Hi everyone, I’m Valentina. I am in the BFA program for Painting Drawing, on my way to become an Artist and Graphic Designer. I work in illustration, digital design, and story telling. I am an artist, cartoonist and visual storyteller. In my work I mix bold visuals with emotional stories, into simple yet striking pieces, expressive characters and art that has a meaning which goes beyond what is at first present.
I am very much into work that looks at identity, culture and the youth experience. As a person that grew up in a Hispanic home, storytelling has always been very personal to me. I make art which is of our lived experiences mine and my community’s. Whether it’s via cartoon style illustrations, book ideas or social conscious design I try to put out work that is honest and very emotional.
“…art history does not ‘explain’ a work of art the way the Pythagorean theorem explains the relationship between the sides of right triangles.”
This is what caught my attention in art history we don’t have a single answer like we do in math which generally has one right solution. In art history meaning is fluid -- it’s based in the culture, the time, perspective and interpretation. As an artist this means to me that my work doesn’t have to have a single meaning. What is important is that it prompts questions. I love the concept that art is a conversation between viewer and piece rather than a problem to be solved.
“Works of art, like all things that emerge from the human imagination, don’t work like that.”
This quote is powerful in that it puts the viewer at the forefront. Art is a dynamic thing. It comes to life through interaction. That concept plays into how I approach my design and illustration. I want my work to include space for viewers to bring in their own stories. Also in the case of social issues like identity, representation, or inequality which element of interpretation becomes a part of the piece itself.
A great deal of what is me as an artist is shaped by Pop Art and Collage based artists who play with bold visuals and deeper meaning. I am drawn to artists like Brian Donnelly which is what I love about him he puts raw drawing, text, symbols and social comment in the same piece. What I love most about Donnelley is the layering in his work at first it appears chaotic visually but is very intentional. He talks on issues of race, power, identity and history in a very present way. That which he brings up inspires me to not be afraid of mixing text and image in my own work. Also I am influenced by KAWS’ take on familiar Pop Culture icons which he turns into very emotional and contemporary pieces. His use of repetition, bold shapes and clean graphic language is right up my alley as a graphic designer. Also he proves that simplicity may be an element in which emotion and comment may be carried.
Another that which does for me is Peter Horvath whose digital collages are surreal, layered and symbolic. I am into how he plays with realism and graphic elements to produce visual tension. His work is a goad for me to play more with composition and digital layering. Also I am inspired by Paula Ganoo which is via her colorful, bold, pop infused collage style. Her work is at once playful and intentional she uses typography, photography and graphic shapes. That blend of design and fine art is what I see in my own practice.
Bold tone, heavy in composition, in your face symbolism, and stories that are of identity and social awareness. In that regard I am to dive deeper into pop art from a Latino and Gen Z perspective in which we use collage, cartoon language, and digital tools to discuss cultural visibility, economic inequality, youth mental health, and social justice.
For me pop art is beyond just color it is about access. It is about creating art that is present and familiar at the same time.
The promise, 2023 Something Has Always Been Missing, 2019
Brian Donnelly Peter Horvath
Unforgettable.(Portrait of Princess Diana.) by Paula Ganoo
Another big part of my artistic development has been anime. As a kid I was very into the emotional heft, character design, and story telling which anime puts into visual art. What got me was not just the look the expressive eyes, dynamic poses, bold outlines, dramatic lighting but how anime tells stories of identity, struggle, friendship, trauma, growth, and resilience. It made me see that animation and illustration can have great emotional depth.
Anime also played a role in developing my drawing style. I am drawn to strong silhouettes, exaggerated expressions, movement, and character focused compositions. When I do pop art or collages I still think in terms of character presence and narrative as if each piece is a part of a bigger story. I learned from anime that art doesn’t have to be minimal in meaning; it can be dramatic, detailed and very emotional.
As an empathetic to identity, culture, I am inspired through my work by what anime does in connecting with people on a very private level. Also, as I have grown up, I’ve come to see that visual presentation and story telling are the most effective tools in particular for my generation. In many senses, anime was the first art form to which I related to, which in turn fueled my creativity. It also showed me that beyond just the act of drawing there is world building, activism, and emotion at play in illustration.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Koyoharu Gotouge
Demon Slayer
Gege Akutami
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