Artist Statement
William Blake once wrote, “What is now PROVED Was once only IMAGINED.”
Blake’s quote has inspired and motivated me throughout my life. It shows that everything around us first started as an idea in someone’s head. I have always dreamed of making a difference and leaving my own mark in the world. When I was thinking about what I want to do for the rest of my life, art was at the top of the list. I also want to be able to support myself and make a living, which is why I like working on the computer. Graphic design gives me a way to express myself and leave my mark in the world, and still survive. The medium is always changing as new technologies present themselves, allowing me to learn and grow as an artist.
All my work starts as a visual idea or sketch. No matter how advanced technology gets, no one should underestimate the value of work created by hand. Many sketches are made before I move to the computer; sometimes I even choose to scan a sketch to work from. I usually choose to work in color, but appreciate the simplicity of using black and white when appropriate.
Nevertheless, the strongest piece I have created is the poster I designed for the city of Boston. It is simple, but big in meaning. I appreciate the value of simplicity and the use of white space when appropriate. This piece contains only the letters in the word Boston. The “B” is the logo for the Boston Red Sox. The “O’s” remain simple circles to balance out the more intricate letters. The “S” is in cursive in order to represent the many sailboats found in the Boston Harbor. Next is the letter “T”, which is the logo for the MBTA, probably the most common form of transportation in Boston. Lastly, the “N” is lowercase, with a rounded top to relate to the new building in the Prudential Center Complex, (commonly referred to as the R2D2 Building). The easily recognizable logos in this poster help trigger the viewer to think of Boston without much thought. The composition of the design relates to the buildings in the city and the letters are placed close to each other to convey the crowded nature of Boston. Boston is an iconic city, and a way to represent the city is through the use of icons that bring our thoughts to it. I loved being able to create a poster for a city that holds so many wonderful memories for myself and for my family.
I also enjoyed creating a poster advertising a performance of “The River” by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. I took a different approach for this project. First, I began by cutting out letters, pictures, and textures from the newspaper. Then, I placed them in the photocopier to enlarge them, exposing even more unique textures. I used these textures to create an abstract image of a dancer in front of a flowing river, which was actually taken from the sleeve of a varsity football jacket. The text on the poster was completed entirely from using letters cut out of the newspaper. Finally, I scanned in these letters and images into the computer. From here I was able to add color and experiment with different compositions.
I love incorporating my other passions and experiences with my graphic design, and I think that is when I create the most successful pieces. The perfect examples of this are the Boston Poster and the Alvin Ailey Poster I just described. I was able to relate and use my love of sports, dance and fond family memories and experiences. I hope in the future to continue to follow my greatest passion and grow as a graphic designer and look forward to learning about—and from—new hardware and software.
My process as an artist always begins with an idea. That idea grows with time and exploration, first with pencil and paper, then with the computer. It is a wonderful experience and always reminds me of Blake’s quote. Something that is proved to me doesn’t just mean that a theory has become a fact, but can also be an idea that has been successfully executed. For example, an idea for an invention that is now on store shelves or in my case, an idea for a work of art that has been completed effectively and shared. Therefore, Blake’s quote sums this idea up quite nicely. What is now proved, or produced, was once only idea in someone’s head, their imagination.
