porter honors
pittsburg state university department of art
spring 2020
02 porter honors
spring 2020 03
studio seniors
pittsburg state university department of art
04 porter honors
T insp li expa disr exp t crea As an th app m be in n b cr sp so charac such of explo futur pre on Ea disso
spring 2020 05
The stars and the planets have pired me to blur together the ine of past and future like the ansion of the universe and its regard of limits all together. I pand and testing the limits of technology for the purpose of ating comics and illustrations. artist, I take techniques from he traditional ways of art and ply them to my digital comic making and dissolve that line etween traditional and digital nto seamless pieces that need not rely on one or the other to be successful at storytelling. I reate characters that exist in a pace-fairing world that we are omewhat familiar with. These cters bring the old to the new h as the prehistoric dinosaurs f our planet’s past. Their story ores the trials of modern and ristic life while keeping their ehistoric roots grounded back arth. In this way, I can further olve those lines of traditional and digital, past and future.
e. klubek
E. Klubek is a senior illustration student attending Pittsburg State University. Illustrating children’s books and creating comics are the main focuses of Klubek’s artistic career while going through school. In the fall semester of the 2019-2020 school year, Klubek was part of the Glory Days pop up gallery that took place in Pittsburg, Kansas. After graduating, Klubek plans on moving into the Kansas City area and starting the creation of a comic series that has been in the planning stages for two years now.
06 porter honors
vic martinac
Victoria (Vic) Martinac is a senior at Pittsburg State University with an emphasis in Illustration. With an interest in storytelling and worldbuilding, Martinac’s artistic career currently focuses on fantasy/urban fantasy and character design. She has participated in The Department of Art Student Exhibition in Labette, Kansas; and the Memorial Auditorium Kappa Pi Annual Exhibit in Pittsburg,Kansas. Following graduation, Martinac intends to be open-minded and see where creating continues to take her.
Art is meant to be an adventure. Fiction, and fantasy specifically is a versatile form for the imagination. Fantasy can open doors to the unimaginable because it’s magic. It gives creatures like me the ability to show the impossible, and to bring the world to life with green forests, the flow of potions, and the anomaly of fantastical creatures. When we’re faced with the harsh reality in our world where struggle is inevitable we get to feel part of something bigger than ourselves. We can escape and go on grand adventures where friendship is true power, and there’s no such thing as impossible.
spring 2020 07 Whether it’s taking pencil-to-paper or paint-to-canvas, art is an outlet people have used since the beginning of time. I use art to help guide my thoughts and my feelings into perspective. Art is something that relieves my stress, even when it’s the cause of it. Communication through art brings forth all different kinds of emotions whether it’s activism based, realistic, or mythological. Everyone knows no one really likes to talk about how they feel. I want to connect with people in a way that can help guide their feelings into perspective. I want to create a safe place that will help them evolve and open themselves to understanding their complicated feelings. My past experiences, and current relationships to art making brings creativity and color to our world.
brianna d. cooks Brianna D. Cooks will receive her BFA in 2D Fine Art in Spring 2020.. Cooks has an interest in most mediums, such as oil paint, graphite, textiles, and watercolor. She has participated in the Cow Creek Review, and other school exhibits including the Memorial Auditorium Kappa Pi, fall of 2019. With her additional interest in psychology, Cooks has decided to continue her education and receive a double Master’s in Art Therapy and Counseling through Adler University of Chicago, Il in Fall 2020. Cooks also participated in sports, and received many accomplishments. She was three-time Conference Champion in the Weight throw. Also, a two-time Second Team All American in the Hammer throw, and a First Team All American in the Weight Throw, and Academics.
08 porter honors Simon Alimujiang is a senior in the Department of Art at Pittsburg State University. His art interests include a focus on propaganda, commercial illustration and photography. He is also an international student who has been studying in the United States since his junior year of high school. “I love it here. I have always felt like a Midwesterner,� he has been quoted to say. Alimujiang creates art works based on his unique aspect of understanding the world, the different cultures and different life styles. He was a part of the Glory Days Gallery at the Block 22, December 2019, where he was in charge of advertising and publicity through the creation of the poster. After Graduation Alimujiang plans to attend a graduate program in Communications with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership. His long term career goals include plans to manage a Nonprofit Organization
simon alimujiang I am an artist of merging cultures. In my life I have lived in various cultures around the world. I was born in the country in East Asia, and I moved to the Midwest of the American Dreams. I create commercial illustrations that are structured from representative elements that appear in different popular cultures from the world where we all live. I am a creator from the generation of the internet. I have the opportunity to discover both the positive and negative sides of our global society, and I can realize the drama of it all. Viewers will meet the merging of the East and the West through my art work. Through my works they may see the reflection of the society in which we all live.
spring 2020 09
sophia stapleton My work aims to discuss the ambiguity in human interaction. Often, nuance can be lost in communication, leading to a misinterpretation of intent in both words and motions. This space between intended and interpreted meaning is what I aim to thematically explore.
Sophia Stapleton is a senior Visual Art and Storytelling Illustration major who will graduate in May of 2020 with a BFA from Pittsburg State University. She is from Bartlesville, OK, but lived in several other places in high school, ranging from the Ft. Lauderdale FL area, to Shenandoah IA. Since 2017 Stapleton has been very engaged and involved in several student organizations, including the University Art Association and Kappa Pi Art Honor Society. In this regard Stapleton has organized the donation of art works, arranged extensive student art trip itineraries, created posters to promote meetings and events. As well she has lead workshops at events and volunteered during student art sales. Additionally, Stapleton appeared in the 2018 and 2019 Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium shows, and the Glory Days pop-up gallery in 2019. After completing her degree, Stapleton intends to further her studies in graduate school.
10 porter honors
corgan faller
Corgan Faller is a Visual Art and Storytelling major at Pittsburg State University. He spent most of his youth in Independence, Kansas and began his art career at Independence Community College in 2016. After graduating with his Associates of Fine Arts, he transferred to Pittsburg State University for his Bachelors of Fine Arts. Faller’s work has been presented in galleries including the Glory Days Pop-Up Gallery in Pittsburg, Kansas; The Department of Art Student Exhibition in Labette, Kansas; and the Memorial Auditorium Kappa Pi Annual Exhibit in Pittsburg,Kansas. Faller is also currently a member of the art honors society Kappa Pi at PSU and has donated several pieces to college fundraising auctions. After graduation, Faller plans to pursue illustrating full-time.
I try to capture overwhelming atmospheres and condense them into a single instant. I want my viewers to experience tangible emotions from a still image. I want them to feel the intensity as they stop and experience a frozen moment, because sometimes animation is just too quick. The images I draw convey dynamic scenes so my characters move with ease. I was inspired by old fantasy and comic artists such as Frank Frazetta, Hirohiko Araki, and Todd McFarlane. Their illustrations fueled my love of action and adventure.
Jansis Alvarado is a senior Art major with an emphasis on Illustration and Visual Storytelling. Alvarado was born and raised in Laurel, Maryland but moved to Wichita, Kansas to graduate from high school. Alvardo received her Associations of Arts at Independence Community College and transferred to Pittsburg State University to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While a student at Pittsburg State she was deeply involved in the University Art Association (UAA) and became treasurer for Kappa Pi’s Art Associate. She led numerous workshops that involved portrait drawing to help raise money for the organization. Alvarado was invited to perform at the 2019 Presidents Society Celebration to paint live during the welcoming of the program. She was also chosen to become the Art Editor for the university’s student led literary magazine Cow Creek Review. Alvarado has exhibited in numerous exhibitions including the Memorial Auditorium Annual Student Art Exhibit for Kappa Pi, Glory Days at Block 22, and her senior show DreamTeam. Upon graduation, Alvarado plans to freelance and build her art portfolio and work on projects using concept art and storyboarding while building her career in the art community.
spring 2020 11
jansis alvarado I always enjoy daydreaming and drifting off to another mindset to pass the time. Throughout my life, art class was the best place to do so. It was encouraged and I felt free. Scrolling the internet to immerse my mindset into the screen was another way to drift off. My daydreaming found new inspiration. I take the time to appreciate artwork on the internet. The mindset I practice every day is inspired by artwork that takes time to make. I see the love and thought that goes into every piece. That’s the kind of world I want to be in.
12 porter honors
spring 2020 13
art education seniors pittsburg state university department of art
14 porter honors
shea dalton Shea Dalton is a senior art education major from Diamond, MO. She is currently student teaching in Diamond. She enjoys giving back to her community and hopes to return to the area as an elementary art teacher after her May graduation. Shea is a part of the Honors College Association and Kappa Pi Art Honor Society. Her paintings about love, marriage, and religion were a part of the university’s recent Teachers as Artists exhibit in Porter Hall.
brooklyn vincent
Brooklynn Vincent is a senior double majoring in Art Education and Graphic Design. She is doing her student teaching in the Lamar R-1 School District. Brooklynn is from Nevada, MO and hopes to either teach art or graphic design after her May graduation. Brooklynn has been heavily involved in campus activities such as Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society), Sigma Alpha Pi (National Honor Society of Leadership and Success), Gamma Epsilon Tau (Graphics Honor Fraternity), Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society), Kappa Delta Pi (International Honor Society in Education), Gorilla Rotaract, PSU KAEA, and Graphic Arts Club. Brooklynn served as Vice-President and President in Graphic Arts Club and Secretary in Omicron Delta Kappa. While at PSU, Brooklynn has received the National Engaged Leadership Award, Certification of Completion and Medallion for Global International Leadership Program, and completed the requirements to achieve Departmental Academic Honors for her Bachelor of Fine Arts. With all of her responsibilities, she has still found time to freelance as an artist and graphic designer.
spring 2020 15
reyna gabriel Reyna Gabriel is a senior art education major, doing her student teaching in the Olathe School District. Reyna came to Pittstate from Raymore, MO and hopes to teach elementary art in the Kansas City Metro area after her December graduation. Reyna has been very involved in Kappa Pi Art Honor Society and was a founding officer in the PSU student chapter of KAEA, serving as Vice-President for two years. Along with all of her school responsibilities, she has found time to attend both state and national conferences for art education. In the Fall of 2019 Reyna was awarded the Teacher of Promise award, a statewide initiative developed by Kansas State Department of Education.
Madie Fleming is a senior art education major preparing to do her student teaching in the Blue Valley School District. She came to PSU from Fort Scott, KS and is hoping to teach secondary art in the Kansas City Metro area following her graduation in May. Madie is very involved in the department and has been an active member of Kappa Pi Art Honors Society and KAEA for two years. She has been specializing in metalsmithing for several years but has a deep love for all forms of art.
madison fleming
16 porter honors
karrie mathes
Karrie Mathes is a senior Art Education major. She is from Southeast Kansas and is completing her student teaching in Coffeyville, KS. Karrie prefers to stay in this area to teach and make an impact on her extended community. As a mother of two children with Autism, she has experience working with children that have special needs. She also participated in a year-long internship through Pittsburg State University in cooperation with Greenbush, preparing lessons and teaching Art classes with differentiated instruction to students with special needs through Project Alternative. While studying at PSU, Karrie also managed to successfully initiate local community projects for the safety of children and volunteered time and support for local children in the foster care system.
jessica davisson
Jessica Davisson is an aspiring art teacher who is doing her student teaching in Fort Scott, KS. She is from Pittsburg, KS and graduated from Pittsburg High School, where she then decided to attend Pittsburg State University. Jessica was a founding member of PSU’s chapter of KAEA and the first President. She has been to both state and national art education conference and is currently seeking a job where she can continue to grow as an art teacher and artist.
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jaelina jones Jaelina Jones is a senior art education major, doing her student teaching in the Joplin School District. Jaelina is from Webb City, MO and hopes to stay within the Jasper county and surrounding areas after her graduation in May. Jaelina served as secretary for the Pittsburg State University’s Kappa Pi Art Association as well as an active member of the PSU chapter of KAEA (Kansas Art Education Association). Jaelina, along with other Art Education majors, organized and p resented a group art show featuring their artwork last December.
Morgan Casley is doing her student teaching in Pittsburg, KS and graduate in May. Kinsey is originally from Pittsburg, KS and chose Pittsburg State University for her degree in Graphic Design and aphy. She returned to Pitt State in 2018 for an additional degree in ducation because of her love for kids and a passion to teach. Kinsey ed as the Vice-President of KAEA spearheading many fundraising events like face painting at the home football games.
kinsey casley
spring 2020 17
18 porter honors
spring 2020 19
kappa pi students pittsburg state university department of art
20 porter honors
sophia stapleton (senior)
Sophia Stapleton is a senior Visual Art and Storytelling Illustration major who will graduate in May of 2020 with a BFA from Pittsburg State University. She is from Bartlesville, OK, but lived in several other places in high school, ranging from the Ft. Lauderdale FL area, to Shenandoah IA. Since 2017 Stapleton has been very engaged and involved in several student organizations, including the University Art Association and Kappa Pi Art Honor Society. In this regard Stapleton has organized the donation of art works, arranged extensive student art trip itineraries, created posters to promote meetings and events. As well she has lead workshops at events and volunteered during student art sales. Additionally, Stapleton appeared in the 2018 and 2019 Pittsburg Memorial Auditorium shows, and the Glory Days pop-up gallery in 2019. After completing her degree, Stapleton intends to further her studies in graduate school.
jeannice parker (initiate)
Jeannice Parker is a graduating senior and full-time employee of Pittsburg State University; who re-ignited with her childhood passion for clay during her academic pursuit. She will continue to explore attending ceramic pr grams, internships, and ceramic conventions with the intentions to increase her skills and have a private studio. As a Kappa Phi member her desire is to discover how to aid students in the Fine Arts. For the last twenty years, her favorite achievements have surrounded the hosting international students for short and long-term periods in her home and to teach short-term aboard in several countries, most recently in Pattaya, Thailand last summer.
katelyn schooley
spring 2020 21
(initiate)
Katelyn Schooley is an Art Education major from Quapaw, OK who wants to become a Secondary Art Teacher after college. She has been active in the PSU chapter of KAEA for the last three years and is the current president. She is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honor Society. She is excited to become a member of the Kappa Pi Art Honor Society and the opportunities that it will offer her. Katelyn has a true love and place in her heart for art.
terry spurling (initiate) Terry Spurling is a senior at Pitt State majoring in Art Education. He received the Lily and Bert Keeny Scholarship for art and the Student Teacher Scholarship this semester and was appointed Vice President of Pitt State’s Kansas Art Educator Association. Terry will be graduating in May of 2021 and wants to become an art teacher at a nice school.
jessica kepler (initiate)
Jessica Kepler, a junior Illustration major from Oologah, Oklahoma is currently the Illustrator for Collegio and the Art Editor Shadow for the Cow Creek Review. She plans to take on the full Editor position next year as well as continue my membership with UAA. When she graduates, she plans to continue her book and editorial illustrations as a freelance artist.
sam moua
22 porter honors
(initiate)
Sam Moua is currently a junior. An Art major with an emphasis on Illustration and Visual Storytelling, after she graduates, she would like to become a freelance illustrator for children’s books. Once that is achieves that goal, she, will move to Japan, planning to live there for a couple of years.
jaelina jones (senior) Jaelina Jones is a senior art education major, who will be graduating May 2020. Jaelina had grown up in Webb City, MO and attended school in the district through her high school graduation. At Pittsburg State University Jaelina was secretary for the Kappa Pi Art Association as well as an active member within the association and the Kansas Art Education Association within Pittsburg State. Jaelina, along with other Art Education majors, had worked in organizing a group show featuring artworks made by the students who were going into be student teaching. Following this school year, Jaelina will begin her first year with the Nevada School district as an Elementary Art Teacher for 3rd thru 5th grade.
mary kate smith (initiate)
Mary Kate Smith is a junior art education major from Girard, KS. She came to Pittsburg State University planning to study elementary education but soon switched majors after rediscovering her passion for inspiring children through creativity and the arts. Mary Kate is actively involved in the PSU chapter of KAEA (Kansas Art Education Association) and The University Art Association. Her favorite part about being a student of the PSU Art Department is feeling welcomed and inspired by her professors and classmates every day. Mary Kate plans to graduate from Pitt State in 2021.
amanda bush
spring 2020 23
(senior)
Amanda Bush is a senior at PSU graduating with a bachelor’s in general studies with an emphasis in art this summer. She holds an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Labette Community College. Amanda is an inducted member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, and Kappa Pi International Art Honor Society. After graduation, Amanda plans on purchasing a home in Northwest Arkansas, and to continue pursuing a teaching certificate to become an art educator. She also plans to do freelance artwork in her spare time.
jansis alvarado (senior)
Jansis Alvarado is a senior Art major with an emphasis on Illustration and Visual Storytelling. Alvarado was born and raised in Laurel, Maryland but moved to Wichita, Kansas to graduate from high school. Alvardo received her Associations of Arts at Independence Community College and transferred to Pittsburg State University to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. While a student at Pittsburg State she was deeply involved in the University Art Association (UAA) and became treasurer for Kappa Pi’s Art Associate. She led numerous workshops that involved portrait drawing to help raise money for the organization. Alvarado was invited to perform at the 2019 Presidents Society Celebration to paint live during the welcoming of the program. She was also chosen to become the Art Editor for the university’s student led literary magazine Cow Creek Review. Alvarado has exhibited in numerous exhibitions including the Memorial Auditorium Annual Student Art Exhibit for Kappa Pi, Glory Days at Block 22, and her senior show DreamTeam. Upon graduation, Alvarado plans to freelance and build her art portfolio and work on projects using concept art and storyboarding while building her career in the art community.
24 porter honors
madie fleming (senior)
Madie Fleming is a senior art education major who is currently student teaching in the Blue Valley School District. She came to PSU from Fort Scott, KS and will be teaching secondary art at Shawnee Heights High School following her graduation in May. Madie is very involved in the department and has been an active member of Kappa Pi and KAEA for two years. She has been specializing in metalsmithing for several years, but has a deep love for all art forms.
shea dalton (senior)
Shea Dalton is a senior art education major from Diamond, MO. She is currently student teaching in Diamond. She enjoys giving back to her community and hopes to return to the area as an elementary art teacher after her May graduation. Shea is a part of the Honors College Association and Kappa Pi Art Honor Society. Her paintings about love, marriage, and religion were a part of the university’s recent Teachers as Artists exhibit in Porter Hall.
deanna korthals (initiate)
Deanna Korthals is a junior art education major from Baxter Springs, KS. She plans to do her student teaching in the fall of 2021 in the local area. Deanna is a member of the local KAEA chapter (Kansas Art Education Association) and is a member of Pittsburg State University’s Kappa Pi Art Honor Association.