Judah Introduction

    "People are sexually aroused by pictures and sculptures; they break pictures and sculptures; they mutilate them, kiss them, cry before them, and go on journeys to them; they are calmed by them, stirred by them, and incited to revolt. They give thanks by means of them, expect to be elevated by them, and are moved to the highest levels of empathy and fear."

    This quote immediately stood out to me when I seen the title "The Power Of Images" because this is something that goes along with my faith and beliefs. There is people worshipping, talking to images, feeling sexual emotions towards them, etc. It is the work of a humans hands, but yet there is a form a worship like it is an god/idol. I see things like this happen in real life, for instance it is written "You shall make no graven image to bow down to and worship them" and "These people worship the work of their own hands." Art can be very beautiful, and can give power to something controversial happening, for example speaking for people that have no voice through art, is empowering and helpful. Giving the art piece power or worshipping it is a no for me though.

"We are simply awed that human beings like us in so many ways could have made something that can utterly confound us." 

    This something that leaves me as well, the things mankind has created is something else. When it comes to buildings, clothes, vehicles, ships, different types of food, and more. It is so brilliant, and you know it helps me believe more in God, because every creation has a creator. There is a fingerprint of a creator in everything we do, there's even a fingerprint on us, and related to nature itself. Creation itself I believe is the best art piece, even when I look at creation there's some things that look less appealing, but still has meaning, there is art we see in museums and we're like "what is that" haha, but with humans we know that some people look more appealing than others, but true art can be represented in character and your heart. There is bible verse that I take to heart is, "The Lord does not look at how man sees, but He looks at the heart." Inward beauty is an art as well, but to get back on topic everything in creation leaves me in awe, as well as what humans can do as well, we're so smart and creative, but I think without intention and meaning behind art, it isn't really art.

    I love this topic a lot, but my favorite artist has to be Jesus. Creation itself is very beautiful, and I pray that I can see many beautiful places in this world, and want to see what's out there. When He was in this world He was a carpenter, but when you look at everything that was created that was commanded by God in the old testament it was made out of wood. Interesting right it's almost as Jesus and God had the same profession and loved making things out of wood. He inspires me to make art, to build character like His, and creation itself gives me inspiration. I can make art out of everything and that is why I like photoshop, because of how creative you can get, and you have all the tools to make something amazing. If I'm being honest I have not looked too deep into art history in my art education. I would to dive deeper into typography, and poetry if that is a form of art. I would like to make art based on the poetry you know, I think that would be so dope. I recently revisited an old poet, William Shakespeare and I noticed in Hamlet that the mention of God related stuff is talked about, and his poetry was one of a kind. 

  

Custom Player Poster (Photoshop)

 

Custom Player Poster (Photoshop)

"Ninah" Gauche Painting + Painted/edited in Photoshop

Event Poster (Photoshop Collage)

"Everlasting Love" Hebrew Poetry (Photoshop)

    My name is Roger, but I like to go by Judah, because of the meaning behind it. In Hebrew the name Judah means "praised/thanksgiving" I love to sing music to Jesus, if you see me just know I got some headphones on me. What influences me in my graphic design career is just seeing other people's work, why they do what they do. I still haven't found a graphic designer that I really get inspiration from. I seen some old German posters, and Russian constructivism that really catch my eye, maybe one day I can make designs like that. I really like this class, because I seen how much artist we looked at, and I just like seeing other people's stuff, and it's not that I replicate the same thing, but it sparks an idea for me. What motivates me is how far I can go by making art, and I love seeing people's reactions to me art, and just doing designs for others bring me joy. If I can master making art for my beliefs in Christ that would be the icing on the cake.

    I recently got into Hebrew poetry, because you'll see it all over the Bible, and it sounds so beautiful when you understand it. I want to incorporate rhyming and mixing that Hebrew poetry with my art, I think that will be so cool. I mostly use Photoshop, but I'm open to all sorts of things, and want to learn more about typography, because it relates a lot to the word of God. My story telling is really in the figurative language, and hopefully mix it in well with some poetry. I want to make work that will glorify Jesus and speak about Him mainly on my personal time, and make graphic designs for companies as well, and my own.  

Introduction to Class

 1. "Instead, it exposes what human beings have done with, for, and against images in order to communicate ideas that are important to them and to their society."

Images really help communicate the message of what's being said or can be used to look pretty depending on what you decide to do with them. I especially like using images for political purposes since it allows change to happen. If you create something and show it to the world someone can have inspiration and take it to the next level to improve on those ideas or work with them.

"People are sexually aroused by pictures and sculptures; they break pictures and sculptures; they mutilate them, kiss them, cry before them, and go on journeys to them; they are calmed by them, stirred by them, and incited to revolt. They give thanks by means of them, expect to be elevated by them, and are moved to the highest levels of empathy and fear."

When the beginning quote says "People are sexually aroused by pictures and sculptures." I was confused but at the same time a dreadful truth that plagues me to this day. I mean we have idols we worship and sometimes fantasize about them. In modern times phonography is everywhere and free we all know it exists but we keep quiet about it as a universal agreement to keep our fantasies to ourselves. I mean what's worst is that in modern dating culture, birth decline is happening everywhere and we all just don't want to date anymore but at the same time have pessimistic worldviews that are greatly disturbing of the narrative of women or men are evil because of breakups. More importantly though men don't seem to cope with a breakup well as they instead become angry and turn to the manosphere blaming all of feminism for it.

When it comes to that quote itself I'm conflicted as there is embarrassment of what humanity has done and at the same time a normal thing since we all have horny fantasies and is used to understand our sexuality. It sucks that sex education isn't taught everywhere and that pornography dominates a lot of the time dictating what sex is and even romance stories being binary. I saw a show called sex education and it really helped a lot in exploring sexuality very well and how we express romantic feelings or our sexuality to others. In my show called Generation of Omega I am making; I wanted to explore this aspect for some characters that are in a romantic relationship and explore the dynamics based on their personalities and how they express love. I feel like it's a way of helping people debunk myths surrounding sex and romance entirely.

Now onto the positives it actually helps people explore themselves, understand the world, beliefs, messages, and what they believe in. I mean I watched shows that explore this pretty well like Sex Education. I felt like the show is a counter to phonography narratives and a way to ground sex and romance in reality instead of eroctism or romanticism. I felt like for future romantic plots or any type of entertainment this should be explored and also explore sexuality in different expressions of how we express love.

2. I am always inspired by cartoon and anime designs. I like diversity of combining different art styles from cartoons and anime. Even though I know same face syndrome gets in the way I do like the others of how clothing, and hairstyles are unique to make them stand out. I also like colorful designs or any quirkiness that makes something unique. Danganronpa, MLP Equestria Girls (Don't mention this in front of the class I am still embarrassed about it.), Inti Creates Games like Azure Striker Gunvolt, and most importantly The Binding of Isaac Repentance. The artists for each of them go as follows, Rui Komatsuzaki for the Danganronpa franchise, Katrina Hadley and Kora Kosicka as one of the many artists for MLP Equestria Girls, Yoshitaka Hatakeyama for Azure Striker Gunvolt, and Edmund McMillen for The Binding of Isaac Repentance. I have a motto that I always like for art to express. The quirkiest is the most fascinating of all.

3. My name is Ricky Ochoa an NJCU Student on my third year of college. I major in graphic design and more importantly I have a huge interest in writing. I am an Ecuadorian born in America and why I say that is because both of my parents immigrated here making me a second-generation immigrant. Both of my parents come from Ecuador so I have full Ecuadorian blood. Now my favorite is writing because I like to make stories to help people. I especially follow the Solarpunk genre and have a belief in ecosocialism.

It takes inspiration of Marxist values and improves them for the modern day and age focusing the value of the people and the environment rather than profit for capitalism. I especially want to explore superpowers much better looking through the lens beyond combat and seeing how it effects society as a whole and what realities change because of the existence of superpowers. That is what Generation Omega which is my show seeks to explore. I plan to make this a long running series since this is an analysis and experiment of what a world with half the population with superpowers do. I call them MHT powers and it's based on the color wheel, the origins are unknown since the goal is focusing on the effects and how they came to be would be ambiguous. 

Some might say it came from spirituality or religious purposes, others from science and biology, and some believe an alien rock was responsible for the creation of MHT powers. However, the key here is that none are right and wrong but piecing an understanding of what they are. MHT powers are mysterious in it's origins and is bound to the interpretation of it's origins which closely links to our reality of how our world came to be. I would be using Solarpunk and ecosocialism ideas here since I believe this would be the case.

4. 

Digital, Illustrator

Digital, Illustrator

Digital, Photoshop

Digital, Photoshop

Digital, Photoshop and Illustrator

Post 1 Introduction

 I: Two Quotes

> "Art history helps objects that have largely fallen mute to speak again and reminds us that the way we see the world around us—at a particular place and time—is just one way to see." — Smarthistory

I chose this quote because it really highlights the power of art history to bring the past back to life. Even when objects or artworks seem “mute” or distant, studying them allows us to hear the stories, beliefs, and emotions of the people who made them. I like that it also reminds us that our perspective is just one way of seeing the world. This made me think about how important it is to approach art with openness—what feels normal or familiar to me might be completely different for someone else. It also makes me realize that art can teach empathy: by trying to understand different times, places, and cultures, we practice seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.

> "Art helps us understand history as a constructed account." — Crash Course Art History

I chose this quote because it highlights that history isn’t just a fixed set of facts—it's a story that has been constructed, shaped by perspective, culture, and who is doing the telling. Art can reveal these layers in a way that text alone sometimes cannot; it shows us not just what happened, but how people experienced, interpreted, and responded to their world. Understanding this helps me think more critically about both the past and the present, and reminds me that there’s always more than one way to see a story.

II: An Artist That Influences My Artwork

I have always been influenced by creators who emphasize atmosphere, emotion, and storytelling, such as Junji Ito and Hayao Miyazaki. I am particularly inspired by artists who blur the boundaries between visual art, film, and narrative. My fascination with the cinematic "cool" and moody lighting of icons like James Dean often finds its way into my compositions, where I try to capture a specific, felt moment in time.

My visual language is also heavily shaped by the dark, intricate aesthetics of manga and video games. I am a big fan of the visceral, emotional depth in series like Tokyo Ghoul, the vibrant worldbuilding of Fairy Tail, and the gothic elegance found in Vampire Hunter D and Final Fantasy. This interest extends to the surreal environments of horror games like Silent Hill, as well as the whimsical, macabre style of Tim Burton, whose work encourages me to find beauty in the unconventional.

Technically, I am deeply inspired by Peach Momoko for her fluid, watercolor-driven approach to character design and her ability to merge traditional folklore with modern comic art. I also look to the psychedelic patterns of Yayoi Kusama and the ethereal line work of Yoshitaka Amano. Furthermore, I am inspired by Dominican female artists like Belkis Ramírez, whose relief printing explores the female body, and Firelei Báez, whose work navigates Caribbean identity and folklore. I bridge these influences with the mystical surrealism of Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo, using their exploration of the female psyche to help navigate my own identity through art.

III: Who Am I?

My name is Nashley Nunez, and I am a junior Illustration major at NJCU. My artwork primarily consists of 2D digital illustrations using programs such as Ibis Paint X, Krita, and Adobe Illustrator, as well as traditional work. I am a second-generation immigrant and bilingual in Spanish; both of my parents were born in the Dominican Republic. Growing up surrounded by television and media from a very young age heavily shaped my visual language and continues to influence how I approach storytelling and visual composition as an artist.

I work in both digital and traditional media, including gouache, watercolor, soft pastels, colored pencils, and relief printing. My artwork currently ranges from crisp, character-driven digital illustrations to experimental gouache paintings and intricate pattern studies. I often combine traditional sketches with digital finishing. Currently, my artwork primarily focuses on character design, worldbuilding, and visual storytelling, bringing characters from my own written plots and stories to life.

I am drawn to narrative-driven art, whether inspired by historical events, cultural myths, or fictional worlds. I enjoy exploring genres such as horror, supernatural, romance, noir, and fantasy, often blending them together. Moving forward, I would like to explore silkscreen printing and the creation of tapestry-like murals using the large and varied bead collections I have at home. Through these works, I aim to tell my own stories—whether inspired by personal life experiences, such as feminist issues and what it truly means to be a woman in the modern age, or through fictional narratives that explore human emotions and existential themes. I am also interested in further incorporating beads and mixed materials into my practice. Additionally, I want to improve my clay sculpture skills in order to create larger-than-life pieces that interact with or envelop the human body, emphasizing scale, presence, and viewer engagement.

IV. Artwork Examples

 Digital 

Digital 

 Gouache

                          Gouache & Watercolor 

                         Gouache & Watercolor 

                              Watercolor & Color Pencil

Introduction

"Art historians are fascinated by moments in history when people destroyed, defaced, or buried works of art, since the destruction of an image is an implicit acknowledgement of its tremendous power and meaning."

    The genuine understanding that people take the time and effort to destroy something someone else created is such a beautiful piece of knowledge to me. A simple work of art can hold millions of words, meanings, and emotions that are beyond comprehension. This impacts me so much because art in any form was never meant to be "safe." It was never meant to be censored. In fact, I genuinely believe art was meant to make you uncomfortable; it was meant to scream when the creator was silenced. The power of a piece of work is so strong that some feel the need to get rid of it altogether. 

"Given the tremendous power of images and the ways images shape our understanding, it is unfortunate that art history is not a part of the core curriculum in more high schools and colleges."

    I agree that it is unfortunate, but I also dont feel surprised, because I believe that high schools specifically try to shut down any art history that reveals the truth. This may be a conspiracy, but I believe it's a way to keep us from understanding the world and what it was like back then through a deep understanding of art history. It should be a part of the core curriculum, I believe this very strongly, yet it's not, and because of this, once students reach college, they have no interest in art history and find it "boring."

An artist that influneces me so heavily would be Edward Hopper. His work really brings out this feeling of isolation, sadness, and, in my opinion, a comfortable quiet. His use of light and the mood he creates with the way he carefully sets his composition, creating a dramatic but lonely scene, is breathtaking.  He creates this space that feels so familiar yet so psychologically tense that it almost feels like a movie. This is what I want to create with my work: something so intense it invokes strong emotions, allows space for the viewer's interpretation, and creates the feeling of watching a film. I personally have not looked at art or art history as of yet for my own education or practice apart from school work. I would like to explore more realism, dadaism and expressionism. I would like to explore more artists like Basquiat, Egon Schiele, Lucian Freud and Doron Langberg.

                                                            Self love, Digital art, Procreate

Last moment, Chalk pastels, 40x60

Lovers at night (recreation), Oil Paint, 18x24

Im here, Charcoal, 40x60

Self love/ Digital Art/ Procreate

My name is Jesse and I am studying illustration currently, I am a senior and I would say the art I create is all over the place right now. I want to work on toning that to more realism and expressionism. I would say the issues of self image and the topic of family inspire my work immensely.

As much as I would love to say that a specific artist inspired the work I have made I would be lying. The work I have created up to this point has been based off of assignments and moments in time I’ve seen a piece of work that sparked a moment of “hey this would be cool to do” such as the “lovers at night” piece by Doran Langberg that I saw at the museum on a school trip and completed for an assignment. The drive to become better drives my work. Right now creating more work apart from assignments is what’s driving me more than ever that’s what makes me want to explore more. 

Post 1: Introduction

Portfolio link below

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Pf2MMfFn7cFsNZEzqywW_GSCgVBzphZv/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=112682502378037123740&rtpof=true&sd=true

 Currently, I am in school for art and design, focusing on graphic design. However, I also enjoy working in more hands on mediums such as drawing, painting, and ceramics. My portfolio consists of a variety of playful, illustrative, and still life-inspired pieces. Typically, I create my work based on observation or whatever strikes my fancy at the moment. I do not typically focus on one specific theme. Creating art allows me to experiment with different styles, colors, and ways of communicating ideas.

    My inspiration for creating art stems from my curiosity and desire to experiment with different ideas. Specifically, I find inspiration in the way that ideas can be communicated effectively through design. Currently, I find myself intrigued by the social issues we are facing politically. I find myself wondering how to make visual communication more accessible in these times. One of my biggest inspirations for creating art is Paula Scher. She is a woman behind many of the famous logos and designs we see. Her work in marketing and advertising has always fascinated me. Her bold use of typography and confident style inspire me to make my work impactful, meaningful, and visually striking.

Reading

“Art history is a conversation”

Rather than being finished or settled, art history is shaped by scholars, viewers, and changing perspectives over time. Each new interpretation adds to the conversation.

“Art history depends on interpretation.”

This quote highlights how personal and contextual art history is. Instead of relying on fixed rules, art historians interpret works based on culture, time period, and lived experience. That’s what makes discussions about art meaningful instead of right or wrong. 

Introduction to Class - Andrew Diaz

 My name is Andrew Diaz, I love to make digital art of cartoon characters I enjoy to watch. Ever since I was little I constantly drew fanart with nothing but a paper and a pencil. Animated designs with simplicity and incredible fluid like animations that inspired to draw at my best everyday and improve.

1. “It’s tempting to want the work of art “explained,” but that term implies that we have solved all the complexities and contradictions inherent in the work of art and come to some final “answer” about what it means. Works of art, like all things that emerge from the human imagination, don’t work like that. One reason for this is that “the work of art emerges at once out of a collectivity and out of an individual consciousness”

I chose this quote because it explains that there is so much emotional complexities that have went into creating art. There is no single answer to a piece of art that answers questions but the answer can be anything.

2. “Art history helps objects that have largely fallen mute to speak again and reminds us that the way we see the world around us—at a particular place and time—is just one way to see. When we try to “explain” art, to find a single, narrow meaning, we risk closing down possibilities for empathy with others and with the past, and with aspects of our own humanity. In the Humanities, we seek out multiplicity, complexity, and ambiguity, as difficult as that can be.”

I chose this quote because it provides a notion of how historical art can make people view the world and humanity in a different but positive way there endless possibilities behind the meanings of every art piece that was created throughout the thousands of years.

The artist that inspires me to reach my full potential is Andrew Wyeth. Wyeth’s art demonstrates a beautiful take on realism, the warm colors, the perspective, the atmosphere. What I love most about his art is the emotion that he brings out in his work like “Christina’s World” for example as it portrays a sense of dread and sadness and can’t help but admire it.

A photo of my charcoal painting of my mom in her home workspace

A photo of a charcoal portrait that I made of one of my classmates 

A digital drawing of a bird flying in the sky that I drew in Procreate

A digital drawing of Sonic the hedgehog I drew for his anniversary on Procreate 

A digital drawing of Vox from Hazbin Hotel in Procreate

 

    I’ve been studying Illustration in college for about 2 years now. Been focusing on certain aspects of drawing when it comes to dimensions, painting, structure, realism, and angles. Even though most of my studies involve drawing on paper, I mostly enjoy drawing on Procreate, there are so many possibilities when creating something digital. The amount of special effects that comes with Procreate would really bring out of drawings in the best way possible. My artwork can come across as bouncy, sharp, and cartoony, I can’t help of but draw fictional cartoon characters I’ve grown to love to this day while still trying to improve my own sense of style.

There are some other modern animation and comic artists I have always looked up to who also have influenced my art throughout the years, my biggest animation art influencer would have be “Vivienne Medrano” who is the creator of “Hazbin Hotel” who has influenced my art with it’s sharp and edgy style but with a lot of heart. There is still Andrew Wyeth I that still look up to as I mentioned before, when I try to push my limits to creating real life art while looking back at his work for inspiration. My main motivation to create art is making deep connections towards the audience that see it and how they feel back. A motivation that involves genuine emotion and strength that speaks out to me and to others whether it’s silly or angsty, it’s what gives me so much passion to draw and for everyone to see.

Post 1 - Introduction to Class - Diana Saintilme

 I: Two Quotes

“We don’t often acknowledge the central role that images have played, and continue to play, in shaping both our collective culture and the individual human psyche, but the impact of images is profound.”

The reason I chose this quote is because it made me realize that when we look at art, we don’t often think about the impact it has on us. When I think about it now, we really don’t acknowledge the role of images when it comes to art. I personally realized that I never really viewed artwork as images, I just thought of them as art. Now I believe that we should really think about what certain images in art do to us and why. That way we would really understand the role images play in artwork.

“When we encounter a work of art in an art history class, we are missing not only this rich historical context, but also the physical work itself.”

The reason I chose this quote is because of the last part of the sentence, “but also the physical work itself.” It made me realize that viewing art we see in class on screen is not the same as viewing the art in person. We don’t get the full viewing experience of viewing the artwork in person other than on the screen. In person, we can really experience and appreciate the art that we are learning about. That way we can gain some historical context that is missing in an art history class with the physical work itself.

II: An Artist That Influences My Artwork

One artist that influences my artwork is Joseph Binder, who was a graphic designer and artist during the Art Deco movement. He is known as one of the pioneers of modern posters and his style is mainly influenced by modern design and the Art Deco movement. His work uses bold colors and geometric forms which I also use in my own work. I haven’t really looked into much art history in my art practice because I rarely heard about graphic design in relation to art history. However moving forward I would like to look into more artists from the Art Deco and Pop Art movements since those styles are mainly what I gravitate towards.

III: Who Am I?

My name is Diana Saintilme and I am a senior Graphic Designer major at NJCU. My artwork is usually 2D digital design work mainly created on Adobe Illustrator. I usually create posters and logos because that’s what I mainly want to create during my ensign career. I created my arts using bold colors and geometric shapes. I tend to lean towards works that have a nice structure to it and use colors that capture my attention to create a clear message.

My work is mainly influenced by artist Joseph Binder and work from the Art Deco movement. The use of geometric shapes during the Art Deco movement and the use of bold colors during the Pop Art movement are two things that caught my attention and what I want to use in my work. Something about artworks during this era is really pleasing. I want my work to be bold and captivating while also sending a clear message in the same way. I believe the use of color and the structure of shapes can make for a captivating image.

One topic that influences my work is mental health. Mental health is something that everyone does through in their lives and I want my work to help people get through it. In a world where the topic of mental health is starting to gain traction, I believe it would be nice if there were more works that are inspired by that topic. Some other motivations and inspirations for my work are my general experiences and my surroundings. I enjoy trying to recreate what I see and get thoughts out of my head through my artwork. Designing is like an outlet for me when I am going through something and need an escape.

City (Day) - Made using Adobe Illustrator

City (Night) - Made using Adobe Illustrator

City (Intersection) - Made using Adobe Illustrator

Ask, Don't Assume - Made using Adobe Illustrator

Wolf Pendant - Made using Adobe Illustrator

Lion Pendant - Made using Adobe Illustrator

Post 1 - Introduction | Christopher Cruz

 “It’s tempting to want the work of art “explained,” but that term implies that we have solved all the complexities and contradictions inherent in the work of art and come to some final “answer” about what it means. Works of art, like all things that emerge from the human imagination, don’t work like that.”

I resonate with this as art is a complex world of its own. It is like lovecraftian stories, what occurs can’t be explained in simple or grander terms since no word would do it justice. With the work of art I say, there is no final answer and such thought would be foolish as there is no definitive answer. Different perspective lead to different answers.

“In addition, throughout history, most works of art were made for a specific purpose, to address a specific audience, and often for a particular location. They may not have even been understood as art until they were isolated from that original context. When we encounter a work of art in an art history class, we are missing not only this rich historical context, but also the physical work itself. In other words, we are doubly at a loss.”

A work of art that initially wasn’t seen as art due to not being isolated from its original context is very true. Sometimes separating something from its context leads to new insights or discussions about the work of art. To add, I agree that when encountering a work of art in class we miss out on that work’s original context. We as participators of discussion derail from the artwork’s time period, and in doing so diverge from the importance of artwork’s impact from that time.

I am an Illustration major, who has worked in various mediums, but I mainly use Procreate and Aseprite. Most of my artwork consists of my own characters, fanwork, emotional thoughts, and social issues. The artist who inspires me from history is Claude Monet. When I learned more about Monet in Color Theory class and had to do a study of one of his artworks, I realized how he utilizes color as well as the many shades in it. I love color overall as it is a great tool to set the mood of a scene or bring a character to life and it is very eye-pleasing. Though I will say most of my inspirations and influence comes from artists related to the gaming and anime spaces like Temmie Chang who designed the overworld sprites for the game Undertale and Guil who designed fanmade Digimon designs. The character sprite work of Chang in Undertale gave so much personality to the characters and the designs became iconic. Even though most of the character sprite work is in flat color, this choice only adds to the charm of the characters compared to other sprite artists. The way Guil designs these fanmade designs of Digimon is so cool and full of personality. The design follows some of the trademark big eyes but how they design the monsters and what they are inspired from makes me want to design characters in the same way. I’d love to explore illustration, character and creature design more so I may get closer to my art goals.

Claude Monet’s “Woman with a Parasol” 1875

Deltarune Chapter 2 Area by Temmie Chang 

Guil’s fanmade Digimon

Below are my artworks

Original Characters and their Werebear Forms 2025

The Silent Guardian 2026

“Pussy a Weapon” Sexual Automomy 2024

Overwhelming Failure 2025

Original Character Doggo 2025

 

Post 1-Christopher McVicar

 Christopher McVicar 

Professor Jung 

Studio Research 1 

January 29th, 2026 

Class Introduction 

1. “Art history offers tools that many people would find immensely valuable as they navigate our image-saturated culture.” 

I find this quote so ironic. It can be easy to dismiss an artwork for being just an image. Yet we live in an image-saturated culture where social media, advertising, news, and digital platforms constantly flood us with visuals that shape our identities. Understanding how images are constructed and embedded with power allows individuals to navigate this visual overload with more awareness. 

“When we try to “explain” art, to find a single, narrow meaning, we risk closing possibilities for empathy with others and with the past, and with aspects of our own humanity.” 

Reducing art to a single meaning limits its ability to reflect diverse perspectives and lived experiences, both past and present. Openness to multiple interpretations invites empathy by allowing viewers to connect personally, culturally, and emotionally with the work. 

 

2. I draw inspiration from Chuck Close’s approach to photorealism, particularly his use of gridded systems and monumental scales to create confrontational viewing experiences. For my BFA project, I plan to produce two large-scale 72 × 60-inch portraits of my parents, using scale as a strategy to elevate and monumentalize their presence. Contrary to a culture that often frames youth and child-centric narratives, I seek to show how size and precision can transform intimate subjects into commanding encounters. Through my study in art education, I adopt and bend strategies to emphasize familial significance and emotional weight. 

 

Conceptually, my influences extend to 20th-century movements such as Dadaism and Pop Art. I resonate with these movements for their radical rejections of traditional aesthetics and embrace of absurdity as a means to escape sociopolitical tension. While Pop Art informs my use of everyday subject matter and bold, saturated color, my attraction lies less in irony and more in the emotional texture of ordinary life. I am drawn to chaos, small joys, and daily irritations as sites of meaning, using vibrant color and familiar imagery to explore social realism and themes of post-truth within a contemporary landscape. 

3.  

“Mom’s Portrait” -Oil on Canvas 

 

“Hide and Seek” -Oil on Canvas 

 

“Self Portrait” -Pastel, Charcoal, & Acrylic on Bristol  

 

 

“Fields” -Acrylic on Bristol 

 

“Suspension of Continuity” -Welded Steel 

I am a senior set to graduate in May with a BFA specializing in painting and drawing. After high school, I initially pursued a career in welding and worked in construction until a knee injury in 2022 forced me to pause and reevaluate my path. During my recovery, I made the decision to return to school and commit to studying art, using the experience as a way to reclaim an interest I had long set aside while growing up. This shift marked a personal liberation, allowing me to fully engage with creative inquiry and self-reflection. 

My work is strongly motivated by existential questions, which I approach with both seriousness and pride as a foundation for my practice. I am particularly inspired by painters such as George Tooker and Kerry James Marshall, whose work deeply engages with themes of identity, and human condition. Their ability to confront complex social and psychological realities through figurative painting continues to influence how I think about meaning in my own work.