what I see down on a piece of paper and wrap those lines in all the emotion I feel.
Also personal reflection and mental self care is something I practice daily and it has literally saved my life. I use this practice to combat my relationship with depression, which started in my teens. In spite of this I’m proud of who I am today.
5. What do you know today that you wish you'd known five years ago?
I wish I’d known, with certainty, that everything was going to be okay.
6. What character or personality trait about yourself do you value the most?
The ability to help others see that they can achieve way more than they thought they could.
7. What does 'eating well' mean to you and how do you manage it?
Food is connection, care and community. Eating well is an expression of self love. We have to take care of this vessel our souls inhabit to get the best out of life and for us to give the best of ourselves to others.
My mum always said not to make food in a bad mood or you’ll spoil the food and it’s true! Make food with joy and love and it always tastes better!
8. What is your ultimate dream?
Easy. I want to be secure enough financially so my partner Steve can follow his dreams. He’s done it for me and it’s his turn now, he deserves it.
9. What's your most loved skincare / beauty product or secret?
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise oh yes and moisturise!
10. How do you counter the fast-paced and immediate nature of today's world?
It's about doing those small things that help me catch my breath throughout the day. Drawing is my go-to safe place. So sometimes I just take myself away from people and draw a subject that is more introspective.
The other day, I sat in an orchard and drew a beautiful collection of budding apple trees. It was a quiet and contemplative drawing that helped me stay grounded and focused on the present moment.
11. What are your hobbies and interests? What do you like to do in your free time?
Before becoming a professional artist, I used to sew. Most of the clothes in my wardrobe until recently were made by me. That was the other thing I did and loved.
Also I love knitting socks. The magic of turning a flat piece of material or simple bit of wool into a 3D garment is just the best. After that it’s gardening, the act itself is such a good way of calming any mental demons.
12. What's the latest thing that you have learnt?
The immense power of building meaningful connections within the art community. It's not just about creating the work you want to create; it's also about establishing relationships, especially collaborating with fellow artists you admire and want to explore a synergy with.
It's also about connecting with art enthusiasts, collectors, and gallery owners. I've learned that these new skills are a key part of the job.
13. Tell us about something you tried or did for the very first time recently
The most recent undertaking was a collaborative drawing session with my friend and fellow black artist, Alex Mein, who is an exceptional draughtsman. Our aim was to explore aspects of black gay masculinity.
Alex and I, along with two dancers, dedicated time to creating artwork. We selected one of the dancers as our subject and we took turns drawing over each other's work to create dynamic poses. The energy and conversation that emerged during the session were truly remarkable.
14. What book should everyone read and why?
Art and Fear by David Bayles. This book holds personal significance as it was given to me by a good friend during a particularly challenging period at the start of my artistic journey.
It delves deep into the inner struggles and fears many artists encounter, addressing the psychological hurdles, self-doubt, and creative blocks that can impede artistic growth. What truly resonated was how the book focuses on the importance of embracing failures and viewing them as opportunities for experimentation and learning.
15. What are you working on that we should know about?
I am currently serving as the National Theatre's first artist in residence, an honour I'm so proud of. As part of this residency, I am hosting an exhibition on the first floor entitled The Makers, a heartfelt love letter to all those who work backstage to bring the magic of theatre to life.
I have had the privilege of collaborating with the Terrence Higgins Trust and the National Portrait Gallery to create a posthumous portrait of Terry Higgins (one of the first people in the UK to die of an AIDS-related illness), a poignant tribute for their permanent collection.
In Greenwich Park you can find my drawn globe sculpture that explores the enduring legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
And looking ahead, I am immensely proud to share that I will be embarking on a collaborative project and residency at the Leeds Art Gallery on an initiative called 20/20, a project brought to life by The Decolonising Arts Institute at UAL, focussing on the decolonisation of art.
You can follow Curtis and his work on Instagram @curtisartist or visit his website.