Let Me Introduce Myself

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Hand-drawn typography assignment, Illustration I, Fall 2017

I would like to welcome you to a new blog to share my progress during the spring 2018 semester at Parkland College. During this semester, I will share my experiences as a graphic design student. I hope with your input I can grow and improve as a graphic designer.  

I have a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University with a concentration in Applied Fine Arts. I have been a free-lance illustrator, mural artist and art instructor. I have returned to school to hone my skills with the goal of finding a graphic design job in the Champaign County area.   

I have a wide range of interests. A few of my interests include making art, gardening, fishing, carpentry, bicycling and cooking. My favorite subjects for art are landscapes. I like to make large scale mix-medium paintings and drawings. 

I find inspiration everywhere. In particular I find ideas from other artists, movies, magazines and theater. I try to collect examples of interesting design whenever I can. In particular, I really like collecting pop culture objects from science fiction and fantasy genres. More recently I have become interested in collecting silk-screen and letter-press prints.  

My creative process varies from project to project. In general, I like to begin with researching concepts done by past and contemporary designers. Then I begin to sketch ideas in my visual diary. Depending on the weather, I will take a long walk to the nearest park, pond or forest to help clear my mind. After some self-reflection I will go to a coffee shop with my visual diary to sketch as many ideas as I can. I will choose the best concepts for refining. In some cases I will consult with other designers for their input too. 

The greatest struggle I have during the creative process is coping with stress. I think everyone can agree that finding ways to cope with stress is critical to ensuring the mind is free to process thoughts without interruption. This is why I always include exercise and a good diet in my activities.   

I believe highly skilled creative people are important to ensure art and culture evolves with fresh ideas. Creative people add so much to life. Creative people are also problem solvers. A group of creative people can discover exciting solutions the best. Good design enhances the quality of life. 

I admire all professional designers and artists. While there are many designers and illustrators I am inspired by, in the past year, I have become very interested in the work of Saul Bass, Jason Munn and Ralph Steadman. From Bass' postmodernist design to Steadman's grunge illustrations, I find inspiration from ground breaking work. 

I hope you will join me this semester as I explore new concepts and present creative solutions. 

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