Today, we’d like to introduce you to Catera Travis.
Hi Catera, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Catera Travis. I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan.The oldest of 4 children. I am 24 years old. I am a black woman artist who aspires to tell black women’s stories and display our beauty to the world. I have made digital art mostly from the year 2020 to the present. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University in December of 2023. I am the first in my family to graduate from a four-year college.
I said in my previous interview I started drawing at five years old. It all started with a Pikachu drawing. I adored my uncle and liked most of everything he liked, such as anime, art, music, etc. So, I asked him if he could draw a Pikachu for me (a character from the show we shared an interest in). At the time, he was busy, and I was told to draw it myself, and from there on, I always had a creative itch.
I see art in a lot of ways. The complexities of making something once deemed ugly, is now a work of art. One man’s trash is another man’s muse. I am grateful to have had the opportunities I have gotten over the years, from learning new art styles, to studying different art forms, and trying my hand at creating art with different materials. Being able to create art has always been therapeutic for me. In a way, art has taken me out of some really dark places and has helped me vent in a way.
It was especially helpful during the loss of my sister in July 2023. At the time I couldn’t make art I lost the passion for it but with her passing I wanted to talk about it, about her, and let her live on through my art. Hence, I could showcase those pieces at my senior show on campus at my college in the months after her passing. It helped me grieve in a productive manner.
It was challenging, and I may not have gotten to say everything I wanted through my art, but I got to talk about her, and show my love for her, as her big sister. It goes to show that you may think you have all the time in the world, but then you notice it can all be snatched away in an instant.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t say it has been a smooth road for me. I struggled a lot with keeping the passion burning and have had stints of art block. I had times when I thought my art wasn’t good enough to be featured anywhere or that I lacked the tact and skill to be next to another artist.
Time and time again, I have proved myself wrong because I see that my art tells a story, and at any skill level, I am worthy of being seen. To address the stints of art block, most times, it’s because I am overwhelmed and unable to convey that message like I want to. I found that to remedy this, I did a roundabout and found a different way to make art. The newest art form I have dabbled in was taking a black-and-white photography class. Being able to do that was so reassuring that I was an artist and that art block isn’t forever.
Another thing I struggled with as an artist was thinking that I needed an art style immediately to unify my drawings. When in actuality it takes time to build up an art style unique to you. I found that other artists recommended doing extensive research and making vision boards of artists and media you like rather than trying to force it. I agree because you want it to be organic rather than something you’re forcing just to fit in with other Artists.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
So, I went to College with the intent to get my Master’s in Art Therapy.Considering the money aspect is a thing, I’m putting it on the back burner for now. Currently, I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Art. Two things I fell in love with. I am a Behavior Technician, I finally got a job in the psych field which I’m so happy about. I work with children on the Autism Spectrum.
We implement behavioral plans created by our BCBA (supervisors) to help the children learn different skill sets and to help them take away life skills as well. I love my job, I love learning different things about it. I am happy that the schooling I had from college is now being used in a real-world setting. Down the line, I hope to become a Registered Behavior Technician and go back to school for my Master’s. I am still doing art on the side and hope to use my day job to fund my freelance art job.
I love working with children, and I’m so happy that I get to do so, whether it be using my art minor or using my psych major. I feel so happy to see their progress even in the short while I have been there.
I feel what sets me apart from others, is that no matter what my career path, I have a burning passion to help children cultivate their love for art, help them be able to express their emotions in a healthy manner, and help them take away life skills that will help them down the line. It makes me happy to see their growth and emotional intelligence children obtain when you actually nurture those skills in them. Reason I have that passion is because I feel children are done a disservice sometimes when they just don’t know how to help themselves.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
One thing I like about Detroit is that it has so many things to do and keeps growing. I like that we have a reputation of being the place where the automotive industry strived and the birth of Motown. There’s a lot of history here that I feel should be uncovered and documented.
Detroit is beautiful, no matter what any outsider says. I love the memories I have here and how much I love seeing people in the media represent Detroit and show that Detroit is more than what the media lets on. We have festivals; art festivals, jazz festivals, the Annual Grand Prix, car shows, concerts,The DIA, etc. A Lot of these things I love partaking in especially going to the DIA.
One dislike is that Detroit is going through the process of gentrification, and it’s making it extremely hard for people who grew up here to continue living here and raise their families. I really hope in time, rent control and the housing market start to get better because I love my city, and I want my children to experience all the things Detroit has to offer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Cattheeartist
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cattheeartist
- Other: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/hotwordzhottopics/2022/05/01/artist-2-artisthosted-by-lisa-michelle-with-guest-catera-travis
