CHROMA

Illustration and graphic design bring color and creativity to a black and white world. Nothing is more fulfilling to me than creating a hand-crafted piece of work that is both functional and alluring. Escapism of modern society has been and always will be my strongest form of inspiration. Whether it is in another decade or another planet, science fiction and fantasy has always influenced my work. Once I have researched the subject matter and developed solid concepts, my design process continues on paper with graphite and later becomes finalized on screen to produce transcendent imagery. This juxtaposition of traditional and digital media brings illustrations and design to life. What makes a work successful is not simply legibility and layout, but a designer’s intuition intertwining with the client’s vision as seamlessly and effectively as possible.

The relationship between art and music has interested me for a while. I love art and music because it can create connections between people regardless of where they are from or what language they speak. Music and art are languages within themselves, and I try to intertwine these two languages to create a unique relationship visually. I love to look at artwork on album covers and gig posters and try to see the process of the artist behind it. My passion for music has developed into a desire to create graphics for bands and musicians. I am currently working with local bands to design their logos, event flyers, and album artwork. I also love to work with a variety of mediums and materials, and typically aim to incorporate photography, painting and printmaking into my process of creating album art. My inspiration for my work usually comes from a specific moment when listening to music that resonates in my soul, accompanied by a strong feeling or emotional, transcendent experience. These experiences which I consider as powerful transient moments, leave me with a sense of urgency to capture them through art, whether it is in a photograph, painting, or other medium. I have always strived to recreate that experience through my specific style and technique so it eventually finds its way into the final product. My ultimate goal is for viewers to understand and experience a similar feeling when looking at my work while allowing them to make connections with my work and other viewers who may share similar interests. Creating artwork for musicians allows me to combine my love for music and my goal to visually portray emotions that one may experience through music.

To me, design is more than just arranging shapes and words; it is the ability to create almost anything. Being a designer gives you the ability to reshape viewers’ entire experiences, maybe even changing their mood or taking their mind to another dimension for just a moment. That’s what makes design is so powerful in our world; from propaganda to product branding, designers can make the viewers see from a whole new perspective. I see graphic design in the same way as fine art; it is another way to tell a story, conjure an emotion, or create an experience. That is why graphic design is my favorite form of communication as well as my passion. When viewers think of graphic design, I don’t believe they understand all the possibilities. In my show, I decided I wanted to break my work out of the standard poster form and create an experience for viewers to take in. I didn’t want to focus too much on an individual piece, but more so on how they all work together as a whole. I wanted motion to be implied, to make the viewer wonder where the fish came from and where they were going. That’s why I chose fish; their sole purpose is to eat, sleep, breed, and swim to the flow of life. Although this may sound like a sad concept to some people, it brings me peace. To me, watching fish swim is an oddly tranquil experience; it feels completely natural. I have an intense desire to capture that emotion and recreate it for other people to view and enjoy. My experience as a graphic designer has opened my eyes to how an idea can go from being an abstract idea, to an image on a computer, then finally be produced as a physical object, all representing the same original thought. As a child, I never knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. But I was sure I wanted to be a creative person. I feel like in reflection of my fish I went with the flow and ended up exactly where I was supposed to be. I hope my work helps people feel centered for even a moment.

I like to think of graphic design as a puzzle. In order to give a client what they need, you must gather all of the available information. You need to sit down with your client, have a conversation, and take note of what their end goal is - their vision, and the problems they are having trying to reach that end goal. I have always been a problem solver, someone who can’t feel satisfied until I have figured out a solution. Graphic design is very much like that. Like a puzzle, first you need to assess the problem. In graphic design, you need to pick up all the pieces that you need to make a successful piece: type, images, a vision, an audience, and a meaning. Just like a puzzle, finding the perfect fit for your graphic design work can be a struggle. It doesn’t seem like there is a right answer, but when you keep replacing your ideas with new ones and are constantly pushing your boundaries, you will find the piece that fits. When I am creating graphic work for myself or for a client, it is so important to be able to compose a narrative behind the design, push past the image itself and give your design emotion and meaning. I design in unison with my fine art skills, using my strong illustrative background to assemble vision and purpose simultaneously. Whether solving a puzzle or making a graphic design, you must piece together the important parts of the composition to finally see the whole picture. Graphic design is like a puzzle, and once I pick up a puzzle I find it very hard to put down until I have solved it.

People today seem increasingly polarized and self-centered in our society of false dichotomies, but I believe there is an interconnectedness in all things that appear opposite. There cannot be light without dark; they are bound together in an almost uncomfortable harmony. My work aims to highlight the unity in our existence, sometimes by pointing out injustices that should be remedied, other times by celebrating the ways in which people have already come together. My work is derived from my passion for aesthetic purity and my desire to impact those around me in a positive way. I strive for technical perfection in my designs, focusing my attention to the small details but also to the symbolism and contextual meanings of each piece. My prints are abstracted slightly to embody simplicity and represent purity through cultural symbols of unity in diversity. My illustrations printed on both paper and glass highlight both the strength and ephemeral nature of humanity. I love using colors and forms to evoke feelings of beauty and unity, despite tension in society. I want my audience to be inspired to further equality and congruence in their own lives, whether it be through activism or simply treating others kinder. My work can be read as a commentary of egalitarianism stemming from the female perspective with intent to inspire others to think critically about their daily interactions.

With a background in architecture, I spent many years analyzing the relationships between structures and material. I found a deep appreciation for the qualities articulated through architecture and translated them into my personal work, regardless of the medium I was using. In my work, I utilize the client’s personal style and transform it into a 3D space. I strive to challenge materials to push their ability to portray emotions to the edge. The value of emotion is also purely what influenced my decision to create work in black and white solely. My work expresses emotions on its own and allows the message to be open for interpretation.

Graphic Design is everywhere you look from the t-shirt you are wearing to the exit sign in the room. My goal is to make the world a little more pleasing to the eye. Graphic design lets me communicate with others in an infinite amount of ways. When working with a client I aim to teach and learn at the same time. I hope to educate the client on good design whilst listening to their needs in the hope of exceeding them, and staying true to myself. As a designer I often add a hand-made quality to my work, in order to draw in the viewer with a more appealing and relatable design. My work stems from my culture and as a Mexican designer color, or the lack there of, is very important to me. Highly influenced by the geometric designs on ceramic tiles in Mexico, my work has evolved to be heavily centered on patterns. With these patterns and their applications I hope to attract the attention of the viewer and encourage them to look further into the design, to engage with the piece. Massively line based with vague meaning behind it, I aim to capture my thoughts through simple doodles on the page that I can later incorporate into different mediums in fine arts, as well as graphics

For many artists, Graphic Design is often described as a platform for personal expression. For me however, Graphic Design is not just about personal expression and freedom, it is a selfless form of art that focuses on the strategies needed to solve the problems of communication. My creativity lies in how I solve these problems. When working with clients, my process and strategy always begins with this question: “who am I designing for-myself or the client”? By asking this question I position my goals to meet the needs of the client and not the parameters of my own personal expression. The next step of my process is to take the client’s abstract ideas and make them concrete through the power of words. In order to do so, I have the client choose visual words that describe the brand of their culture and customer. I ask them to specify the words that describe the voice, tone, and impact of their brand. Then, with a compiled list of words that adequately captures this, I am able to research and create variation sketches that visually communicate the desires of the client and their brand. It is important that during my process, the client’s visions and goals are evident in my designs. When it comes to my own brand and culture, my style is heavily influenced by minimalism, editorial design, and typographic design. I appreciate geometric shapes and simple clean lines. Although I do favor a certain style, I find that I am adaptable and can mold my style to fit the needs of the client. As I continue to grow in my design career I strive to effectively solve problems and create designs that are meaningful and impactful.

I firmly believe that art should challenge its audience. I love the work that possesses a complex nature of different design elements to create a strong presence with a stronger message. I feel that art is one of the best methods of challenging the typical status quo of ideas. I think that at appropriate times, art shouldn’t be straight forward but rather challenge the audience to search for what it means to them. I think it’s good for art to challenge a person’s perception of the world around them and to discover other perceptions or ways of thinking. This is not to say that I think art must always be a statement. I fully support art to be nothing more than a sense of therapeutic relief, a source of fun for the artist or just a way to kill time. I simply believe that when an artist is creating a work of art to send a message or make a statement the artist should never be afraid to push boundaries. I think it is important to know your audience, at the same time I think as the artist you have the final say in what your works says. Most of my recent work usually comes off as dark or macabre. It is in no way a reflection of my personality or behavior. A lot of my work has heavy influences from film and music. I have a lot of fun creating album, record, CD’s and music posters for “Metal” and “Heavy Rock” genres of music. I find that they hold a lot of complex esoteric meanings, themes and designs that goes well with my current art practice. I find that it also holds great practice in the creating of my own dynamic typography and work top better integrate text with image in a well-functioning composition. My work usually explores the duality of beauty and challenges standard or expected social perceptions of what defines beauty. Showing that things considered frightening or unnerving can still be depicted in a beautiful work of art to help someone ponder hard topics and the way they perceive the world around them. A lot of my work will usually challenge an audience’s personal perception of the world. Typically, aspiring to make them see certain topics in a different light than previously understood is what I would consider a victory. But in a much greater sense, making work that typically makes the audience simply ask questions not just about the art but the art itself and the world they inhabit.

When design is meant to be functional, it can difficult for an artist to express his or her self through the work. The type of design I’ve always been drawn to is one that transcends functionality. I truly value the passion and craftsmanship that goes into creating a work of art. I believe that that same passion and craftsmanship should also be visible in design. Technology should only serve as a tool that enhances what is created by your hands. My work focuses on a strong attention to detail. I want the viewer to be able to look at my work and recognize its function, then after further review, be able to discover the color, line, composition, and detail. I strive to create a hybrid of fine art and design that can serve its purpose of communication as well as make an artistic impression on the viewer. I think the key to creating effective work is being sincere and letting your expression show through your design. It is important for people to feel as if they know you when they are looking at your work. I focus heavily on illustration, quality of line, and composition, and I strive to unlock how it can be effectively utilized in design. Because of my strong fine art background, it is natural that illustration would be an important method of my design. It is my belief that the more we advance in technology, the more irreplaceable an artist will become. While much can be synthesized and replicated through technology, there is still a superior quality to something created by hand that is always spectacular. Design is more honest when it is largely executed by hand, and that honesty is reflected in the message that is conveyed.

Art is a powerful tool in communication. It can evoke emotions from your viewer and will make them pay attention to something that would have otherwise been overseen. Art and design surrounds us everywhere in our daily lives which means that there is always new inspiration for me. When I begin a project I always start with research to fully understand what it is I am designing and who my audience is. By approaching my art this way it allows me to keep growing as a graphic designer. I start off a new project by coming up with multiple ideas and sketching them out as thumbnails. The first stages of creating a new piece is always a challenge to push myself through, but will look like once I am finally finished and bring the piece to life. What challenges me only makes me a better designer. I am always trying to push my creativity and to continue learning new applications that will benefit myself as an artist. I enjoy getting to tie in my hobbies and interest into my designs such as health and fitness. In today’s society messages need to be communicated quickly and effectively to the viewers. This is why I strive to create fluid and functional designs that have a purpose and a lasting impression for any client. I like to consider myself as a very adaptable designer. As I continue to grow as a designer my goal will forever remain the same; to make a long lasting impression on my audience through my work. I wish to be creating pieces that years from now I can look back at and be proud of what I have accomplished.

As an artist, my goal is to guide the viewer down the winding paths of the imagination. Using everyday objects that fill our lives, such as; pets, wild animals, and inanimate objects serve as my primary source for my illustrations. Giving these objects a life their own with unique features and personalities. As a graphic designer, my goal is to provide my clients with a one-of-a-kind brand that incorporates my quirky sense of style through digital illustrations giving their brand life, and it all starts with my process. A designers’ process is everything to creating a successful design. It all starts on paper, moves to various research, then a series of thumbnail drawings, to a drawing or design plan to eventually be vectored on the computer. Every aspect of my designs is initially planned out; but, the fun part about being a designer is that plans almost always change. Tweaking an original concept (color, type, spacing, etc.) is the bread a butter of how my work comes to life, and why I thrive on being a designer. This is a concept that is not possible without communication with a client or a design team, as well as being able to compromise on a design to fit the image of what the client would like. For these pieces, I wanted to show off my graphic illustrations through animals. Having always been a part of my life, I wanted to use photographs of various animals (mainly farm animals and household pets) and take them out of their day-to-day settings. Using black and white photography was to keep certain aspects of the photograph average and create a contrast with the bright drooping colors that give each piece its own personality. These pieces are meant to make the viewer feel uncomfortable, compared to how they feel when they normally view animal photos through social media, or in their very own homes where they are usually seen as adorable or cute.

My work and process of working is largely influenced by my personal principles. I hold truth, sincerity, and growth in the highest regard. The visual and sensory world around us is influential to all who experience it, so as a creator of such work, I feel that it is important to use the platform I have been given to the best of my ability. There are two ways in which this platform is used: creation for others and creation for myself. In my creation for others, I believe that a relationship of trust and clear communication is imperative. Presenting art of any sort to the world automatically makes you vulnerable, and when you create work for someone else, it brings them into that vulnerability. There is a great responsibility in this type of work to depict the person or people you represent in a way they can be proud of. In my creation for myself, I seek to make work that brings a sense of wholeness to me and challenges me to grow. This work is not constricted to graphic design or traditional forms of art, but can be anything from making pottery, to reading, to looking at photographs. My exhibition is a combination of creation for others and creation for myself. This work is for others in that I am one small part of one large exhibition. I am one piece to the puzzle that made this whole thing happen, but I am not the whole puzzle; I represent the other artists in this exhibition, and I also represent myself. My installation is titled: “From Dust to Dust.” This is a concept taken from the fall of man in Genesis 3 in The Bible. The story says that, in hopes of becoming like God, the first man and woman ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, a tree they were forbidden to eat from. God rebuked the man Adam, declaring his mortality, saying, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread ‘til you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19). This installation explores the theme of fragility and briefness of man’s experience on Earth. From dust you are and to dust you will return; what happens in between is up to you… and it matters. I hope to draw attention to this concept and encourage people to pursue truth, sincerity, and growth in the short lives they are blessed to live. Like unfired clay vessels, our time on this earth is not guaranteed. I have wanted to explore and present this topic for a very long time, and I am using the platform I have been given to create and show work that fills my dusty days with light. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

I have always valued art for its aesthetic quality. I never intentionally create work with emotional themes, and even functional pieces feel a bit too limiting. Skill and creativity are what excite me above all else. And even if I cannot match the skill of another artist, I can at least be completely different. I was always inspired by the artwork in media that I consumed every day, such as TV shows, movies, books, and video games. All these different mediums contained a multitude of amazing styles that created a powerful desire in me to attempt what I was seeing. The first piece in my show is an illustrated children’s book. Picture books such as this contain some of the first artwork that children will see, it’s the first type of artistic inspiration that they experience in life. The second piece I included is a short comic book, featuring original characters, writing, and illustrations by me. Comic books influenced so much about not only my art, but the way I thought about art. Young people can become easily attached to things because of their visuals, despite not having the artistic vocabulary to describe why. Something about comic books inspired me to draw, and that has stuck with me all the way to adulthood. The final piece of the show has drawings taken directly from my childhood and reimagined. I used to fill sketchbooks with illustrations of characters and monsters, usually inspired by books and other things mentioned previously. The purpose of this piece is to serve as a celebration of young people’s imaginations. By redrawing the characters of my past with my current knowledge of artistic principles and techniques, I hope to convey the importance of inspiring children to create art. Though my focus is in graphic design, illustration is what interests me, as it allows me to fully take advantage of imagination and inspiration. My goal is for viewers to see my work and remember the reasons that they were inspired to create art. Even if they cannot connect to my specific pieces, I hope they will at least understand my own reasons for becoming interested in art. Considering the relationship between art and youth is something I believe we could all improve at.