Featured Fall 2020 Work
Fall 2020 Capstone Exhibition
Every semester, the Department of Art and Design offers an upper-level Capstone course as part of the BA or BFA degrees. The course gives students experience in marketing themselves as artists and designers through mock interviews and resume and portfolio development, and defining their place in the art world.
Brad Cushman Gallery
November 21, 2020 – December 9, 2020
Carley Brown
BA Studio Art
Artist Statement
In my artwork I combine my love for cartoons and comics with my love for naturalistic subject matter mixing these different elements to discover a cohesive single image. I attempt to communicate clearly through my work with different images and text in my work, so there is no room for misunderstandings.
Growing up I watched a lot of cartoons and read a lot of comics with my family. These mediums simplify complex shapes while also providing the freedom to exaggerate forms and features. They provide clarity when communicating certain ideas. I found myself drawn to adding these simple forms on top or alongside naturalistic subject matter, be it people or inanimate objects.
The two most important things to me when creating my work is my concept and my composition. I begin with a few sketches, staying open minded about what images to include and what not to include alongside my main subject matter to make sure my idea is coming out clearly. The combination of flat 2D images alongside naturalistic forms creates a nice contrast and makes the image feel as if it is not completely situated in reality. Once my sketch is finalized I transfer my idea onto whatever surface I plan to do the finished piece be it digital, canvas or paper.
In my work I am using found objects to create a still life that expresses a silly narrative. Art should be fun and by combining random objects that are not usually associated with one another I provide a new perspective on how that object interacts with things around it. I am creating a humorous narrative, I am not creating a work of art that has layers upon layers that the viewer is meant to uncover, they must simply view the piece and enjoy what is right in front of them.
Tatiana Correa
BA Studio Art
Artist Statement
I am an illustrator that creates stories through fantastical imagery that explore
the worlds within my dreams and nightmares. Born into an Hispanic household,
my parents would teach me with tales and idioms, thus influencing my
comprehension of the world around me. As such, I create works that are as flexible
as the digital medium I use.
My process heavily relies on my mood, dreams, and music as they conjure
images in my head that ignite a desire to illustrate them. It is critical to feel my
works as I create them and do not plan as extensively as many artists do. The
decision of what to include, exclude, and everything in between in my work comes
first through instinct, reasoning after. As much as my work is for others to enjoy, it
is also for myself.
Madeline Hutson
BA Studio Art
Artist Statement
I am an illustrator who bounces back and forth between expressive realism and fantasy through portraits. I have always been fascinated by the features of the face and the stories they tell through every crevice, every wrinkle. Every human is unique and beautiful in their own way, and this holds true for every work of work as well. The trick is to find the key to unlock their stories. I enjoy the challenge of attempting to capture and then accurately portray these stories.
The goal I strive to accomplish with my portraits is to create something that others can relate to and connect with. I create art to draw emotion and connect with viewers, and because I simply felt inspired to create something that I feel is beautiful. My goal is not limited to just portraits; this goal applies to every work of art I create whether it be the creation of a prop for a concept illustration piece or the way that the eye flows along a graphic design piece. I always have the hope that my subjects’ stories will inspire my viewers just as they have inspired me.
Crystal Johninson
BA Studio Art
Artist Statement
Designing is never a job for me, it is something that I am passionate about and know that I was born or ‘designed’ to do. As a graphic designer, I love to capture several expressions and messages within my work. My designs reflect on organization, modernism with a small homage to anything vintage or retro. I create designs that give people a sense of happiness but also provide a simple function as well as give personality. I produce typography, intriguing color palettes and images to create something unforgettable whether it is brand identity, packaging or web design.
LeAnne Roberson
BFA in Graphic Design
Artist Statement
Since childhood, I have been interested in both art and in organizing the world around me. I
have found an outlet for both of these pursuits in graphic design. As a designer, I create works
with the primary goal of effectively conveying information. My designs are most often clean
and minimal, featuring bright colors and flat illustrations.
When beginning a project, I like to first complete research so I can make informed decisions
based on the subject matter. I then move on to sketching with a pencil and paper to help form
and develop ideas. Once I have better defined my design direction, I move on to my computer to
implement and refine my ideas. As a detail-oriented designer, I often produce many iterations of
singular designs. These iterations help me to reach the most effective and appropriate solutions
to design problems.
Keri Speer
BFA in Graphic Design
Micah Steed
BA in Studio Art
Ke-Ida Young
BA in Studio Art
Artist Statement
My work for the last couple of years has been focused on emotions and the way we feel. I am interested in the emotions that so many people hide behind a forced smile.. Having the ability to feel is a very important part of life. My work ranges from drawings to photography, often focusing on everyday feelings that we seldomly enjoy speaking about.
Eyes
My Series visually portrays emotions we show through our eyes.. For this series I have chosen people ranging in different ages and gender. I feel that the human body expresses many emotions but the eyes can tell a story on their own. The work is composed of 3 drawings that are 18×36. This allows for room to fully express the emotions of each eye itself throughout the art piece. The series consists of black and white charcoal and graphite drawings. I feel that using black and white within this series brings more wonder and mystery into the work. For this series, I photographed different people making the facial expressions of their choosing. With each piece there is uniqueness and an individual feeling attached to the drawing. I created this series as a way to portray how we as humans show emotion. With this I am aiming to show that even though we try to hide how we are feeling, it always finds its way to the surface.
Grief
My photograph is a part of a series of 4. In this piece I use photography to represent the emotions I felt resulting from my brothers death. My work has always been about emotions but this with piece I was able to have a deeper connection toward creating and feeling the emotion. My work was created using scanograpghy and finished off as a cyanotype. Within this work I am the subject. I put my own feelings out and made into something meaningful. I created this series in relation to my previous works. The feelings you have from loss can range in different ways, but if I learned anything it’s to not numb the feelings out.
Ruijie Zheng
BFA Sculpture
Artist Statement
My art, I would say, is the product of a journey. I have obtained my degree in visual communication design and oil painting at a school of fine arts in mainland China. After I got my degree, I decided to transfer to a university in the United States to experience different living environments and study Western art. During the years I’ve settled here in the United States, I have continued to engage in oil painting and sculpture design. I hope that while sticking to the blood of traditional Chinese culture, my art can still feel up to date and relevant, break through tradition, and show an in-depth study of Western art language and aesthetic values.
As an artist I will continue to explore the language of painting and sculpture, as well as the color world endowed by nature to mankind and pursue the endless fun brought by art throughout my life. With further understanding and feelings of Western art, my art style has undergone earth-shaking changes. It has both the charm of Eastern culture and the unique rhythm of Western art. While creating and designing I also continue to learn, so that I can truly learn and understand the diversity, creativity, and internationality of art, as well as truly integrate and appreciate the true meaning of Western art into my own.
What constantly changes and inspires me is the freedom and vitality of Western art. The innovative consciousness and changeable thinking of Western art constantly impacts and purifies my soul, and my ideas are becoming more and more pure. In my works, the curved lines, large areas of color and the shape of memory are like my life trajectory: fuzzy, complex, chaotic, constantly seeking more complexity, feeling simple, rejuvenating memory and filling my sculpture and paintings. Tension makes colors vibrant.
