We recently connected with Cleo Riggle and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Cleo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

The biggest thing a parent can do for their child’s career is support their interest in it. I have wanted to be an artist since I was first asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. Through the years, my parents encouraged me to draw and to learn from other artists. My mom took a drawing class with me at a local studio. My dad would send me links to artists we both like and later to animation tutorials he heard about. I remember watching the documentary “Frank and Ollie” (1995) with him, which cemented my desire to go to school for animation. Both my parents always have and still do give their honest opinions about my work, which I am very grateful for. After giving me so much support, I think the most important thing they have done for my growth as an artist has been being honest. Being able to trust that my parents will tell me if something looks off or needs more practice is invaluable. It also means that I can really believe it when they say something is working or looks good. Honest review lets you know where you stand and gives you a path of where to go.

Cleo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The story of how I got into art is a little cliche, but I love it anyway. My family says that my Grandma put a crayon in my hand before anyone else thought to. I credit her for my love of art now, I firmly believe that without her introducing it to me when I was so young, I would not be who I am today.

I retained that love for drawing. Today, I mostly do digital drawings and am going to school for animation. Outside of school, I take commissions and sell prints of my work. I am working on more formats like mousepads, pins, and stickers in the hope of selling at conventions. Most of my work focuses on fantasy-inspired subjects, but I enjoy reaching out of my comfort zone and diversifying my focus.

I like to make very personalized work. When taking commissions, I love getting to tie together as many little references and details as I can. This means asking clients not just about what they want in the piece but about the background of it. Really understanding where the drawing comes from creates a better and more finished result.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I get to give form to ideas. Drawing something means making a visual representation of an idea. Whether it’s drawing characters for a client’s writing project or drawing a portrait of a friend’s beloved pet, I hopefully get to create an image that both captures the subject and the emotion around it. The environment, colors, and texture are all factors that I focus on to create a specific mood in the work. I love getting to try out new materials and techniques to play with these aspects. Drawing isn’t just about making a recreation. Getting to create the representation of something more is always an awesome experience.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Most of the resources I wish I had known about earlier have been shared with me through social media. Social media has provided a space where many artists are very generous in sharing how they go about creating, and where aspiring artists can easily find a community to work with. I have found websites like Figurosity, Pexels, and referenceangle.com through social media and use them pretty regularly. In addition to sharing resources, art accounts are often the resources themselves, making tutorials about how they work and how to use different programs/materials. Reaching out to other artists is not as daunting as it seems. In my experience, they are usually happy to chat and to answer questions! Many of my art friends have come in clutch helping me work through problems. I wish that I had learned how invaluable they could be earlier.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cleoriggle.com/about-cleo
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleo_c_art/
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Sam Oun (Main Photo) Sam Oun (Photo 1) Gabriel Vinas (Photo 2) Cleo C Riggle (Photos 3-8)