Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecilia Fletcher.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I always knew I wanted to make art and animation, but I never knew how anyone got into the field! A lot of research and hard work later, I got into art school and started to find my way.
Moving to Los Angeles was such a good move in so many ways — it’s such a vibrant city with so many different kinds of artists and people, as well as a wealth of culture and history to explore and inspire! I quickly started making connections and working through the worlds of illustration and motion graphics. I now work as an animation director and designer/illustrator.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a career in the arts is smooth and easy? It definitely wasn’t for me! Beyond developing your talent and building a network of people to work with, you really have to learn how and when to take risk, and how to protect yourself financially when things don’t work out perfectly.
My husband and I moved to Los Angeles with lots of student debt, and we spent many years saving money and covering each other to help build our careers. I definitely worked a lot of jobs I didn’t particularly love, but the crazy part of it is, when you are working in a field you enjoy, you can look at every project as an opportunity to grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a director, I am often asked to take material from brands and put my own spin on the content to make it more exciting. My job is to inject that extra kick of energy and uniqueness to make a story stand out among others. I love that each day I can immerse myself in a totally different type of story, dig deeply into what makes it so special, and share that with others.
In the past, I used to be so proud of my skills. How fast I am, how quickly I could find that “look” that would set my style apart. But at this point in my career, I would say I’m most proud at how I speak with others, how I find and foster talent in a team, and how I can shepherd the collective talents of others into beautiful and cohesive works.
In the end, I am proud to say I get up each day excited to do what I do, and I think it is reflected in my work.
What were you like growing up?
When I was little, I was one of those kids that always was climbing, exploring, digging. I would come home covered in dirt and with torn clothes all the time. My poor mom (who worked so hard to dress us nicely) was always devastated!
While I loved (and I mean LOVED) to draw, I definitely wanted to be a soccer player more than anything else. That was my primary focus! I ended up with a knee injury at 11 that resulted in surgery. I spent a lot of time recovering, reading books and using my imagination. By the time I recovered, I was more interested in the arts and storytelling than anything else.
Contact Info:
- Website: cecimonster.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceci_monster/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliafletcher/
Image Credits
CapitalOne_FlexPay_02.09.22_BrandStudio_Stills_TN_-636: Dress Code NY CapitalOne_FlexPay_02.09.22_BrandStudio_Stills_TN_-1543: Dress Code NY
