Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Lovett.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Courtney. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
At a very young age, from the moment I could pick up a pencil, I was enthralled by the world of art. Whether it was the cartoons, I watched on TV or from my creative imagination. I never went a day without drawing something. My parents, along with my teachers, took notice of my gift and enrolled me in the art school More Than Conquerors (MTC) Art Studios based in Maryland. During my ten year enrollment, I learned the foundations of visual arts and was exposed to various mediums, including painting, graphite, charcoal, ink, watercolor, pastel, and clay. During my time at MTC and in my individual growth as an artist, I developed an affinity for illustration and cartoons. That interest led me to pursue a degree in Visual Arts at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where I received my BFA in Animation in 2018. In the summer of 2017, before my senior year in college, I interned at Nickelodeon Animation Studios as a production assistant. It was also during my time at UMBC that I fell in love with digital art, which is currently my primary medium of choice.
I utilize my artistic skillset for a variety of mediums and artistic disciplines, including illustration, character design, animation, graphic design, and motion graphics. As a freelancer, this has allowed me to work with authors and illustrate children’s books, create logos and product designs for small businesses, and illustrate specialized portraits for various clients. My heart, however, is with illustration, character design, and visual storytelling. As an artist, my goal is to continue creating works that reflect my own as well as other Black American experiences, which are often underrepresented or misrepresented in art and media.
I am a firm believer in education and sharing my artistic knowledge with the next generation. In addition to impacting young minds through my work, in 2019, I returned to MTC, this time, an instructor, where I currently teach young artists the foundations of digital art.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As an artist, the biggest obstacle I faced, and in some ways, still facing, is my identity. I often ask myself questions such as, “Who am I? What is my role? What type of artist do I want to be?” My training and educational background have opened avenues for many different career paths in art, but it was difficult for me to choose one. I found that I was skilled in many disciplines, but not passionate about any of them. I spent a year trying new things, looking inside myself, searching for answers to those questions. It wasn’t until last year in 2019 that I found my calling – to tell stories, stories that will inspire and uplift, stories that will bring joy to young faces.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
I am a freelance artist that specializes in illustration and visual storytelling. I am most proud of the type of projects I have received since becoming a freelancer, from branding and advertising for small businesses and startups to character design and illustration for children’s media. My biggest accomplishment thus far was becoming a published illustrator when I collaborated with author Jocelyn E. Isaac to illustrate her children’s book, “Jocelyn Learns to Dance.”
What sets me apart from others is the consistent theme throughout my work that is Black representation. My art reflects my heritage and upbringing as a Black American growing up in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area. It also references fantasy, sci-fi, and anime genres, where Black representation is not commonplace.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I don’t believe in regrets or turning back time; I believe everything happens for a reason. The mistakes and failures, the lessons I learned were all apart of my journey and growth as an artist. So no, I would not have done anything differently because every decision, good or bad, I have made until now has led me to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.courtneylovett.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_courtney_luv/
Image Credit:
Jacadra Young
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
