HOLMES: ART’S FUTURE

Central’s National Arts Honors Society president shares his biggest influences and inspirations as an artist by Davis

Peterson staff writer

When you first see Dee Holmes, it’s not hard to tell he’s an artist, and an awesome one at that. The artist community in Central is bustling, and that’s largely because of Holmes, who serves as the president of the National Art Honors Society. Holmes is a senior at Central whose brilliant art captivates his thoughts, feelings, and energy into collages featuring references to not only his own life, but also to pop culture.

The National Art Honors Society has had a presence in the art community of the United States for over 40 years, but it’s just now making a splash at Central. Holmes is at the helm of the operation, with the current project being the painting of the bathrooms at Central in order to encourage a kinder environment.

Holmes has shared an affinity with the medium of painting and drawing since he was young, giving him time to master his craft. He is also experimenting with AP 3D Art this year, working with designing digitally and physically. “Drawing or painting, that’s what I’ve done most of my life, but I’m taking AP 3D Art this year, which is really fun, sculpting clay,” Holmes shares. His personality shines through his art, making it feel incredibly relatable, reminiscent of something or some feeling that you used to know.

When you talk to Holmes, you can tell he has an authentic passion for his craft. “I don’t really know what I would be without art,” Holmes ex- plains. “Some people want to go to school to get jobs that make tons of money, but that just doesn’t sound appealing to me.” Instead, “I want to focus on what I actually enjoy doing. I don’t know what I’d be doing if I wasn’t doing art.”

Holmes cites his largest inspirations as musicians David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, as “they really paved the way for creatives in the modern day,” exclaims Holmes. Much like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, Holmes has impeccable taste, to which he credits social media and the ever growing world of internet subcultures. “[I have] a certain niche of people I look up to and follow on social media. Pinterest is a big influence, not only in my style, but just for coming up with ideas of what to draw,” he elaborates.

With the senior year coming to a close, Holmes recollects his time at Central. A fonder moment in the stress of everyday school life arises: “AP Gov. Mock Congress: I don’t know what it is about it, but I was involved last year and volunteered to help this year,” he adds. “I loved being able to do it with all my friends.” Plus, high school has really made an impact on Holmes’ artistry moving forward: “I feel like my art is really coming into its own,” he concludes. Holmes plans to enroll in the Rhode Island School of Design where he wants to continue pursuing the arts to convey his mind’s eye. //