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