Archive of ‘Blog Posts’ category

Blog Post #11 Part I & II

PART I:

The faculty members, Joe, Alex, and Bob, did an excellent job during their presentations. Bob went first discussing his passion for gaming, in which he detailed the different type of systems he utilized throughout his lifespan and his position in the industry. After Bob, Alex presented her slideshows on the influence that her kids have on her personal and creative lifestyle. Lastly, Joe presented his unique portrait photography, beginning his presentation with a personal dialogue of his work from 20 years ago till Today.

Overall, I loved how each presenter made you feel like they truly love their career paths and does not regret any steps of their journey. You can tell how each faculty presenter turned adversity into a way to create more and adapted to the change of their personal lifestyles. For example, Alex did not think that her children benefited her artwork in terms of practice, but she found a way to turn their habits into an art form: a Gif of their repeated, yet oddly positioned photos. You can tell that Joe, Bob, and Alex see their work more than just “work,” yet a dive into their unique lifestyles, passions, and hobbies.

PART II: 

My reflection of this course is that the presenters, speakers, and activities were very elaborating and intriguing. I think the work we had to do was very appropriate because it did not take up to much time, and it allowed us to voice our opinions in a personal manner (which sometimes felt therapeutic). I think Tuan did an amazing job hosting the class this year.

Blog Post #10 Part I & II

PART I

Jhene Aiko for Nylon’s digital magazine

A flower child longing for peace, love, and soothing self-solitude. Jhené Aiko Efuru “Penny” Chilombo was born on March 16, 1988, in Los Angeles, California accompanied by her seven siblings and parents Christina Yamamoto and Dr. Karamo Chilombo. The Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter found her passion for the arts through pain and tribulations. Being raised in Los Angeles, Aiko endured a tad bit of the LA Riots and violence/discrimination within her neighborhood, Slauson Hills. She would write poetry in her journal whenever she could not express herself to anyone: it was Aiko’s therapy. Being inspired by artists such as Eminem, Brandy, and Sade, Aiko found her niche in alternative R&B. Aiko first put out a mixtape called Sailing Souls where she undiscovered the truths of a manipulating industry, her journey of motherhood, and dealing with the death of her older brother Miyagi. In 2012, Jhene Aiko lost her brother Miaygi from cancer. The unforgettable pain allowed Aiko to express herself in a personal manner, giving her fans endless relatable art. Aiko platinum-selling song The Worst, off her first ep, Sail Out, became her most recognizable song in 2014. She later continued her musical writing with her debut album Souled Out and most recent 2017 release, Trip, both reaching #1 on Billboard’s US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Aiko’s album Trip is her most honest and collective body of work, containing an M.A.P. The map consists of a movie, album, and poetry book which tells the story of her journey with psychedelics, spirituality, and self-healing. Jhené Aiko is one of my favorite singer/songwriters because her work is always honest and coming straight from her soul. I appreciate that she stays connected with her fans and her philosophy “sail your soul not sell.” *this post is a substitute*

PART II

Question for faculty presenters: What was the roughest standpoint in your career and how did you overcome the barrier(s)?

Blog Post #9 Part I & II

Part I

From the Alumni presentations, I gathered that internship was viable to each of their career paths. I enjoyed viewing the different standpoints of each of the alumni’s journey. I find it interesting how a connection within the industry can alter a designer’s career path such as Anthony Zubia and his work with the Testicular Cancer Foundation, as well as Alejandro Ura’s SXSW connections. Also, I loved the work that was presented by the alumni: I can see each designer had some sort of clear sense of design. My favorite alumni was Edith Valle because not only was her work very relatable but extremely nice and natural. I love the way Edith got out of her comfort zone and utilize Photoshop more to express her unique illustrations. I can see that Edith had a strong passion for her culture and craft.

Part II

Chameleon Cold-Brew

Tenderling

Green leaf Book Group

Blog Post #8 Part I & II

A boundless creative spirit with an eternal lust for artistic advancements; Salvador Dalí curated an everlasting legacy. Salvador Dalí, born in Figueres, Spain, on May 11, 1904, was destined for greatness. At a young age, Dalí showcased his talents to his parents which led him to become a premature outcast. Studying at schools like Hispano-French School of the Immaculate Conception and San Fernando Academy of Art in Madrid, Dalí strengthened his skillset and rebelled against traditional teaching. The natural born rebel found his way traveling the world creating beautiful surrealism paintings which quickly became the highlights of his legacy. I absolutely adore Dalí’s work: the whimsical, unorthodox oil paintings conveyed a message greater than beauty. Dalí’s artwork was artistic masterpieces which showcased his conceptual strengths and breath-taking techniques. Some may see his work as just pure imagination, but I believe Dalí’s pieces were communicating truth. The truth about society’s complications and universal communication back into the “Middle World.” I first hear of Dalí’s work through an art class in high school, but a friend pushed me into researching deeper into his extraterrestrial world. I love that Dalí’s work challenged life’s aspect such as time, nature, science, religion, drugs, and philosophies. Dalí never settled for the ordinary; he pushed himself to reach a self-superiority. *this post is a substitute*

The Great Masturbator
Painting by Salvador Dali, 1929
Oil paint

The Persistence of Memory
Painting by Salvador Dali, 1931
0′ 9″ x 1′ 1″
Oil on canvas

Ship With Butterfly Sails
Painting by Salvador Dali, 1937
Oil on canvas

The Hallucinogenic Toreador
Painting by Salvador Dali, 1970
398.8 cm × 299.7 cm (157 in × 118 in)

PART II

5- YEAR SCHEDULE: From College to the “Real World”

College in high school and receive a headstart

Get Associate’s degree at Texas State Technical College in Visual Communications- Graphic Design Specialists

A year break to make transfer decision, SCAD? ST. Edwards?

Go back to school for another year at St. Edwards

Another break possibly for work? or transfer? SCAD? COLORADO? STAY HERE?

Receive Bachelor’s in Graphic Design

Remember that four-year degree plan? Well to add another year on to my schedule, I want to travel back to New York and work more with one of my creative partners while presenting a full body of work (music, art, photography, digital and much more). 

My long-term goal is to formulate more than just art but transform into artistry. I want people to see this body more than just what I can do, but a leisure into my mind, heart, and soul.

To achieve these goals I just simply have to stay true to myself and keep the determination, passion, and experiments elevated.

 

Blog Post #7

4 Year Degree Plan? I guess this could work out…

College in high school and receive a headstart

Get Associate’s degree at Texas State Technical College in Visual Communications- Graphic Design Specialists

A year break to make transfer decision, SCAD? ST. Edwards?

Go back to school for another year at St. Edwards

Another break possibly for work? or transfer? SCAD? COLORADO? STAY HERE?

Receive Bachelor’s in Graphic Design

  1. Because I am a transfer with an Associate’s degree, I’ve completed more than half of my four-year degree plan. My major is Graphic Design and I have started a career for myself. I currently have a job with the Dwyer Group as a freelance designer, as well as, curating my personal and other design jobs. Therefore, I am continuing school to receive more knowledge, connections and my Bachelor’s degree.
  2. I do have a desire to minor in psychology, but I do not believe I’ve started any classes that focus strictly on the career path. Psychology interested me because I like to research and discover what others think or how one’s perception is completely unique.

Blog Post #6 Part I

My greatest strengths in COMM- 1317-12 include:

The ability to remember my speeches and stay consistent upon my delivery.

For greater success in this course, I need to:

Be more relaxed in the beginning of my speeches.

My greatest strengths in GDES- 3300- History of GD include:

The ability to comprehend the design terms; it makes the assignments, readings, and lessons more comprehensible.

For greater success in this course, I need to:

Spend more time learning about the history of Art & Design.

My greatest strengths in GDES III- 3315-01 of GD include:

Having knowledge in the applications and knowing when to utilize them for my own comfortability. I know exactly where I am most comfortable, therefore I can push myself further with the Adobe Creative Suite.

For greater success in this course, I need to:

Watch more tutorials or spend more time experimenting with layouts/structures to create a diverse portfolio.

My greatest strengths in SPANISH- 1312 of GD include:

The ability to grasp onto new information quickly.

For greater success in this course, I need to:

Spend more time out of class to study and want to learn a new language.

Computer skills:

1. My computer skills include:

Understanding the following Adobe Creative Suite applications: Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, LightRoom, and Acrobat. Also, I am familiar with Microsoft, Keynotes, Pages and many more applications involved in Mac OS X Yosemite system.

2. I still need to learn:

I need to learn more 3D and 4D animation designs.

Research & writing skills:

1. My greatest strengths as a researcher/writer include:

I love to conduct an abundant amount of research and spend time diving deeper into the topics I am studying. When I write, it is necessary for me to made sure I’ve spent enough hours researching in-depth sources and planning the structure of my content.

2. I need to work on these aspects of research and writing:

I would love to work more on my grammatical errors and sentence structure. I want to achieve a level of writing that is more profound and organized.

3. I learn best & accomplish most when: 

I am focused and utilizing appropriate time management.

“If only I had the time to learn a new language.”

First off, I want to interrupt my own thoughts because it’s BS and these 10 strategies are the key to decoding my inner laziness.

ACTION PLAN

  1. STUDY MORE
  2. USE SPANISH TEACHING APPS RANDOMLY
  3. GO TO A ON CAMPUS TUTOR FROM TIME TO TIME
  4. USE PROFESSOR HOURS MORE OFTEN
  5. ASK QUESTIONS
  6. DO HOMEWORK WITH CLASSMATES
  7. REVIEW OLD ASSIGNMENTS
  8. LISTEN TO SPANISH MUSIC
  9. USE SPANISH DICT WEBSITE MORE
  10. WATCH YOUTUBE VIDEOS OVER SPANISH

Blog Post #5 Part I & II

PART I

Clara- Photography Major

The B&W she uses in her images is a lovely balance of light and dark. Her film work curates a moody aurora as if the images were precious and intimate to the viewer. Clara’s macro images of nature showcase crisps details and rich color in an organic manner.

Alexis- Interactive Games Studies

Alexis’ sketch showcases a clean, concrete idea of how designers should begin processing their work. I appreciated being able to see her self-taught growth with Photoshop and art skills.

Hanna- Graphic Design Major

With her strong typography-dominant designs, Hanna puts the viewer in the world of design education. She showcases the significance of knowing the design tools and utilizing them in a hand-drawn, narrative manner.

Michelle- Visual Arts Major

Michelle’s dreamlike world presents the beauty of bold, fearless design concepts and artistry.   I love her passion for creating in-depth contrast through colors, line work, and expressions. Her poster designs also were bold, clean, and simplistic yet captivating.

PART II

James Jean 

Hunting Party II

James Jean’s design work is not only astonishing, but he presents the artwork in a professional manner. James’ website allows his bold, fantasy based work to stand out in an appropriate manner. The website presents a modern slideshow layout with manual navigations for viewers can enjoy the beauty of James Jean’s artistic narration. Overall, James Jean unorthodox style and professionalism helped me select his work for artistic inspiration.

Kehinde Wiley 

Randerson Romulado Cordeiro

Kehinde Wiley is a superb portrait based painter who work revitalized African American culture and highlighted its creative freedom with pure positivity. Vibrant colors and bold patterns for the backgrounds, this stylistic format Kehinde maintained, sky rocketed his career to the next level. Kehinde’s attention to detail and color contrasts made it easy for me to select him as inspiration. The portfolio portion on his website is one of the fews that distinguishes itself from the others with a circular format and transparent lettering, until you click on the artwork.

Marius Sperlich

Unbridled

Marius Sperlich is a Berlin based photographer and art director who creative eye is wildly expressive. Marius uses provactive and explicisive content to convey a powerful message, capturing stimulating details of his mediums. What I love about Marius’ portfolio is he uses advanced technology and found an explicit, social conscious style that separated himself from the rest. His modern viewpoints on photography opens up a space for viewers to create their own captions and form their own perspectives. His portfolio caters to receiving more following on social and new media applications.

Mcflyy 

Speed of Light

Mcflyy is a LA based graphic designer and artist who made a name for himself by working with musical celebrities such as Chris Brown and YG. With a passion for anime and video game character, Mcflyy naturally navigated to special renditions of his favorite icons. His design inspiration spans from Takashi Murakami and Akira Toriyama. I love his portfolio because it showcases how art does not always have to convey a deeper message; art is whatever the artist makes the medium formulate. Mcflyy’s portfolio pushed him to gaining major connections in the LA area and a huge fan base on social media.

 

Blog Post #4 Part I & II

Herb Poster, 11×17 in”

Rose Poster, 11×17 in”

PART ONE

  • What was the goal of the assignment? Or what was the question posed by this assignment?
  • How did you go about reaching this goal or answering this question?
  1. The Assignment: Develop 2–3 poster designs inspired by your site. They can be photographic, illustrative, typographic, or a combination. The Proposed Questions: Think about what your posters should say and can be used for. Do they advertise your site or an event at your site? Are they an artistic expression of your site? Are they informative? Do they work together as a system?
  2. Answer: I rearranged my recent findings over my site (Zilker Botanical Garden). I wanted to come up with a concept that would showcase the generalization of the garden, using the slogan “The Jewel in the Heart of Austin.” I knew I wanted the two posters to correspond with each other, but also portray different visuals. I came up with the idea of using a jewel in one poster than highlighting a specific garden in another and my professor simplified my idea to using jewels in both posters to form a continuum of series.

PART TWO

  • What is the strongest aspect of this work?
  • What is the weakest aspect?
  • How can the project be strengthened conceptually?
  • How can the project be strengthened technically?
  • Additional notes.
  1. The strongest aspect of this work I would say is the concept. The concept of nature being as precious and beautiful as a materialistic item; it is straight-forward and simple which allows consumers to digest the design, then step towards finding more information online or visiting Zilker Botanical Garden.
  2. The weakest aspect I would say is the formatting. It is a typical vertical format to showcase the hierarchy of the design but I feel I could’ve found an unorthodox layout to make the poster more whimsical/dream-like.
  3. Thinking conceptually, the project could of dove deeper into the significance of each plant/flower. For example, the rose could’ve presented a sense of “love” or “feel the love at Zilker Botanical Garden.”
  4. Thinking technically, I could have strengthened the opacity of the items in the jewel. Also, I could have filled more of the blank space around the main pictorial element of the poster.
  5. Overall, I love how the final product of the posters. I usually love to form a complex design, so it is definitely a nice change to see a simplified design still give me the feeling of accomplishment. I can always feel the need to work more on my projects but sometimes I have to get comfortable with putting the pencil down and yearning towards the next project.

Blog Post #3- The Artist Who Shattered The System: Mark Kostabi

In galleries across the world, Mark Kostabi’s paintings were/are installed at places such as Mitsukoshi Museum in Tokyo (1992) and the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome. via.  An American artist who rarely touched a brush during the pinnacle of his career plundered the art world. Mark’s actions left many questioning his abilities as a labor artist. Mark was the happenings of a great modern Con Artist. Let’s take a step backward… Mark Kostabi was born in Los Angeles in 1960. Studying drawing and painting at California State University, Mark found his passion for arts and the business side of its corresponding reality. Moving to New York, Mark discovered a sense of style, direction, and provocative persona that captivated high-end consumers. This footage from the 1980s showcases Mark’s blunt, yet honest personality during his career. His faceless figures quickly became the foundation of the Kostabi Studio. Using bright colors and unorthodox shapes to form a limitless world of artwork, Mark Kostabi found the niche to keep art collectors buying his productions. I love the details, ideology, color schemes, and overall consistency showcased in Mark’s portfolio. An article from Globe-News Wire introduces excerpts from Mark’s career and his recent activities while depicting past artwork. Mark Kostabi redefined how a new generation will perceive the structure of buying modern art. Mark’s vision for the art world is beyond art itself; it also takes on a psychological, social, political and economic perspective. Does a person care more about the art or the character? One may view Mark Kostabi as a manipulative con-artist while I see him as a human being who adapted to breaking the loop.

BEYOND THE POINT OF NO RETURN, 2007

DEAL OR NO DEAL, 2007

DRAWN TO THE EDGE, 2007

BIT BY BIT, 1992

KOSTABI BLUE PEGASUS, 1991

LOVE LETTERS, 2006

Mark Kostabi

Blog Post #2 Part II

Before my career at St. Edward’s University, I created a self-portrait piece for photographer and casting agent Kevin Amato. In collaboration with Kevin, I wanted to produce a piece that would portray a specific story and raw emotions. The drawing contains significance such as self-confliction of masculine and feminine perspectives. Also, the artwork showcases the relations between the human species and Mother Nature. The hair is combined of whimsical flowers, showcasing my natural desires to be free and embrace the femininity within. The leaves falling from the face represents disconnectivity of complying with natural elements. The tear drops on each facial expression showcase the raw emotions of frustration, confusion, sorrow, and acceptance; acceptance of masculinity at a vulnerable state of being.

– The Crying Boy. Graphite on Strathmore drawing paper, 8 x 10 inches.

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