Post 1- Introduction to the class

1- “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.”

Art seems to have this lasting effect on people, whether you hate it, fall in love with it, cry about it, any signs of emotion with an art piece means the artist did their job successfully. I relate a lot to this quote because not only do I enjoy making art myself, I adore seeing the reactions I get from it. Art tells stories without having to spell it out for you, there’s also art out there that can confuse the audience, am I supposed to feel bad? Scared? Relieved? An example of this is Edward Hopper's “Nighthawks”, the scene feels calm and serene but as you look closer at the figures, the people inside seem detached and lost. 

2- “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.” 

When an artist creates something, sometimes they don’t even know themselves what exactly their art is trying to convey. That’s the beauty of art though, it's open to interpretation. It’s up to the viewer to interpret how they feel about an artwork. One minute you might hate a beloved art piece but then as you analyze it more and look for different symbols and meaning, you start to appreciate it… or maybe hate it some more. 

My name is Samantha Rivera, I’m currently a junior at NJCU. My work is inspired by a mix of artists, with Glenn Keane and Jamie Hewlett being my main influences. Glenn Keane is an American animator, director and illustrator, he did character animation at Disney for 38 years on films like The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast and Tangled. I admire how fluid and alive his sketches are, even in their roughest stage, you can feel the emotion and movement. Keane’s work has taught me how expressive character animation can convey deeper stories, the characters personality and emotional truths. 

Jamie Hewlett, a British comic book artist and co-creator for the famous virtual band, Gorillaz, inspires me with his chaotic, surreal style that blends humor and pop culture. I love how he layers references and ideas that create worlds that feel very playful but also giving a complex message behind it with small details you might miss and symbolism. 

My art, as I would describe it, is a mix of colorful, whimsical and expressive imagery. I mostly work digitally using my iPad and Procreate, which helps me to experiment freely. Much if my work centers on character creation, with a strong focus on gesture, expressions, and visual storytelling, whether I’m developing my own characters or reinterpreting characters from shows and media that I enjoy. I’m especially drawn to moments that feel emotional and playful, and I use exaggeration and stylization to communicate that feeling in my work. I also do animation as well, I’ve studied and had mentorship’s in the past to help strengthen my skill. I have also done and am currently doing freelance character animation on the side that’ll not only help build my animated reel but also get an idea of what it’s like being part of an animation team.  

I am passionate about representation, diversity and community storytelling. I aim to design characters from a wide range of diverse backgrounds and identities who feel fully seen and emotionally complex, rather than surface-level traits. Designing characters is one of those things you think might be just a bunch of drawings of the same character but it’s more involved, what color schemes work for them? What’s their shape language? What’s their nature? Are they humorous or serious? All of these questions can define you or the people in your own life. Through my work, I aim to tell stories that are relatable to the audience, showing how people from different experiences connect and grow together.

My current goal as an illustrator is to create and post more of my work consistently while continuing to bulk up and build a strong portfolio. I’ve been active a few years ago, creating content and art, I’ve gained a good following but unfortunately due to the workload from my workplace, it was putting a mental toll on me and my art. Now that I switched to part-time, I can definitely feel the difference and I’m able to focus more on my craft without the mental drain and be more active at work. I am also hoping to finally finish my very neglected, but meaningful short film that’s focused on childhood recollections and the process of reconnecting with your inner child.