An Interview with Two Unicorns
Interview conducted via email by Clarence D. Meriweather with additional editing by Craig Israel
 The article as it appears on page 9. | |
| Author | Clarence D. Meriweather |
|---|---|
| Genre | Article |
| Published | EF Issue 2020.3 |
| Pages | 4 |
| Website |
|
Article Transcript
In the caricature biz, it’s pretty rare to see female artists and rarer yet to see black female artists. If women are the unicorns of our industry, black women must be… what’s rarer than a unicorn? A double unicorn? As part of this special issue, I reached out to two of these double unicorns who are just killing it, Arie Monroe and Krystal Simmons.
How long have you been a caricature artist?
ARIE: I have been a caricature artist since 1997-8, so about 20 years.
KRYSTAL: Since summer 2005, so
15 years.
Where are you based and who do you work for?
ARIE: Currently, I live in Kansas City, Missouri and I work for myself under Drawlikecrazy Studios LLC. I also work as a contracted caricature artist for events, trade shows and parties.
KRYSTAL: Allentown, Pennsylvania.
I don’t work for anyone per se, but
I am listed as an independent contractor on About Faces Entertainment
and Goofy Faces.
What got you into caricatures?
ARIE: I loved cartoons and worked at an amusement park when I was 16. I saw a guy drawing caricatures and every chance I got I would talk to him and look over his shoulder. The next summer I got a job at the same park, but I applied to be an artist because I wanted to improve my drawing.
KRYSTAL: I always liked to draw as a child, particularly people and cartoon characters. In the summer of 2004, I started working retail (not caricatures, just park gift shops) at Dorney Park. On my breaks I would pass the caricature stand to go to lunch, and I became totally fascinated. I would go on to apply as a caricature artist the following summer.
Are you a member of ISCA?
ARIE: Not currently. I have always
wanted to be, but I was always having
personal issues that made it hard to
afford the fees and to attend the ISCA
Show (ISCAcon).
KRYSTAL: No, I am not.
What can ISCA do to develop more women/women of color caricature artists?
ARIE: Man, I love meeting women of
color that draw caricatures! I guess it
would be cool if ISCA could bring us
together more often or introduce us
to each other. Maybe show us where
to find each other. I don’t meet them
very often and have come across very
few that take it seriously as a way to
make a living as an artist. For a long
time, I thought I was the only one, to
be honest. I even tried training a few
ladies that I met. But they never stuck
with it. I think a lot of women artists
of color don’t recognize that they can
be cartoonists for a living and be very
happy doing what they enjoy.
KRYSTAL: I can honestly say over the
course of traveling with my art for 15
years, I have only physically met one
other caricaturist who was a woman of
color—maaaybe two. I think because
as a black woman in general, I’m honestly
not used to being given any type
of special treatment. I don’t typically
expect people to take my efforts as
an artist seriously and I’m usually just
happy and grateful to be a part of the
conversation at all. I was very surprised
I was reached out to for this article, but
to be honest, it was bittersweet. I’m
sure more opportunities like this just
to speak on our thoughts/share our art,
would be helpful in exposing everyone
to other female caricaturists of any color
and aid in raising awareness for their
individual needs in the industry.
Do you think there is a need for a collective for caricature artists of color?
ARIE: I would love to see that, but I don’t
think it is absolutely necessary. Artists
tend to be naturally very introverted and
independent people, so to me it is more
important to have an outlet that allows
you to have artistic community overall
rather than just being based on racial
groups. But having access to a resource
that tells possible clients about people
of color is a good idea. I have met a lot
of people that want to specifically hire
women of color or people of color to
show support to their business.
KRYSTAL: Do I think there is a NEED
for it? No. What would our role be as
a group? Do I think it would be really
cool and couldn’t hurt? Certainly. I’m
here for it. I think it would be very inspiring
and provide a place to feel even
more related to in areas where white
caricaturists couldn’t necessarily relate.
We all share a lot of the same stories as
caricaturists regardless of color, but in
any industry the black experience will
be different. That honestly goes without
saying, in my opinion. Maybe ISCA
could use a diversity team of sorts to
give more purpose to a random but
equally talented and important group
of black artists.
What are your long-term goals as a caricaturist?
ARIE: I want to continue to grow my
business and work with great creators
doing shows and events and maybe
even online events. I just love getting to
work with them and have a good time. It
feels like we are all a part of a caricature
family, helping each other to progress
and learn new ways of doing things and
breaking the starving artist stereotype
that I think holds a lot of people back
from being the best they can be. Alongside
my caricature work I am also a comic
artist. So, I want to be able to nurture
my other passion and fund it with my
caricature business and lifestyle.
KRYSTAL: I love doing events, I’ll do
them until my hands don’t work. It
would be awesome to acquire the
necessary tools and knowledge to get
into digital event services, for remote
or live entertainment—that’s a great place where [ISCA could provide
support].
How do you feel about the Black Lives Matter movement?
ARIE: As far as social climate in terms of
Black Lives Matters and racism in this
country, I would say things have not
changed a great deal for me. Racism
just seems to be a sad fact of life that
you have no choice but to deal with. I
have in the past had people look at me
and say I don’t look like I can draw, simply
because I am female and black. Then
they get a rude awakening when they
realize the guy sitting next to me is a
beginner and I have 20 years of experience.
I feel like all I can do is accept that
this is the world I live in and appreciate
those that support my work and want
to have me as their artist.
KRYSTAL: I feel as though it’s wildly
misunderstood. I understand that violence
and rioting are heavily associated
with the BLM movement—especially
because of the media—which is scary.
But it’s also scary being black. And
the movement isn’t always violent if
you pay enough attention. And it isn’t
“political” to me. However, certain facets
could be politically driven of course
because certain politics do play a role in
the unjust and violent acts committed
against black people. It isn’t a “movement”
to me. It’s a fact. It’s as simple to
me as saying “breast cancer matters so
let’s do something about that,” or “premature
babies matter, let’s help them.”
It is a cause about saving people’s lives
who are at a disadvantage in this world.
It doesn’t mean other people’s lives or
causes don’t matter. Saying “breast
cancer matters,” doesn’t mean “testicular
cancer doesn’t matter.” Saying “I
love pizza” doesn’t mean “I don’t like
Chinese food.” Simple concept in my
opinion. If you don’t understand it, it’s
because you are unintelligent or ignorant.
If it makes you uncomfortable, the
movement isn’t the prob.
How has the present social climate affected you, your work or your creativity?
ARIE: The biggest way I have been
affected has been COVID-19 closing
down everything. One of the things I
love the most is traveling throughout
the spring, summer and fall to shows
and events in other states and I miss
it so much. I miss all my friends that
I get to work with, and I miss the opportunities
to see and do new things
while I am on the road. The financial
effects are also very real.
KRYSTAL: It’s an emotional rollercoaster.
I feel as a collective, a lot of
black artists are extremely inspired
right now, but some days are very
difficult. I have been more successful
as an artist during the pandemic than
I’ve ever been and I’m grateful for that.
I know how to hustle in the digital
world better than I do in the physical,
so staying home hasn’t necessarily hurt
me financially. Obviously gig opportunities
haven’t been as abundant for me
as they have in past seasons and I miss
that for not only financial reasons, but
because I really love doing events. I’ve
probably booked four gigs in the past
six months when I’m typically busy
every weekend from May-September.
What I will say is it is hard to be in
creative mode all the time when you’re
simultaneously anxious and worried
about your black family members all
the time. When you log onto social
media to share your work and you see
another black person being murdered,
it’s very draining. I’ve been feeling a lot
of guilt between what more I can do as
a black person and as a black artist. It’s
hard to stay focused and I lose track of
time a lot by dissociating from stress.
And that comes with its own problems.
Have you experienced any racism or bigotry while working?
ARIE: Yes, and also sexism. I have had
male artists get upset or jealous because
I had a line of people waiting to
be drawn by me and they were not getting
anyone to sit down. But I notice
they don’t get mad if it is another guy
for whatever reason. They just ask the
guy to help them to get better so they
can be able to have the same reaction
to their work. Or they show the guy respect
and look up to them. But for me
they get mad or say something rude or
mean or even refuse to talk to me, as if
I did something to them. Often times
I end up preferring to work with other
female artists because we talk about
girly stuff and just have fun and dance
around. As far as racism, that often
comes more from the customers than
the coworkers. I have been outright
ignored by customers and overlooked
only to have the person walk over to
the white guy or even Hispanic guy I
am working with and ask them to get
drawn. I say it is their loss. They just
aren’t my customer.
KRYSTAL: I would honestly be here
all day if I addressed everything. I’ve
always been the “token black person”
at the caricature stand. I can recall so
many times customers approaching
me when my white male peers were
busy drawing and asking me if I was
the cashier, even after me asking them
if they’d like a caricature. I’ve had to
say so many times, “I’m the artist. I
draw too.” Hey, maybe it’s not a racism
thing, but it’s certainly annoying and
stands out the most for me. I’ve been expected to answer questions on behalf
of all black people for other caricaturists
a lot. Not like in this interview, but really
ignorant questions that always start
out with “Why do black people...?”. If
you’re reading this, and you do that, stop
doing that. I’ve been the butt of many
stereotypical jokes that I brushed off for
many years. My actual butt has been the
butt of jokes—don’t get me started on
sexual harassment in the art industry. I’ve
found out that I was being paid less than
the artists around me. Been accused of
stealing when other artists around were
not being accused of stealing. I always
get nervous going to events because I
wonder if they know they hired a black
person and what their guests will be like
towards me.
Which artists inspire you or do you follow on social media?
ARIE: I follow a lot of artists! There are
so many people whose work I really
admire and I feel proud to also be able
to call them my friends. Sam Seller,
Christian Meesey, Beeyjay Hawn, Candy
Briones, Damion Dunn, Alex Casanova,
Garret and Cece Holt, Tom Richmond,
Javier Gonzalez....the list goes on and
on. Such wonderful, inspiring people. I
feel blessed to have worked with most
of them and call some of them my best
friends. All of them are hard workers
and amazingly talented.
KRYSTAL: Tim Reed was the man who
hired me in 2005 and I will always look at
him as a mentor, an amazing artist and
friend. Amanda Hackert and Dennis Hart
are very good friends and amazing artists.
Who doesn’t like Tony Sobota? I’ve also
had the pleasure of working alongside
great artists like Nick Mitchell and Sean
Gardner. There is a very talented and respectful
black caricaturist named Reggie
Ferguson in Atlanta whose work I enjoy
and who I appreciate.
Do you have any words of encouragement for aspiring artists?
ARIE: Don’t give up on yourself,
especially if you are just starting out.
I remember being extremely self-conscious
about my work for a very long
time. I compared myself to a lot of others
around me constantly. Then one day I
decided I needed to accept the way I
drew because a person’s style of drawing
is ingrained like a fingerprint. No matter
how one tries to mimic someone else, it
always comes back to your underlying
style no matter what you do, so just be
yourself, work with what you’ve got and
ask others who you love for tips and help
so you can improve on your God-given
talent in your own way. Then get out
there and share it with folks and have fun
making money! In the end, beauty truly
is in the eye of the beholder. One person
might hate how I draw while another
person sheds tears of joy over it because
it moved them so much. Be yourself,
work hard and reach high. Only you can
set your limits.
KRYSTAL: Consistency is key. Don’t
compare your work to others, just aspire
to always learn from the people you
admire and to improve.
See Also
External Links
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