Issue 2 September 2014 PANO is created, designed, organized, and doodled-on by
Alyssa Wigant Alyssa is a Junior at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, studying Graphic Communication and double-minoring in Studio Art and Media Arts & Technology. All artists and the featured artwork in this publication were obtained with the artists’ legal consent. All rights are reserved by the featured artists.
Welcome
H
ello world! For those of you who do not know me, my name is Alyssa Wigant and I started PANO Magazine last summer as a way to honor and support my creative peers. I am happy to introduce the second issue of PANO this summer, which is a huge relief to say considering how busy I was this summer.
In case you didn’t read the first issue, the big idea behind PANO is this: We should embrace the variety of artistic talents instead of trying to 1-up them. Take a step back and support artists’ work for what it is and who the creators are, because art—in any form—is all about expression and buiding one’s identity. There is no wrong answer, no winner, no loser–just different perspectives, and that is exactly what PANO stands for: Presenting A New Outlook. Insightful, right? PANO is about sharing a wide-range of creativity and talents with the world to help people better understand where art really comes from and where it will lead the featured artists. I hope you enjoy this second issue just as much (or even more) than the first! After taking a few typography and design classes, I can say that I am way more happy with the design of this one, and I’m glad I was able to incpororate a lot of original hand-lettering. Thanks for being a wonderful audience.
T
he point of PANO is to focus on the selected artists, their work, what inspires them, and where they plan on going with their talents. Each individual has a four-page spread that includes their connection to me, their answers to interview questions I asked them regarding their skill, and pictures of their work. This will give their work context and allow the readers to feel inspired by their passion to create. Every issue of PANO will focus on different categories of art, as long as there are enough people within each to feature.
Contents 7 Photography 8 12 16 20 24
Binh Tran-Tu Natasha Azevedo Amanda Peterson Sarah Ching Anna Williams
29 Studio Art 30 34 38 42
Tenney Rizzo Courtney Boyer Matthew Torres Lauren Manning
47 Graphic Arts 48 52 56 60
Justin Witt Trudy Vinson Timothy Plummer Amy Nguyen
65 Architecture 66 70 74
Gabe Jacobs Lane Blankenship Alexander Jeongco
78 closing 80
Thank You & Inquiries
BINH tran tu Photographer (6 years) Univeristy of San Francisco Financing and Marketing Major I first met Binh when he photographed pictures of me and my friends for Junior Prom. The pictures he took were gorgeous– Binh knew exaclty what he was doing. His humble attitude and stunning photography are equally inspiring.
What sparked your passion for photography? I think it started sometime during freshman year of high school. I wanted to join the newspaper but didn’t want to write. Laziness can be a blessing in disguise.
Is photography going to be part of your future? I’d prefer to keep photography as a passion and hobby. It’d be something I’d do on the side for fun or if I needed some extra cash.
What has photography helped you deal with? Photography has definitely helped me brave some rough seas. This past summer or winter I should say, I was able to come home to Melbourne, Australia. When your life has been split between continents, “home” has a distorted meaning. I hadn’t seen my family in almost 5 years and for the first time in a long time, we were all together again. I wanted those moments to last forever. The last time we took family portraits were about 16 years ago, so when I came back, I decided to take them all. Photographs like those are invaluable.
Which of your pictures are you most proud of? The image I’m most proud of creating is a portrait of my friend Roan I took a while back. It’s definitely one of my favorite photos but also one of the most difficult ones to construct. I had to get the lighting just right and hope the post process would be do-able as well.
What do you find most difficult to deal with regarding photography? Photography can be really expensive sometimes. Creativity shouldn’t be limited by the tools you have, but sometimes for the sake of professionalism you need to be able to rely on your equipment. Having a limited amount of gear to work with is a doubleedged sword. I’ve been able to push the limits of my creativity by not having the right tools and thinking of other ways to achieve the images I want. On the other hand, there have been plenty of “would be” photographs I could have shot. In the end, a good image doesn’t require an excuse.
a good image doesn t require an excuse. How has photography shaped you? Photography has made me more appreciative of life. As much as I like capturing memories, photography has helped me make more as well.
Share a random anecdote or fun fact that has to do with photography? My favorite thing to shoot is food. Every year for the past four years I’ve dedicated an album to the food I’ve tried. I love shooting food for a couple of reasons. First is that I don’t have to talk to it. Second, it’s up to you on how you want to inform your viewer. You can make food look really appetizing, or you can make it look like total shit. Food is an art within itself, so I guess food photography is its appreciation.
Natasha Azevedo Landscape Photographer (3 years) UC San Diego International Affairs Major
We went to high school together, but Natasha’s photography skills took storm toward the beginning of college. After seeing pictures from her world-travels on Facebook, I instantly became obsessed with Natasha’s developing skill for photography.
What sparked your interest in photography? Oh, it was completely ridiculous. I took a picture of a pumpkin in my backyard when I was about 16, and for some reason I thought it looked aesthetically pleasing. It’s such a specific memory and seems inconsequential, but for some reason it was the moment I realized I had some potential there. I started capturing really deep things, like flowers and dogs, before saving every penny for about 7 months to buy my first DSLR.
Is it going to be a part of your career future? Photography is such a wonderful hobby that weaves in and out of my life, and I’m incredibly open to seeing where it takes me in the future. I’ve always viewed it as a creative outlet rather than something I want to pursue in a professional manner, but who knows! It’s really useful as a broke college student because if I’m ever in dire need of income I shoot graduation portraits or campus events. But at the end of the day, the core aspects of photography: capturing the places and people that bring me joy, or knock me off my feet, will always be something I value and strive to incorporate into my future.
Has photography shaped you in any way? I’ve always been such an observer, and I think photography allows me to recognize small moments of life that are incredibly beautiful. It challenges me to view the world through a creative lens and construct a dozen possibilities from a single image. It’s also such a universal hobby, which makes international travel and photojournalism cross barriers of language, culture, and geographical borders. I’ve been able to connect with so many people through photographs, and it pushes me to meet strangers and hear stories I may have missed otherwise.
How has photography helped you get through issues, situations, or feelings? My uncle, who was pretty much my second father, passed away suddenly a year and a half ago. He was such an avid supporter of my artistic pursuits, constantly coming to my violin concerts or blowing up my photographs into ridiculous sizes. When he died he was in the process of adopting a baby girl, and the way she looked at her new father was unparalleled. A few months after he passed my baby cousin was officially adopted, and at the court ceremony, my aunt pulled out a photo of my
uncle and showed it to her. I have a photograph of a little girl with bright blue eyes, staring at a photo of her dad. The exposure is a little blown out, the edges are off centered, but it captures so much heartbreak and love in a single frame that it might be one of my favorites. I’ve traveled alone significantly after his death, and every time I find myself in a beautiful landscape across the globe, I close my eyes for a few seconds before grabbing my camera. I’d like to think some of my creative passion and occasional recklessness come from him, and he will always remind me to pour love into what I do.
Which of your photos was the most challenging? I think my most challenging photos have been the most physically demanding ones. I have this strange mentality that unless I’m covered in mud and have fallen flat on my face at least once that perhaps I didn’t put 100% effort into my landscape photos. I’ve dangled off one too many cliffs on the beaches of San Diego trying to capture some long exposures of the ocean. Recently I was shooting glaciers in Iceland, and naturally a hail storm began, so I had to stuff my giant camera down my shirt and run around on crampons to find a spot where I could wrangle out a few photos. I really wanted to take a picture of an ice cave, so a guide held onto the back of my belt loop while I hung over the edge. It’s one of my favorite shots of the glacier, 20% because the angle is really awesome but 80% because it was dangerous and I probably shouldn’t have taken it.
What do you do when you feel uninspired? Change something. I love new environments, and I’m really comfortable being alone, so throwing myself into strange situations usually works. This sounds like an E-Harmony commercial, but really long walks on the beach help. Sometimes leaving my camera alone for a while helps me think of fresh ideas. Any sort of travel ignites all the inspiration I need, and people with amazing stories are the best.
Share a random anecdote about photography? One time I did the most incredible photoshoot of a couple who had been together for about 3 years. I got to use the guy’s camera, which was extremely professional, and we spent about 8 hours around the city taking some of the coolest pictures I’ve ever captured. The kicker? They broke up a few hours after we finished the shoot, so I never saw a single photo.
Amanda Peterson
Amanda Peterson Lifestyle Photographer (6 years) Graphic Communication Major California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Amanda and I lived in the same dorm for our freshman year and I always noticed her taking pictures. We soon took a design class together where I saw some of her beautiful work—her pictures were extremely stunning.
What sparked your passion for photography? I remember when my dad got our family’s first “big” camera to take pictures of his art. It was nothing fancy, really, a camera brand name I don’t even remember anymore, but it fascinated me at the time. I was about twelve when I started messing around with it. Whenever I was bored, I would take it outside and find things to take photos of. I didn’t think much of it until I started to give my family members some of my framed photos for Christmas presents. From there, I got encouragement from my family and some people telling me I had “the eye” for photography, which got me a little more excited about it. Once I hit high school, I became a part of yearbook and quickly became known for having a camera around my neck at all the events. I think it’s yearbook that really made me realize I was pretty good with the camera. I started taking portraits of my friends and family for fun and come senior year, I was getting paid to take some of my classmates senior portraits.
What do you think makes photography unique from other art forms? In my opinion, photography requires a different state of mind. You have to find this strange balance between keeping up with the fast pace of what’s around you and slowing it all down drastically when looking through the lens. It takes patience and it forces you to stay present. For me, it’s all about the details. I love using my 50mm lens because it forces me to get close to things and see them from a different point of view than I would if I were just walking by. For example, I was just hanging out with some elephants in Thailand, and I had so much fun taking photos of all the details: her eyelashes, the wrinkles in her skin, the snot coming out of her trunk. That’s the kind of stuff I try to capture. Those are the things you won’t remember unless you have photos of it. On the other hand, what I have found is that I actually prefer using my iPhone landscape photos. It’s a pain trying to switch lenses to go from 50mm to a wide shot, so I use my phone, but the HDR setting surprisingly makes for some really great photos.
What have you found to be difficult about photographing subjects? What I used to find frustrating was when I would see a photo on the screen of my camera and fall in love with it, then upload to find that it actually isn’t that great and probably out of focus. I don’t tend to do that anymore. I’ve learned to be okay with the fact that they aren’t going to always turn out how you want them to. I find that having no expectations of your photos can make for some surprisingly beautiful outcomes. I know how to work my camera, what to set it at for certain lighting and such, so there’s nothing to stress about given that knowledge. I see photography as a way to look at your experience and capture it in a different way. Getting cool photos just happens to be a sideeffect of that. When I’m taking photos for an actual job, it’s harder for me to feel this way, because obviously more is on the line. It makes me think I probably won’t get into photography as an actual income. I like my relationship with it now, as it is: mindful, stress-free, and surprisingly beautiful.
Sarah Ching Sarah Ching
Lifestyle Photographer (7 years) Art and Design Major California Poly technic State University, San Luis Obispo Referred to me by a few photographer friends, Sarah has an awesome eye for composition. Known for her portrait photography and design, Sarah definitely has the reputation of a unique and talented photographer!
What sparked your passion for photography? Ever since I was in elementary school I always had a disposable camera and eventually a little point and shoot, and I loved it. Throughout high school I saved up for my own DSLR and took photos just as a creative outlet, but I don’t think it was until my junior year when I really began to invest myself in it.
How, if so, do you plan on incorporating this talent into your future? So right now I am majoring in Art and Design with a concentration in graphic design, so as a dream job I would love to design and photograph for weddings. So it would be a package deal where I could do the engagement shoot, design the “Save the Dates” and invitations, and the actual ceremony photography. I don’t know if that’s exactly what I want to do, but something like that would be cool.
How has photography helped you emotionally? There have been a couple of times where I really used photography as an emotional outlet, but for the most part it really is just a perspective and view from which I view the world.
How has photography shaped you? Photography has helped me reach out and get to know others more. It is also a really good conversation starter and has really taught me how to work and talk professionally.
Which of your creations are you most proud of? I think one of my creations that I am most proud of is when I created, designed, and decorated my Grandma’s 80th birthday and then photographed the event and was able to capture all of the happy moments and memories. The photos turned out very lifestyle-esque which I have always loved and hope to do more of some day!
What do you find most difficult about your passion for photography? An adversity I face regarding photography is related to other interests I am also very passionate about: dance and design. I love all three, and often times have a hard time focusing and putting more effort in one. Because of this I am unable to really concentrate and excel in one area. Sometimes when I really want to get into my photos I will focus a lot of attention and start really pushing myself,
but before I really get anywhere, I would get distracted which would hold me back from growing in photography.
What, or who, inspires you? I think what or rather who inspires me the most, are the people who I’ve seen start with such basic knowledge and skills who want it so bad that they grow and improve so much so quickly because of their drive. It really is amazing how much someone can improve and inspire because of how badly they want to.
Share a random anecdote regarding photography? There isn’t one specific event, but I do remember in about 8th or 9th grade, I would put my camera on a tripod, take out my remote, and just do all these random creative little shoots in my backyard or somewhere in my house. I would move the furniture around, exhaust every little corner in my backyard, and just take some very “original” self-portraits. Though I had no idea what I was doing back then, they really taught me a lot, I had a lot of fun and those were honestly the good days, and can say I’m probably most proud of some those photos even to this day.
Anna Williams Culinary Photographer ( 1 year) Graphic Communication Major California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo I discovered Anna’s knack for culinary photography when I stumbled upon her culinary blog on gluten and dairy-free cooking. The way she blends her passion for photography with cooking is truly admirable.
When did you realize that you had a passion for photography, specifically food photography? I think it stemmed from the strong presence of cooking that I was raised around, and freedom I had to explore my creativity starting from a young age. The importance of cooking a healthy, natural meal whether it was to fuel and sustain me during my lengthy ballet lessons or my family’s experimentation with food from almost every culture and the experience of sitting down together for dinner every night made cooking such a memorable and intimate experience for me. By the time I was on my own in college, I had acquired both a dairy and gluten allergy, so I really had no option but to cook for myself. This brought about a deeper appreciation and journey of cooking and I dabbled with photography throughout high school, but it all really took off for me my sophomore year at Cal Poly when I made my cooking blog that features all of my culinary photography live and I’m still enchanted with the process. It was only natural that I marry my various passions together, of food and photography.
Can you mention any struggles you have faced regarding culinary photography? With culinary photography, there is the pressure of creating an aesthetically impressive display of food, so as the primary creator of the dishes I photograph, there is the necessity to make sure what I photograph doesn’t simply taste delectable, but also photographs just as well. This is sometimes hard especially with gluten free food, which is the subject matter of my blog, since it can often be crumbly, or not as nice to spoon out as a gluten filled food when I’m serving. One of my favorite things in the world is cooking late at night, as I often feel inspired either at night or early morning when it feels like time is operating at its own standard. The issue with this is that is I believe photographing a subject in natural light is unbeatable, and when I cook late at night, I struggle with lighting and bringing out the true colors and vibrancy of the food, as fluorescent kitchen lighting is not too kind.
How, if so, do you plan on incorporating this talent into your future? With photography in general, I couldn’t imagine going through my experiences without documenting them. It’s funny because I never understood when I was younger why my mom would constantly take photos.
I’m about spontaneity and being truly in the moment but at the same time I know that whether it’s as soon as a trip is over, years into the future, or even on a rough day, I’ll want to go through those photographs that represent a time that resonates within me. In the realm of culinary photography I don’t see myself doing that as a main career, but I know that this is a lasting thing for me. I’m so excited to take my culinary photography further by experimenting more with food styling and set up and different lenses for the camera I shoot with, the Olympus Pen.
What makes culinary photography so unique from other styles of photography? I pride myself in photographing food in an honest, natural way. This makes it so unique from other styles of photography because it captures food, whether it’s the ingredients or the final product in its entirety. There’s no excessive editing, or unnatural additives. There’s a reason why most advertisements and cookbook photographs aren’t consistent with the actual product; they aren’t the real thing. Sometimes heirloom vegetables have irregular shapes, and sometimes the vegan cheese doesn’t look exactly like regular dairy cheese, but that’s what’s so intriguing to me: Being able to portray food as is, completely simplistic. Unlike most other photography, where irregular coloring could potentially enhance the photo, and where keeping the subject as natural as possible isn’t the goal, true culinary photography is raw, in the moment, truly colorful, and real. Photography is about telling the story, and food plays such a strong role in memories we have of events. For example, similar to smells, the taste of food can bring us back to various events or big things in our lives.
How has this skill shaped you as an individual? Through both culinary photography and having a blog, I’ve been able to meet owners of local eateries and fellow creative individuals who have most definitely shaped me and shared their passions and their story with me. Culinary photography itself has taught me to experiment and push the rules of traditional photography, whether it’s taking an aerial view of a plate rather than an up-close, more sensory shot, or changing the way I present the food. Traits have come with this art, such as learning to be patient as well.
Which of your creations are you most proud of? The day that my friend who is an underground filmmaker was filming me cooking a three-course meal for a cinematic collaboration was the time I was most proud of my cooking and photography. I put such immense care into thinking through each dish I had chosen to prepare, and the end result was a sophisticated meal produced from local ingredients, and as if it couldn’t get better, the lighting coming through my home and kitchen that day was a soft glow and allowed me to take the photographs I am most proud of.
Can you share a random anecdote about yourself and your photography experience? This past spring quarter my boyfriend and I had decided that we would make our very own Pad Thai. We found a recipe online and this night went as any other late night cooking party would go….until the noodles literally turned to mush and resembled risotto and the flavor was completely off. I had captured great photographs of the process, but the final dish was beyond all help. Envision a plate of porridge, that’s just how it looked. I’ve never truly experienced any real failure with my cooking or photographing something I made, so needless to say, I was pretty upset, like Catherine Zeta Jones upset in “No Reservations” upset. I was frustrated with the outcome, and especially about not being able to photograph the final product which I was so looking forward to. But my boyfriend was cheerfully attempting to eat the porridge/ risotto/Pad Thai to make me feel better as if it wasn’t all for nothing which was really a funny sight and the absurdity of the situation struck me about letting this ruin my night which led to us laughing off the entire thing. This taught me not to take myself so seriously, and with photography, it truly is up to the subject and a number of factors whether something comes out well or is even photographable. Things can usually be recreated, especially in culinary photography and it’s not the end of the world if perfection isn’t attained on the first time around.
Tenney Rizzo Studio Artist (8 years) Art & Design Major California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Tenney and I officially met in a Studio Art class this past year, but I had always secretly admired her artistic talents after a few friends mentioned her to me. I am so honored to know her as a friend now, and to feature her work.
When did you realize your passion for art? I probably started becoming really passionate about art in my sophomore year of high school, but I didn’t realize it at the time because I was kind of an emotional wreck. I came home crying once, because my teacher had cropped one of my paintings that I was putting in a show in town, because it didn’t fit the frames she had. I balled my eyes out for days; it literally felt like someone had mutilated my child. It was more in retrospect of that experience, and the numerous other crying episodes that occurred that year for the sake of art, that made me really realize the last couple years of high school that art was something I loved and wanted and needed to pursue.
What is your favorite medium to work with? Truthfully, I like working with every medium I’ve been exposed to. I was really into still photography for a while, and my dslr is still with me where ever I go, but I’ve been really fascinated with film and video lately. Painting, either with acrylic or oil, has been pretty constant though. It’s like a first true love; I might get into other things and really like them for a season, but I always come back to my first love.
How would you describe your art style? Holy Spirit-lead. That’s probably not style as much as it is content, but that’s what I’m about and it does shows up in my style. I tend to gravitate toward things that are ethereal or luminous, and maybe even a little transcendent.
How long does it take to complete an art piece? This question makes me want to laugh, not because it isn’t a good question, but because I used to be so slow at art making. I think I’ve gotten much quicker in college because I’ve had to bust out so many projects in such a sort time, but it’s really not true. I am still quite slow; I just never sleep so that I can finish things on time. It probably takes me a couple weeks with some allnighters to finish a decent sized painting. Videos might take a couple days to a week depending on the length of it. Sculptures probably vary the most because of size and material and my lack of experience.
What is your favorite environment to work in? I love beautiful natural light, so I love to work in spaces that have a wall of big windows. I also like working in
corners or strangely arranged spaces that separate me from being around a lot of people when I’m working in a place like a classroom studio or a heavily shared space. Don’t get me wrong, I love people and I love being around them, but when I need to focus, I like to close myself off as much as possible.
How have your artistic talents shaped you? I’ve said for a very long time that I feel like I was created to create, and I really started saying that before I even knew exactly what I was saying or why I was saying that, but it just was always something that I really felt deep inside of me. When I really decided that I was going to get into this art thing and let my artistic abilities be developed, I really felt like I began to understand more about myself. Studying art as a major has been so amazing; it’s been like opening up a box and figuring out who I am, because I’ve figured out why I think the way I do and why I like what I like and why I just feel like a big weirdo sometimes. I really believe that I was always meant to be an artist, and really pursuing that has unearthed parts of me that I didn’t really know existed.
How do you plan on incorporating your artistic talents into your future? That is something that I am praying about a lot, because I feel like art is definitely something that is going be a big part of my ministry, whatever that may look like in the future. I really want to bring healing to artists and creative-types; I see a lot of people with so much potential that give up their talents and abilities because they’ve been so hurt or so discouraged, and they don’t even know the power they hold as an artist. I believe artists can be world-changers, and I wanna help people see themselves as artists who can do radical things with the gifts they’ve been given.
Who/what inspires you? God’s relentless love for me, the blood of Jesus over my life, and the power of the Holy Spirit, who is my best friend.
What do you do when you don’t feel inspired? I honestly don’t remember what it feels like to not be inspired. There are times when I might not be doing a lot of art making or I’m just doing projects or jobs for clients, but ideas never really stop coming. Sometimes
pursuing art has unearthed parts of me that I didn t know existed. I feel like more ideas come than I even have time or motivation for, but I feel constantly inspired, because the unending God, who is the author and creator of my salvation, has abundant recourses for me and came to give me life and life to the full, and I really believe in those promises. I’ll be real and say that it hasn’t always been like this and before I knew God, there were a lot of dry periods where I didn’t feel inspired, but when I first really encountered God, one of the first things that He taught me to do again was dream, because that was something that was really dead in my life and it effected my whole life, not just my art, but when I started dreaming again, my art-making radically changed because I wasn’t constantly searching for something to tap into and draw inspiration from; I found living water that never runs dry. The best resource I could ever ask for is literally a prayer away, so I pray and dream, and sometimes I wait for something really specific to come before I start making things, and sometimes I just start making things and realize later that what I’ve made is exactly what I need to make, and I continue to build upon that and refine it.
What do you think has been your strongest piece thus far? I probably shouldn’t admit this but I don’t think I’ve made my strongest piece yet because I feel like a lot of my current work is on the precipice of being strong. The works feel like good ideas that need to be broken apart and reconstructed into something better, and I think it’s because I still feel too much of myself leading the work, and that’s not the heart of what I want to do. I want to create art that is really so Spirit lead that it’s not about me and this thing I had made; it’s about the Holy Spirit and the viewer interacting, which is kind of a hard thing to strive for, because I’m not in control of that really, but I have a lot of faith my work will get there.
Courtney boyer Studio Artist (7 years) Sonoma State University Business and Art major I met Courtney in elementary school, and even then she was always involved with art projects. After reconnecting with her, I noticed that her artistic skills have only grown and her portraits are amazing!
When did you realize that your passion for art? I don’t know if there was a particular moment I realized I liked making art, but in high school, I had an Intro to Art class with a teacher named Mr. Woodman, and he really pushed me to apply myself more. I made my first decent drawing in that class, so I guess after seeing that I was capable of making art that wasn’t as awful as it had been in the past, I was motivated to keep drawing.
What is your favorite medium to work with? Since I started it’s always been graphite on paper, but I’ve been trying to combine mediums lately and that’s turned out pretty well. Graphite is still probably my favorite, but not on its own anymore—I’m more interested now when there’s some color!
How would you describe your art style? I’m still developing one I guess! You caught me at a weird time. I like drawing portraits relatively realistically, but I’ve been playing around with using shapes of light and drawing the actual shapes if that makes any sense… I did this in my drawing of my boyfriend Sam with the blue in the background, and in some other sketches. It’s much more appealing than trying to make a drawing look exactly like a photo.
How long does it take you to complete a piece? Depends on how lazy I am at any given time. I’m so slow, so usually I do most of a drawing and never finish it, but sometimes I’m really interested in how a drawing will turn out, or I need to get it done as an assignment for a drawing class or something. In those cases, I’m able to bust out a piece in a night or two.
What is your favorite environment to work in? I usually work at night and stay up way too late, and then wake up late and stay up too late again. This is probably why there are periods when I draw a lot—when my sleeping schedule is off—and periods when I don’t draw at all—when I’m awake at normal, functioning-adult hours. I’ve done a lot of pieces at my desk at home.
What do you think is your strongest piece? I like the one of Ella, the little girl who is squinting, because it was the first photo-realistic drawing I did that I was really satisfied with, but I’ve definitely had to push myself a lot more with my recent drawings,
so I like those too. I need to do more so I can have more favorites!
How has your artistic talent shaped you as an individual? I’m not really sure. I know some people refer to me as an artist before anything else, but I think if I agreed with that I’d have to make more art. Drawing and painting have helped me develop my taste, though, so I’m better able to decide what I do and don’t like in terms of art.
Who or what inspires you, and what do you do when you no longer feel inspired? My friends and family are most inspiring to me. Whether they encourage me to make more art, or post a picture that I think would look pretty cool as a drawing, they’re always my source of inspiration. My mom is very supportive too, and I really appreciate her telling me things are “good” or “great” but always having to specify that she doesn’t know what she should be looking for and doesn’t know how to critique me. She’s so great though. When I don’t feel inspired, I’ll either do absolutely nothing artistic, which I’m sure isn’t what people want to hear, or I’ll go through a magazine and draw some of the people in it. The main issue I have with that, though, is that the standards in the beauty industry almost always require Photoshopping, and I don’t want to draw altered images.
Care to share a random anecdote about yourself regarding your talent? Hmm. The first thing that comes to mind is the yearbook cover drawing contest in fifth grade. I was convinced that my drawing was good enough for the yearbook cover, but I had drawn this really awful American flag with the words to the national anthem around it in messy writing. It was really terrible, and that’s when I realized you actually have to try for your art to be good (and then I didn’t do anything about it for a while).
How do you plan on incorporating your artistic talents into your future? I’d like to be able to do art because I want to and not because I have to, but I’d also like to apply my skills to my work. I’m not really sure yet, but I plan to keep developing my style and see where that takes me.
Matthew Torres
Matthew torres Studio Artist (3 years) Fine Arts Major Animation Minor Universit y of Southern California, Roski School of Fine Arts
Matthew and I met during a summer school session in high school, and even after he moved to a noher state, we’ve kept in touch through art. His work is amazing and he’s made awesome progress.
When did you realize that your passion for art? Pretty late, my first art class was AP Studio Art during my senior year of high school, and that’s when I realized I kind of had a knack for it. I only started taking it very seriously once I got settled into college, around the second half of my freshman year. I wanted to be a hip-hop dancer before art ultimately won out as the skill I chose to really focus on.
What is your favorite medium to work with? Ink pens and Photoshop.
How long does it take you to complete a piece? I typically work slowly when I want to make a finished piece, mostly because I’m still developing a consistent workflow. Since I don’t really have a formula yet I kind of figure things out as I go along. It’s not unusual for me to take 20+ hours on a piece. I’m trying to get faster.
What is your favorite environment to work in? I like working in a quiet place with a friend or two, without too many distractions. Being at home is a plus because I can snack whenever I want and shower if I need to think. I talk a lot and I take frequent dance breaks so I feel kind of inhibited when I draw in public.
them! I understand that it’s a pretty competitive job market, so even if I don’t get a job in art right off the bat, I know that art will always be something that I’m developing on the side.
How have your artistic talents shaped you? They’ve given me a sense of purpose! I feel very fortunate that I have something to strive for, because before art I didn’t really have any direction or any idea of where I was going to end up. High school was such a drag because I could never push myself to study and work on subjects that I felt had no relevance to my life. I still have moments of uncertainty, but I feel like being an “artist” has become a concrete part of my identity.
Who/what inspires you? My two younger brothers, Ian and Timmy. They’re ridiculously talented and always keep me motivated to take my work to the next level. My friends at USC have played a pivotal role in my development as an artist, as well, so shout out to Kai, Kevin, and Sue! I’ve learned more from them than I’ve ever learned in my classes. I also follow a ton of artists on the Internet, read a lot of comic books, and watch hours and hours of cartoons. I love that the stuff I do to chill out is relevant to what I want to do for a living.
What do you think is your strongest piece ? That’s is hard to say, I tend to be very critical of my pieces after I finish them. In general I think my strongest pieces are the ones that are in some way related to my personal life. When the subject matter is personal, I have a very clear idea of what the piece needs to convey. I did a self-portrait at the beginning of the summer to deal with this disgusting illness I contracted. I couldn’t eat anything for 4 like days and drawing really helped distract me from how hungry I was. They way it turned out really corresponded with how nasty I was feeling.
How do you plan on incorporating your artistic talents into your future? One of my dreams is to get together with a group of friends and collaborate on a really large, longterm project, like a short film or a graphic novel or something. My favorite part about art is the community that I get to be a part of. I love ambitious, creative people and I want to be surrounded by
What do you do when you don’t feel inspired? If I really feeling dry I’ll start writing, and usually after I get some thoughts down it becomes a little easier to pull out ideas. I’ll try to get out and draw things from life if nothing comes out off the top of my head. Even if I can’t make anything good that day, I always try to draw something. Taking showers does wonders to put me in that motivated, creative state of mind. I take a lot of showers.
Lauren Manning Studio Artist (5 years) Art & Design Major Studio Art Tenney andConcentration I officially met California Polytechnic State in a Studio Art class this past University, San Luis Obispo year, but I had always secretly admired her artistic talents I first metfriends Laurenmentioned when she after a few wasto me. an IResident Advisor her am so honored to duringher my as firsta year in college. know friend now, She to always had anwork. artistic and and feature her humble vibe, so after taking an art class together, I got to see some of her work and I was amazed at her work and heart that she put into it.
When did you realize that you had a passion for studio art? I realized I had a passion for art at a really young age, but I never expected that I’d pursue it as a career. I wanted to be a carpenter until I was 17, at which point I enrolled in my high school’s art program and started to think seriously about being a professional artist.
What is your favorite medium to work with? I can’t really put a finger on my favorite medium; for a long time I thought it was painting, but recently I’ve started making more 3-dimensional work and video/ sound projects, which uses an entirely different part of my brain.
How would you describe your art style? My art style is, for the most part, unfinished - visually and conceptually. I like leaving things up to the viewer as much as possible.
On average, How long does it take you to complete an art piece? On average, it takes me about two weeks to finish a piece. But I’m trying to draw out the process - make more ambitious pieces, pour a lot of time and energy into the planning as well as the construction of something.
What is your favorite environment to work in? I love working in privacy with loud music. I get in a zone and forget that anyone else exists.
How do you plan on incorporating your artistic talents into your future? In the future, I plan to move to New York to network and immerse myself in the epicenter of the art world. I feel like I’ve been so detached from the important art culture, with the exception of all the reading I’ve done. But after undergrad, it’s time to start living in it!
Who/what inspires you? I’m inspired by the vastness of the future, actually. I get so excited at the idea of all the possibilities, and as soon as I get my head wrapped around something, I can’t sleep until I make some/any small progress in achieving it. I stay up all night dreaming and planning.
I stay up all night dreaming and planning. What do you do when you no longer feel inspired? When I no longer feel inspired, I have to force myself to take a break from my work. It’s painful to walk away when all you want is desperately to make something, but there’s no point in forcing it. I usually grab a sketch book and go out into civilization somewhere and do observation drawing - that way, my ability doesn’t fade, but my mind can take a break.
Justin witt
Justin Witt
Graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Justin’s work is highly regarded in the Graphic Communication Department at my school, and I had the pleasure to get to know him through work this past year. He simply radiates talent, and I am so thankful to have worked under his wing.
When did you realize you had a passion for graphic arts? As I assume it is with just about anyone, I have always had an innate appreciation for beautiful design although I don’t think I truly recognized the passion to create it until college. In high school I fell in love with photography and subsequently photoshop. Photoshop introduced me to the world of Adobe. Photoshop led to Illustrator, Illustrator led to InDesign and next thing I knew I found myself at Cal Poly following a hobby toward a career.
What are your favorite types of design projects to work on? For me, the difference between design and art is that design accomplishes a pre-distinguished purpose whereas art simply brings emotion. With that in mind I love design that provokes an action. Specifically I love Branding because beautiful, strategic, different branding entices consumers to connect with a product. Branding is the essence of a company or product and I truly enjoy creating that entire essence from logo and digital marketing to collateral and advertising.
I am so grateful that I get to do this every day. Favorite Font? Avenir. It’s like Helvetica, but better.
Biggest pet peeve in the design world? Lack of white space. Let it breathe people, let it breathe!
Who inspires you?
What do you feel is your strongest piece?
I am inspired by hundreds of things from the motion of Rory McIlroy’s golf swing to the texture of tree bark. For a more practical answer I have been particularly inspired by hand-typographers recently. The dedication to their craft is incredible and it inspires me to take my designs to the next level of intricacy. One of my favorites is Greg Coulton.
I have many pieces I like for many different reasons but as far as the “complete package” it’s hard for me to say anything other than the Limited Edition Count of Monte Cristo. This was a completely handcrafted book from the page layout to paper selection, binding, and even gold-leafing. A lot of hours of sleep were lost over this book so it holds a special place in my heart.
Favorite environment for designing? Dead silent and totally still.
What do you think is the most fulfilling part of being a Graphic Artist?
How often do you experience designer’s block and how do you get around it?
I think it is two-fold for me. I believe that God created us in his image and he is at his core a creator and so it is natural for us to create and I get a serious sense of fulfillment when I create something beautiful. Secondly, I love transforming something from plain to unique and when a project is completed and I get to look back at the transformation that took place and the people it effected I get a great sense of fulfillment. Being a designer is a great job and I am so grateful that I get to do this every day.
Fairly often. I think the important thing to remember when experiencing designer’s block is that stressing only makes things worse. I get away from my desk, disconnect myself from the project for a while and when I return I try to approach it from a completely different angle. If that doesn’t work I remember that the simple solution is almost always the best and then I dive in and start working on the project without really knowing where I am going.
Trudy Vinson Graphic Artist (5 years) California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Graphic Communication
Trudy and I were assigned to be in the same photography group, which was also when we became good friends. I’ve always admired her humbleness when it came to her (awesome) design work, so I could not pass up the opportunity to show off her work.
When did you realize you had a passion for graphic arts? I think I always have! I’ve always loved magazines. I used to make them on my mom’s computer with Word and Microsoft Paint and print them out on copy paper. Embarrassingly enough my best friend and I also used to make Myspace layouts in middle school, which got me into HTML and web design. What really made me design to pursue the industry though was my high school journalism class.
What are your favorite types of graphic design projects to work on? What I’ve really grown to love is creating marketing campaigns for clubs, events, etc. that combine print and social media. Designing layouts has always been what I’m most comfortable with – that’s when I can get in the zone and work for like five hours straight. Logos are fun too!
Who/what inspires you? There are so many talented designers out there that it doesn’t take much to get inspired by other’s work! It’s also motivating to try and beat your own work by learning new skills that make each piece better than your last. It’s like a lot of things in life, where after a few years you look back and say, “Why did I think that looked good?!” I always want to improve upon myself.
How often do you experience designer’s block, and how do you get around it? Sometimes when I get assigned a project I’ll have no idea where to begin and it’ll take me days to get inspired. Then I’ll have a burst of inspiration and finish the project in a matter of hours regardless of anything else I have going on. Having a deadline certainly forces you to get around a creative block.
What’s your favorite environment to work in? When I’m alone, focused, and hyped on lots of caffeine.
Favorite Font? That’s a tough one! I love a good bold sans-serif, preferably knocked-out.
i love how there s an endless amount of things to learn. What do you think is the most fulfilling part about being a graphic artist? There’s nothing like the feeling of having something you created get printed or go live. It’s a total adrenaline rush! I also love getting the chance to use my skills to support organizations I believe in and spread positive messages through design. And I love how there’s just endless amounts of things to learn. I could go on and on!
Timothy Plummer Graphic Artist (8 years) Rhode Island Institute of Design Graphic Design Major My friend Isab e l la introduced me to Tim last summer as her “high school design friend�, and when Tim showed me samples of his college work, I was instantly amazed and wanted to know more about his creative process.
When did you realize your passion for graphic arts? My 6th Grade homeroom teacher mentioned one day in passing that her daughter studied graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design. Having no idea what any of those words meant, I pressed her for an explanation, and eventually realized that it was essentially everything I loved about art crossed with everything I loved about technology. So I pretty much told my parents that same year that I was going to study graphic design at RISD, and they were like, “Okay.”
What are your favorite design projects to work on? My background is in illustration, so I always love to draw from observation. Figure drawing is very cathartic when you’ve been absorbed in trying to be pixel-perfect hour after hour, day after day for weeks. That said, user interface design is what I really enjoy, what I’m most passionate about, what I’m doing as a career.
Who/what inspires you? I don’t really have a good answer for this. I suppose that’s because I rarely feel like I’m inspired at any given moment, I just try to solve a problem, make mistakes, then try again. Sometimes that process goes really smoothly, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes you’ll have an extraordinarily productive day and not realize it until you go to sleep. It’s a scattershot kind of thing.
How often do you experience designer’s block, and how do you get around it? It happens a lot, usually in small doses, but occasionally in a really big way. Which is frustrating. So I’ll stop working, go eat something delicious, maybe read for a while or watch an episode or two of the Daily Show, then come back and give it another go. Doing research is also pretty great; I try to track down someone else who faced a similar problem, and the hardest part of that process is figuring out how exactly to phrase your search queries, asking yourself “What the hell is it I’m looking for?” and then synthesizing the results. It’s weird: once you’ve figured out how to search for the problem, designing for it gets a lot easier.
I just try to solve a problem, make mistakes, then try again. In which work environment do you find yourself being most productive? A quiet one, usually. I don’t listen to music too often, but sometimes old-school Jazz a-la Coltrane helps me calm down and work. At Yelp, where I’ve been working this summer, they have some pretty comfy couches down in the 8th floor common space, so I work there whenever I can. They’re also conveniently situated a short walk away from the pool table, which is where I spend most of my down time.
Favorite Font? Wow. Paralysis of choice. I like a lot of the stuff that the Google Fonts library has to offer, there are some really nice webfonts in there like Open Sans and Roboto. I think my favorite font would have to be Paul Hunt’s Source Sans, though. It owes much and more to the American Type Founders faces of the 1920s, News Gothic, Franklin Gothic, a lot of Morris Fuller Benton’s stuff. It’s lovely, and incredibly versatile.
Biggest pet peeve of the design world? There’s a lot of ego in the design world, especially in high tech. Collectively, designers (myself
included) have an inflated sense of self-worth, of our impact on the many people and products we touch. Of course design matters, but it isn’t the be-all and end-all of every problem that’s ever existed. Sweeping, generalized, and ultimately uninformative rhetoric seems to be the norm for even the most accomplished and intelligent designers, which is a real shame. Anecdotes, stories, very specific examples of unique problems we’ve faced: that’s where designers have the power to change the way people think, not in a couple sentences painted in broad strokes and metaphors.
What do you feel is your strongest piece? For my Type II class last year, I had to combine two texts into one book. Starting with Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49 as my first text, I very quickly found myself using Wikipedia as a guide to his complex narrative account of American culture in the 1960s. I puzzled for a few weeks as to what exactly my second text should be even though the solution was right there in my browser window whenever I was reading. At some point, I finally realized that my second text should be Wikipedia so that I could put the research I was so invested in doing right there on the page. I looked for anything in the Pynchon’s writing that might confuse a reader (i.e. the things that definitely confused me) and included the first couple sentences of a Wikipedia article about that subject in the margin, along with the Wikipedia URL at the bottom of the page. Lot 49 is a really wild, convoluted postmodern text, so I also used the visual language of Wikipedia to editorialize in my annotations (I called the book [citation needed] ) and even did my best to approximate an LSD trip in that style. It was a lot of fun, a huge project that I was really was proud to see printed.
What do you think is the most fulfilling part about being a graphic artist? The sheer variety of problems that designers are equipped to solve is staggering, and that’s a wonderful thing. It means there’s always something you’ve never even thought about, maybe a problem that didn’t even exist before last year, last month, last week, just waiting to be tackled. That’s pretty cool.
Amy nguyen Graphic Designer (8 years) University of San Francisco Business Marketing Major Graphic Design Minor Amy and I have been friends since middle school, and I always knew her as an artist/graphic design webmaster. It’s been amazing to see her progress as a designer, and she never fails to impress.
When did you realize you had a passion for graphic arts? Somewhere between playing Neopets and having a MySpace. After using other people’s codes and graphics on your user lookup pages and profile, I realized that I could probably do all of the designing myself – and I’ve never been the same since.
What are your favorite types of design projects to work on? I definitely enjoy doing publication design the best, although that’s what I work on the least. I really enjoy working on t-shirt designs too, because at the end of it all, it’s cool to see a bunch of people wear your design.
Who/what inspires you? BRANDON YUNG!! A lot of my successors from Interact Club really inspire me though; they keep doing what they do and that makes me want to do what I like to do… if that makes sense. But oh man, I follow a lot of people on Dribbble too; that’s usually my go to place to find inspiration.
How often do you experience designer’s block, and how do you get around it? I don’t experience designer’s block often, but when I do, it’s for long-ass periods of time – and that’s not cool. To get around it, I just have to be productive in life, do other things, – eventually ideas come to me, but it definitely takes time.
In what type of work environment are you most productive? I’m definitely a coffee-shop kind of worker; nothing better than some espresso to calm the nerves, get you through the day, and spark some inspiration here and there.
Favorite Font? Zulia Pro… or Novecento… or Comic Neue… there’s just so much to choose from…
Biggest pet peeve of the design world? How some designers get so pretentious and uppity about everything in the world of design – it’s contagious… I’m sorry for everyone I’ve ever offended…
What is your strongest piece and why? When I was in High School I was part of Interact Club and part of it’s District Council – and one of the events we had was this overnight leadership retreat. My partner and I got to work together to make posters, a booklet with personal blurbs and worksheets, a shirt and some pins – it was the whole shabang! It was a lot to do, but it’s definitely something I look back on a lot.
What is the most fulfilling part about being a graphic artist? Ah you know, I kinda like the fact that an artist’s work is never really done – there’s always just more to add, change, and do. Like maybe I can finish a piece and feel satisfied, but maybe I’ll wake up the next day and want do change it or even start over. It’s weird, but that’s what I like; that there’s always more to do.
Gabe Jacobs Gabe Jacobs
Architect (3 years) Notre Dame Architecture Major When I first met Gabe, one of our initial conversations was about Gabe’s love for drawing and architecture. That was the summer before senior year of high school, so it’s been amazing to see him follow his passion throughout college.
What sparked your interest in architecture? I have always been someone who loves to draw. Being the youngest child, I was always dragged to my siblings soccer practices and music lessons and stuff. I always kept a sketch pad in the car and was constantly drawing. Architecture always fascinated me because there are multiple solutions to the same problem, and they can work equally as well as each other. The combination of my love of drawing and my fascination with the multi-solution problem that is architecture made it a pretty logical choice. After attending an architecture camp between my junior and senior year, my mind was completely set on architecture and I haven’t looked back since.
What, in your opinion, makes architecture unique from other art forms? Architecture is unique because it is, in my opinion, the best combination of practical everyday function and artwork. The are 3 Vitruvian principles if architecture; firmitas, utilitas and venustas. Or strength, utility and beauty. We have to worry about all the structural elements and practicality and usefulness like engineers do, but we also make things beautiful. Everyone interacts with buildings everyday on a very intimate level, unlike most other forms of artwork, so we have to take extra care to make sure our work is something that people want to spend time in everyday.
Explain your creative approach to a project. When working on a new piece, the class is given a prompt. The prompt includes a little information about the site, the buildings around it, a sight plan, sometimes elevations (non-perspective drawing of facades) of surrounding buildings, and the program of the building we are designing. The program describes the types of rooms we need to incorporate as well as their general square footage. From there I create an elevation and a parti, or a general sketched out layout. The parti is not a measured drawing, just a general layout of the floor plan to get an idea of the arrangement. After talking with my professor I begin my first drafted floor plans and elevations. I do all my drawings and drafts by hand, and over the next 2-3 weeks or so, I tweak and move rooms around. The final draft rarely looks very similar to the original draft, so it is important to not get married to an idea at the beginning of the process. Once I have my final designs
set, these usually include floor plans for all the designed floors, front elevation, often times elevations of other visible facades, section cuts, perspective drawings of the exterior and an interior space, and small detail drawings, I trace or redraft them onto watercolor paper or vellum/Mylar. If I am working on watercolor, after I finish drawing the plate, I stretch it and complete it with a hand watercolor rendering. If I am using Mylar or vellum, I trace the drawings in ink. After that, all that’s left is to sign the plates and present.
Favorite medium to work with? My favorite medium is definitely pencil with watercolor. I use really hard leads, 4h and 6h. They allow me to cut channels into the watercolor paper and it makes it much easier to render. We use a lot of water with our watercolors in order to create a very smooth wash.
How has your love for architecture shaped you? I don’t know exactly how architecture has shaped me as a person, but I think it fits my personality pretty well. I’m a relatively practical person with a bit of a flare. An artsy side that’s a little bit weird.
What is your favorite piece and why? My favorite projects thus far have been the most recent one, a Chicago townhouse, and the one that was probably the most challenging, Palazzo Massimo in Rome. The Chicago townhouse was really the first experience we had with residential architecture. There was a lot of work with intricate detail work and an opportunity to work on a more intimate level with each of the rooms. Palazzo Massimo was a very different project. It was a massive 50,000+ sq. ft. Italian palazzo that served as an art museum. We had to design it with a cortile that guests entered onto, as well as a special room that contained a specific sculpture that we had to design around. The entire design had to fit into an extraordinarily irregularly shaped site plan, and we had to figure out how to maximize the space by changing axis as well as making sure natural light was able to get to each room. Due to the scale of it, the project was very demanding, in addition one of our drawings had to be a cut- away axon. Or a non-perspective 3 dimensional cutaway of the building. While it was very very difficult, it is one of the projects i am most proud of.
Lane Blankenship Lane Blankenship
Architect (3 years) California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Landscape Architecture Major Lane and I met through our involvements with University Housing, and her musical and artsy vibe as well as passion for architecture was something I noted all the time.
When did you realize that you had a passion for architecture? I always knew I wanted to change the world in some way, but when I really got down into I ended up taking that phrase quite literally and ended up in a place that allows me to actually influence how the surface of the earth grows and changes. I am changing the world, but more literally than most who have that in mind.
What, in your opinion, makes architecture unique from other art forms? Architecture is so different from other art forms because of the intended user. The materials are the same thing that artists use all the time, but the use and audience is so different that it comes from a different place in the mind of the architect. With the intent of the product to have the user spend large amounts of time in it, it changes how the art is created and it becomes a different thing entirely.
Can you explain your creative process when working on a new piece? My creative process comes from watching people. I think aesthetics are important, but in the built form it is not nearly the most important part. It is an experience to be taken in with all senses and emotions, so I envision myself walking through a place. I ask myself a series of questions like, what do I want to do next, what is my mindset, where is the light coming from, when do I want to be here, what would make me feel the most comfortable. From there I create shapes and spaces and continue to develop the ideas until a finished product surfaces.
What is your favorite medium to work with when creating a piece? As environmentally unfriendly as it may be I love to work with wood products, or things that look like wood. I spend a generous amount of time looking for more eco-friendly wood substitute options.
always had an affinity for knowing what people want. I intend to use this talent to create spaces that people never want to leave, that inspire joy where it is not expected, and nurture individuals to rise to their full potential.
How has architecture shaped you? It has really changed how I perceive a place when I enter it. The first things I notice about a place are architectural elements, and composition of space, then I notice other things like vibe, temperature, smell, color. I think that also affects how I interact with people. I am less quick to judge based on outer appearance, but rather how they act and the subtleties of their speech.
Which of your creations are you the most proud of? So far I have built a beautiful bench that was not just about being a bench, but about knowing what people are asking out of a bench and providing that. I really nailed it on that project (pun intended).
Which of your pieces was most challenging and how did you follow through with it? The most challenging piece for me was a presentation that was assigned on the premise of self exploration. We had to describe ourselves using only drawings and colors. Since I am most used to analyzing others, looking at myself was a new experience. TO create something from this challenge I viewed myself from a third party perspective and really tried to imagine myself as someone I did not know yet and was trying to acquaint myself with.
What do you turn to when you no longer feel inspired to work? Music. It is so central to who I am, but it is also another expression of what is inside of people. Seeing what songs are popular gives me a perspective into the mindset of the masses.
How, if so, do you plan on incorporating this talent into your future?
What, or who, inspires you?
I fully intend to move forward into a profession related to the built environment. The thing that drives me most is not the finished product, but the effect that it has on people and I think that I have
I am constantly inspired by my peers. THey push me to do the best I can and really achieve my full potential. Seeing the work they produce inspires me to continue to search for new ideas and concepts. I
am also extremely inspired by the shapes of plants. Nature is beautiful at any scale and really digging down into the shapes created by circumstances gives a picture of what things would look like without human influence, and often times I try to replicate those ideas.
Can you share a random anecdote about yourself and your talent? Art comes from all places, and a perfect example of that is an interaction with one of studio professors. I had mentioned in casual conversation that I played the cello, and as it turned out my studio professor was a composer. He asked me if I would play and record one of the songs he wrote, and we ended up collaborating on a composition that was based on a feeling of encountering a specific built space for the first time. It was so beautiful to see all of our uniquities come together to describe something in a way I had not previously done.
Master Plan
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8� Grass Pavers
Bird Watching Zone
Flat WOven Bamboo benches
Access Road
Stacked Stones Sculpture
Ampitheatre
Flat WOven Bamboo Deck
6� Rill
Smooth Finish Concrete Lap Pool Stacked Stones Sculpture
Knot Garden Gareventa Chair Lift
Sandstone Slabs
Hammocks
Wrought Iron Gazebo
Meditation Garden
Teen Zone
Fire Pit
Small Aggregate Concrete
Half Soccer Field
alexander jeongco Architect (4 years) University of San Francisco Architecture and Community Design Major I don’t actually remember how Alex and I met. I believe it was through mutual friends on Tumblr, but nonetheless, I always knew him with the reputation of an architect and designer, and his passion definitely shows through his pieces.
When did you realize you had a passion for architecture? When I was in high school I was trying to pick a major. I honestly had no clue what was out there and I decided on architecture because it seemed to be a middle ground between doing just art or math and science. After a bit of research, I decided that architecture seemed like a good pick. After the first year of architecture, I was hooked. The design process integrated so many various facets of different fields. I found that every project was an opportunity for learning something new. This was fun and overwhelming since each topic delved deep into specialized fields. After the first year, I found myself in the studio during most of my time and I absolutely loved it. I would go to the studio early in the mornings and bring a coffee and pastry and just work on projects for a majority of the day. I think it was at this point that I realized I had a passion not just for architecture but for design in general.
What, in your opinion, makes architecture unique from other art forms? Unlike other art forms, architecture responds to the needs of people. Architecture has a functional purpose. Without a functional use, is a building architecture or just a sculpture? Buildings are very complex systems that requires a vast amount of people and skill sets to get the job done. The design process of architecture is similar to other art forms, but the end result is something totally different. A building can take years to be built. Buildings are also grounded (for the most part) in the places that they are built. A painting or sculpture can be moved around and art installations can be dismantled. It would be difficult for someone to build a large skyscraper and then disassemble it and move it somewhere else. I think the main thing that makes architecture unique is the way people interact with it. Architecture isn’t static – it influences the way people respond to a space. Simultaneously, the people who interact with architecture have an influence on how the architecture is used and perceived.
Can you explain your creative process when working on a new piece? Whether I’m working on a new building design, website, or 2d piece, my process is generally the same. I spend time analyzing the design needs, my own creative intuitions, and the constraints of the project.
I always start with a piece of paper and writing utensil. After that, I start with sketches, concept models, and various iterations until I create something that I think I can develop. After each iteration of the design, I scrutinize my work and try to extrapolate the good things and the bad things. I then move on in the direction that I think is the most successful and try to see if it still matches my original ideas of the project. The ideas are easy to come up with, but making it work it the difficult part. It always requires a lot of time and effort, even if it’s something really simple.
What is your favorite medium to work with? The pen and paper are pretty much my bread and butter. I always start with a piece of paper and various writing utensil and move to other forms. For architecture, that includes physical models or collages. If I find myself getting too meticulous with my drawings, I’ll switch to watercolors and charcoal or a brush tipped marker. Sometimes I also do a stream of consciousness and try to write out my ideas and then read them aloud to myself and fix my ideas to make sense of them. As I develop concepts, I begin to integrate technology more and use software to speed up my exploration. I can do various iterations of a model on a computer much quicker than I can if I were to make them by hand. Sometimes it’s a mix of each, but no matter how
I choose to develop a project, I always keep at least a pen and sketchbook with me to jot down ideas and sketches.
What/who inspires you? I enjoy looking at the works of various artists and architects. I’m interested in anything that has to do with design, so I like to follow as many people as I can. Some days I like to see hand drawn typographic pieces. Other days I’ll find myself enamored by the city itself and I’ll just ride my bike and try to take in the sights and sounds. I seek out museums, book shops, free events and talks, and coffee shops. These places are my happy places and I get my inspiration by being surrounded by art and people who appreciate art and ideas like I do.
What do you turn to when you no longer feel inspired to work? When I find a lack of inspiration, I try to take a step back from whatever I’m doing and just relax. Usually whenever I’m in a creative rut, I find that the thing that got me there was doing the same thing over and over. When my design process becomes multiple iterations of itself, I try to change the medium I’m using and change my habits and view on the project. It’s kind of like when you look at a drawing so long or write an essay for such a long time that you can’t find any mistakes, even though they’re staring you in the face. When this happens, I take a long walk in the park and bring my sketchbook and pen and usually some form of caffeine. Other times I’ll sit at a coffee shop and just draw whatever I see or think about. After I distance myself from the problem, the solutions usually begin to appear. Sometimes it takes me a whole semester to find an answer to a problem that I had. That’s the beauty about design and the design process – everything you do always helps you grow as a designer.
Can you share a random anecdote about yourself and your talent? When I was in high school, I remember being pressured to keep good grades and to spend my time studying. Even with all the AP classes that I took, I found myself drawn to working on design projects on my spare time. I studied web design, photography, and practiced photoshop whenever I could. Sometimes
my interests in these topics would take over a whole day and I would fall behind on some homework. Even though I didn’t get any grade or praise for the work I was doing, I loved every moment of it. It wasn’t until recently that I realized how vital this was for me as a designer. Even though these were originally thought of as side hobbies, they ended up becoming the best tools for college. My first job was as a graphic designer and since then I’ve been able to use the skills that I developed in both my school and personal work.
THANK
YOU
I put my acknowledgements toward the end of my magazine in order to wrap everything up. They’re like the end-credits of a movie, in a way. Seems logical to me, at least. Thank you to all the contributors to this issue. Clearly, this magazine would be nothing without you. I appreciate all sixteen of you taking the time out of your summer to share with me your amazing work and insight. I have truly gained a greater admiration for what you all do, and I encourage you all to continue being the talented people you are, and striving to be the people you want to be. I hope I was of some help in that process, too. Thank you to Lorraine Donegan, my Digital Typography professor, who taught me all there was to know about “the grid”, white space, and en/em-dashes. After I took Lorraine’s class I could not wait to give PANO 2 a design face-lift. I think I did a pretty good job. Lastly, thank YOU (reader) for reading this magazine. I’m hoping to publish more work in the future, and having an interested audience is all I can ask for. I cannot find the words to describe how thankful I am for the support, so, in short, thank you. You’re awesome.
Inquiries The idea I had behind PANO was to highlight young, hard-working artists I personally know to show my respect for their work and to share their creations with the world. Though I did choose each featured artist myself, and will continue to do so, I am open to any suggestions for future issues. If you or someone you know has a reputation for being artistic in any way, feel free to send me a message at: Facebook.com/AlyssaWigantArt with a description of the person, what category of art they specialize in, some examples of their work, and contact information. You can email about your own work, but the point of PANO is to recognize other peoples’ hard work. This magazine will only be as good as its contributors and support, so thank you in advance. Also, if you have any questions about me, my work, or any suggestions for future issues, let me know! This is a continous learning process for me and I would appreciate all the critiques and help I can get. Thank you!