Pre-College Summer Institute 2016 Art, Media + Design Look Book

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS Student Work from

Pre-College Summer Institute 2016

ART, MEDIA + DESIGN LOOKBOOK

ART, MEDIA + DESIGN 2016

ART = RISK

The University of the Arts Pre-College Summer Institute 2016 Art, Media + Design LookBook The Pre-College Art, Media + Design Summer Institute is a dynamic and challenging program for highly driven high school students. Accepted students gain solid foundational skills and college-level art and design training while working with the University’s expert faculty. This book documents the focus, creativity, and initiative of the summer 2016 students.

Students in the Summer Institute work hard: they choose two major courses and two elective courses from a range of offerings that parallel the University’s undergraduate curriculum. They become immersed in rigorous visual and critical inquiry, experimenting and challenging themselves with new skills, ideas, and perspectives. While on campus, they also attend performances, exhibitions, museums, and workshops as they explore the culturally rich city of Philadelphia.

The students in this book are independent thinkers from around the globe.

Here, they were provoked and inspired to think like artists and designers— with imagination, insight, and fiercely individual vision.

The University of the Arts Pre-College Programs Rosi Dispensa, Director, Pre-College Programs BFA ’04 (Photography), MA ‘11 (Art Education) Kris Mortensen, Program Assistant, Pre-College Programs Sarah Pater, Office Assistant, Pre-College Programs

UARTS.EDU/SUMMERINSTITUTE

ARTISTS 6

Frances Almodovar

29

Jillian Harvan

7

Julie Alter

30

Jazzmine Jackson

8

Matthew Anderson

31

Dominique Jackson

9

Kayla Baker

32

Rachel Jacobson

10

Dylan Bendit

33

Zaiasia Jones

11

Munirah Bint-Allah

34

Claire Joseph

12

Eden Blas

35

Pixie Kolesa

13

Catherine Byrd

36

Mariah Kondash

14

Tristan Calvo-Studdy

37

Shannon Krieg

15

Madison Charity

38

Ivy Kurniawan

16

Aidan Ciuperca

39

Alexandra Lockwood

17

Chayne Cooper

40

Jocelyn Luciano

18

Charles Cooper

41

Isabella Malossini

19

Claire Cottrill

42

Lynn Marcus

20

Isabelle Cress

43

Jessica Marshall

21

Danielle Diamico

44

Talia Martini

22

Malik Dyson

45

Caroline Marzocca

23

Alex Ebrahimi

46

Sean McGinnis

24

Edelstein Frances

47

Dashawn McIntosh-Inniss

25

Donald Evans

48

Catherine Moriarity

26

Eric Flatt

49

Kacie Mullin

27

Adina Gewirtzman

50

Nir Netz

28

Matthew Grillo

51

Ezra Okeson

52

Kate Ortega

53

Bryce Patterson

54

David Potashnik

55

Kemba Powell

56

McKayla Rebillon

57

Cristina Rodriguez

58

Ashley Samuels

59

Brigitte Schackerman

60

Charles Schimpf

61

Nelleke Stallings

62

Rosalie Tierno

63

Christopher Tocchet

64

Ashlee Valle

65

Victoria Veltri

66

Dahlia Visconti

67

Angela Visconti

68

Stefani Webb

69

Jasmine Wilcox

70

Davanda Williamson

71

Erica Wise

72

Joscelyn Yetter

FRANCES ALMODOVAR PHILADELPHIA, PA

Central High School

FRANCES’ ARTIST STATEMENT I would not consider myself an artist. I’m a storyteller. My work is a representation of my thought process. It is confusing, and sometimes abstract when manifested. The goal is to tell epic stories about life and the human condition in all its complexities. I love film because it is the ultimate storytelling medium—it’s universal. I mean this in the sense that, there is a film out there for everyone, and that one film could mean different things to thousands of people. This due to film’s use of art within an art form. Film is a limitless medium that conforms to boundaries, in the embodiment of perception and fixed perspective.

The beauty of filmmaking is that there is constant conflict between intention and interpretation.

I have always loved film and have always tried to find ways to interpret life through them. I am convinced that film gives me insight into lives I could never live, through the story, the director’s perspective, and the writer’s perceived intention. It is also always interesting to analyze the many contributions to a film and how that shapes the end product.

Film is about collaboration and exploration. Collaboration is expressed in the end credits; the audience is finally presented with the intricate system behind the piece—a very lengthy system wherein individuals work like cells in human body, each with very distinctive yet crucial roles in the telling of this particular story. Each crew member has their own specialty; they are artists of mediums beyond film, and as they collaborate within this system they allow for an in-depth exploration of the story behind the film.

My work is really an attempt to explore the meaning of life. It is considered one of those stories that lives even as its main characters die. Traditionally, “life” has been told within a confined space, similar to a box, projected with four corners and four walls. I have a slight obsession with breaking the fourth wall. It is my way of disrupting the balance between e audience and the piece.

I often take a post-modernistic approach in my work because for me, the piece loses beauty if the audience ignores the path of open interpretation and reaches for intention. It might also mean that I have a weird relationship with art and the idea of perfection, when created by humans.

My work often has a sarcastic foundation hidden in between lines to keep me from taking it too seriously. My work always plays with the conflict between intention and interpretation. I am a storyteller who doesn’t need coherent sentences to tell a story.

FILMMAKING CINEMATOGRAPHY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

6

JULIE ALTER FREEHOLD, NJ

Communications High School

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: MAKER LAB GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS

JULIE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I design pieces digitally and dimensionally in addition to making drawings, all with the goal of informing people. My mission is to create an interactive experience for the viewer by dissecting topics like world history, nature, gender, and religion. My work is intended to be organized yet beautiful, and I hope to pursue a career in product design.

7

MATTHEW ANDERSON PHILADELPHIA, PA

Milford Mill High School

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: MAKER LAB EXPLORING 2D DESIGN SKATE INDUSTRY: ILLUSTRATION + DESIGN ART FOR GAMES

MATTHEW’S ARTIST STATEMENT The visual aspect of filmmaking can easily draw a viewer in, but I am interested in immersing a viewer in a film through narrative aspects. As a comedic filmmaker, I tend to explore comedic themes with sensitivity, creating a film that is humorous but not offensive. That said, I like to explore ideas that are timely and relevant, giving people more material to analyze when discussing current events. As I often like to spread positivity and happiness towards others, I like to convey that positivity through humor and allow viewers to enjoy films that are both timely and funny. It is my hope that by telling relevant and compelling stories with humorous characters and smart dialogue, I will be able to immerse a viewer in a film through its narrative.

8

KAYLA BAKER MIAMI, FL

Design Architecture Sr. High

FILMMAKING CINEMATOGRAPHY DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

KAYLA’S ARTIST STATEMENT My main interest is in filmmaking, and specifically in creating and developing short films that capture an intriguing narrative. Often my work circles around a single character and their wacky story. I would consider myself to be a visual storyteller. I aim to create original ideas within a visually stimulating progression of moving pictures. My tastes are not singular; my interests include a range of subject matter (it could be about a deranged maniac or about some dead bird; there are endless opportunities). I remain open to any type of material and any kind of genre. Though, I do prefer to work with a plot and tend to move away from abstract experimentation.

Stylistically, I dabble with things like classic Hollywood narrative, noir, silent, and/or shaky cam in order to explore with camera movement, lighting, and story structure. Often I find myself clinging to the work from past masters, like Stanley Kubrick, to fuel my passion and discover new techniques in creating motion pictures.

9

DYLAN BENDIT WAYNE, PA

Conestoga High School DYLAN’S ARTIST STATEMENT

PHOTOGRAPHY GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO SKATE INDUSTRY: ILLUSTRATION + DESIGN STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

10

The best art is the kind that sticks with you. I am interested in making work that makes people stop and think about what they are looking at. To do this I employ strong and intentionally offensive material. My work aims to capture the viewer’s emotions in their most basic state. I use a traditional method in my work combined with digital elements. I like to combine a digital composition with a non-digital composition. This technique makes my work look degraded and rough. I achieve this by first cutting out images and pasting them onto a paper. Then, I hand color the collaged works. Finally, I use Photoshop or Illustrator to edit and complete the works.

MUNIRAH BINT-ALLAH PHILADELPHIA, PA

String Theory Charter School

MUNIRAH’S ARTIST STATEMENT ANIMATION EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

To be completely honest, I never thought I would be an artist. Between the wine from childhood to now, I’ve found the art style that fits me—free draw.

There is no specific paper or utensil I prefer to draw with over another; I use what I have graphite, pens, markers, etc. For inspiration, I’ve found social media to be the best, and especially Tumblr. Through Tumblr, I have discovered many artists who spoke to me. For example, I love the characters and the comic strips Z-T00N makes, and the way Sakimichan draws makes characters look realistic. These artists make me want to share my art on Tumblr, too, so others can reboot and like it. I also make my very own characters, but never put them to play. My objective is to make comic strips about my characters so everyone can see what I make and not just myself anymore!

11

EDEN BLAS PHILADELPHIA, PA

Saint Huberts Catholic High School For Girls

EDEN’S ARTIST STATEMENT I have a fascination for stories. I believe storytelling is a powerful element that can be used to inform, motivate, and inspire an individual. Even if one has not experienced much, they can draw upon the lives of fictional people and make wise decisions going forward from that. Though they are traditionally captured perfectly through words—they tend to lack other senses that people rely on such as sight, sound, and touch. My passion is to show stories—make them come alive any way possible. This can be used through different outlets such as animation, film, and video games. My preferred way of mapping out ideas in my mind is to draw things out—through ink, digitally, or even to give a one page drabble of the story I want to tell.

Stories have existed since the beginning of time. I want people to see these tales with their own eyes.

ANIMATION CINEMATOGRAPHY ART FOR GAMES

12

CATHERINE BYRD COATESVILLE, PA

Downingtown West High School

CATHERINE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I chose illustration as my major for the UArts 2016 Pre-College program because I love art that tells a story. I love experimenting with my art, and I do not have any single style that most defines me as an artist because of this. Creating a wide variety of art is one of my favorite things, and I favor drawing fantasy and reality equally—often incorporating elements of one into the painting or drawing I am doing of the other. I love reaching beyond my comfort zone, and aim to one day be employed working on videogames, designing characters, environments, and items.

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC NOVEL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ART FOR GAMES

13

TRISTAN CALVO-STUDDY PHILADELPHIA, PA

William Penn Charter School

FILMMAKING CINEMATOGRAPHY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

TRISTAN’S ARTIST STATEMENT TO MAKE SENSE OF AN ENIGMA I am a filmmaker. I make short narrative, documentary, and editorial pieces on topics that I feel passionate about. I aim to analyze and explain popular trends, like thrift shop and vinyl culture. I relay my personal opinions on American culture both visually and verbally, making pieces that reveal America’s fascination with the media and technology.

I construct thorough narrative pieces to deliver strong themes of racism, greed, and power through developed characters in a heavily revised story. As I have invested more time into filmmaking, it has become my principal means of expression. Film is my primary artistic medium, and has remained the only method of which I’m able to deliver a strong, impactful message that resonates with others. I feel moved to make films almost randomly. When a certain topic inspires me, I attempt to harness my emotional response and deliver it to others. I try and make sense of our perplexing world, and I use film to slowly deconstruct a concept one project at a time. I feel like people have an inherent need to understand things, which makes my art that much more appealing to a large audience.

I am inspired by an enormous body of work. I am able to draw inspiration from the abstract works of Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky, all the way to the down-toearth content of YouTube star Casey Neistat. I feel that all these pieces, either visually, verbally, or symbolically possess a unique perception of a topic. I’m fascinated by the various styles, speeds, and depths synonymous with various directors. This has inspired me to experiment with a plethora of stylistic approaches, which has helped me find my own. As I move forward in my artistic career, I hope that I am able to inspire others with my perceptions, and leave an audience mesmerized with my imagery. I want to grow in a strong community of artists, where we can start to make sense of this crazy world and share it with a curious and intrigued global audience.

14

MADISON CHARITY ELKRIDGE, MD

Long Reach High School

MADISON’S ARTIST STATEMENT Is a subject still beautiful even at a close up angle? I make photographs of subjects close up, so that you only see a small part of the subjects. The scale that I use for the photographs is small format. The inspiration for this work is the notion that no matter how close you are to a subject, you can still see the beauty of it. For example, if I took a picture of a quarter of a person’s face, my main objective would be to show the subject’s beauty no matter the distance of the camera from the subject. My audience is everyone and I want them to embrace beauty no matter where the camera is.

Disney is where dreams come true.

PHOTOGRAPHY JEWELRY + SMALL METALS EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

15

AIDAN CIUPERCA ATLANTA, GA

Galloway School

PAINTING FIGURE PAINTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS

16

AIDAN’S ARTIST STATEMENT My art is characterized by the use of texture, while also integrating LGBTQ issues. I don’t have a specific style and I continue to experiment with every new piece I create. Although I mainly focus on creating works through drawing and painting, I employ diversity through texture. In my paintings, I use brushes and palette knives to demonstrate different types of mark making. An additional characteristic of my paintings is the use of soft colors with a small range between light and dark values. I am fascinated by social issues, particularly those that affect the LGBTQ community. This theme is especially important to a recent piece of mine, titled “Sweat, Blood, and Tears,” that visually tells the story of the struggles of being a transgender male. I plan on pursuing such forms of artistic expression as well as new techniques that I have yet to encounter in the future.

CHAYNE COOPER PISCATAWAY, NJ

Kings Christian High School

ANIMATION CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ART FOR GAMES

CHAYNE’S ARTIST STATEMENT My work as a whole is meant to encompass the surreal. I use digital programs like Photoshop along with colored pencils to create images of cats. To me, cats and animals represent innocence because throughout television and animation they are often depicted as pure and innocent. My work is meant to break people out of social norms and make them feel unsettled. My inspirations come from the video games Silent Hill and Hotline Miami, along with musical inspirations from the genre of music known as Vaporwave, and animated shorts like, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared. These are examples of what I aspire my work to be like. I want to be an animator or concept artist and to bring my ideas to different audiences.

17

CHARLES COOPER WILLINGBORO, NJ

Piscataway High School

FILMMAKING CREATIVE WRITING DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

CHARLES’ ARTIST STATEMENT Most of my influence comes from sci-fi movies such as ex machina, almost all of Christopher Nolan’s movies due to his storytelling strength and vast worlds he creates. Neill Blomkamp is also another inpsiration of mine because he integrates real world conflicts in his beautifully constructed world. Ray Bradbury is one of my literary inspirations due to his ability to create emotion in his Sci-fi stories which is very important in film making.

I make films set in sci-fi because they question the limit of what human can do and hwat we can become. Such as Niell Blomkamp’s Elysium that shows a world where social classes have been separated on vast level.

A contrast theme in my work is humanity being put against constant external or internal foes that challenge them physically and/or mentally. This is shown through realistic colors and moods to give a serious element. Dream sequences also play an important wroll giving us a view into the mind of a person.

My objective in filmaking is to bring in fresh new ideas such as possibilities that human or “good” may not always prevail over foreign attackers or evil because that reflects life in a more realistic way.

My films are targeting the thinkers, the dreamers, action-buffs, and science fiction nerds.

The people who like to immerse themselves in futuristic and environment filled will high octane action.

18

CLAIRE COTTRILL CARLISLE, MA

Concord-Carlisle Regional High School

CLAIRE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I am interested in graphic design, painting, and screen printing.

I explore color, graphic elements, and formal relationships in my abstract works. I am inspired by Ben Eine’s bold colors and modern approach, as well as Piet Mondrian’s graphic painting and design.

Although I experiment with many subjects in my work, I find that the most important relationship is to the process itself.

SCREENPRINTING GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO CINEMATOGRAPHY ZINE + SMALL PRESS

19

ISABELLE CRESS PHILADELPHIA, PA

John W. Hallahan Catholic High School

ANIMATION CREATIVE WRITING FIGURE DRAWING

ISABELLE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I draw cartoons in pencil, colored and graphite. I create cartoons to make people happy. I love to see family and friends get excited when I create a character based off of them. I really want to be an illustrator and an author as an adult, so I’ve started writing my own novel based on my characters.

My artwork can range from very adorable to dark and creepy.

My inspiration and style comes from various TV shows I used to watch.

My Little Pony, Monster High, Ever After High, and Descendants are some of my inspiration; except my characters are a little darker than that. Some artists who inspire me are Stan Lee, Lauren Faust, and Marv Wolfman.

Also, characters from DC and Marvel will always inspire me to create my own heroes and villains.

20

DANIELLE DIAMICO PHILADELPHIA, PA

Franklin Towne High School

DANIELLE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I take photographs of different fields at a variety of sizes. I use a camera to make my photographs. My work represents my hard work to get the perfect picture, and is evidence that I will not stop until I get it right. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

This program has taught me about lighting, composition, and many other techniques. Street Photography has taught me to be more comfortable in my surroundings and see in the world in new way. Experimental Photography has taught me that there are many ways to make a photograph.

Fashion Photography has taught me that it’s not just about taking a photo of a model; it also encompasses hair, make-up, and clothes. My major, which is Photography, overall made me realize that there is more to making photographs than pushing a button to take photo.

PHOTOGRAPHY FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

21

MALIK DYSON CATONSVILLE, MD

Stephen Girard School

MALIK’S ARTIST STATEMENT In process, the work I have been continuing to make consists of composition and craftsmanship. Whether or not the work is “ok,” I do not stop until I have accurately executed my intended plans. The works I normally create are environments such as mountains, forests, and cities. People have labeled my work “good,” but also “grey” and “dull” due to the lack of color I put in my drawings. With that said, I have taken notice to that response and have been practicing using various amounts of colors, even if it does not appear as I intended it to. I simply restart the project or try to fix it.

In an effort to learn new forms of art, I successfully acquired newfound interests in other areas of art that I am still discovering. With a broader selection and an open mind, I can apply what I have learned and gained to my future work. Exploring a few new areas of art has made me want to explore more.

I have a very high interest in art in general because I feel as though it is the best way to express emotion past words. Whether it is a simple emotion or a complex emotion, one can feel what the image is trying to project. Seeing an emotion helps one feel it for themselves. That is why I chose to study animation and game design, because as people watch or play what I create, I gain feedback without even talking to them. Their emotions alone describe their experience, let it be laughter to know how well I did, or an unsettled look on their face to let me know I still have a long way to go.

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: MAKER LAB EXPLORING 2D DESIGN SKATE INDUSTRY: ILLUSTRATION + DESIGN ART FOR GAMES

22

ALEX EBRAHIMI LAKE WORTH, FL

Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

ILLUSTRATION SCULPTURE + INSTALLATION CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FIGURE DRAWING

ALEX’S ARTIST STATEMENT The semantics of my work elucidate a circumvention from the vexing manifestations embedded within the bounds of actuality and reality. As one views each piece, he/she will be transmitted into a state of imaginative placidity. Each piece is comprised of feline protagonists. I include a cat in each piece because the domesticated cat is one of the most—perhaps the most—lackadaisical and gracefully impassive tamed animal in any society, thus conjuring up a sense of irony throughout my work. Though an image may seem simplistically phlegmatic in its ritualistic configuration, foreboding instances and suggestions of Machiavellian perversions and minatory inducements serve as a vehicle for the inevitable interruption of reality conspicuously returning into the viewer’s embryonic hypnosis. Several of the preliminary explorations of my work include societally allocated aspirations seen contemporaneously. These yearnings include the prospects of love and wealth (by means of abundance) trickled throughout the early works and nestled within the distinct aperture-like offices of the felines seen in the belated pieces.

Whether the pieces contain seemingly jovial and palliative diegeses or blatantly nefarious and contemptibly ceremonial contretemps, each allot a recurrent motif recounting a tale pertaining to a discharge from reality and quotidian nuisances.

23

FRANCES EDELSTEIN WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ

Williamstown High School

FRANCES’ ARTIST STATEMENT FEELINGS FROM FILM Through filmmaking, I combine my interest in human psychology with short films I create. Motion pictures are an intriguing way to express the mind’s amazing capabilities. I chose to study film because it shows human nature in its rawest form with images and sounds, and not just words or drawings. My goal is to effectively communicate with my audience about why it is we do the things we do and how our thoughts and beliefs change over time—in both natural and artificial ways. During this program, I explored topics such as medication use, social psychology, human instinct, and the “fight or flight” response. In doing this through film thrillers, I am able to not only educate my viewers about psychology, but to also make learning both enjoyable and interesting.

FILMMAKING CREATIVE WRITING DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

24

DONALD EVANS WILMINGTON, DE

Delcastle Tech High School

ANIMATION CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ART FOR GAMES

DONALD’S ARTIST STATEMENT My work is based on inspiration from others’ work, whether it is humanoid figures, objects, or creatures of any kind. Some are difficult for me to practice with, but I still attempt to take parts that are within my skill level. Using standard artist tools, I make any type of drawing or background from multiple images that give me inspiration to create something unique. I use any scale that is normal for an artist, such as blank canvases, lined paper and bristol paper. I usually draw by hand, since I feel most comfortable with creating on paper, but I am willing to learn digital design. I am inspired by video game characters from Hideo Kojima to anime-style characters from Akira Toriyama. I analyze images from any source based on a genre or concept for a drawing, draw different parts of various sources, and piece them together to form my own art.

I intend to keep practicing my drawing skills since I like to test myself and see if I can get inspired through drawing. In my classes, I try to make my own imagery from scratch, but also go on search engines and take elements from many images. In animation, I come up imagery on my own, although in some instances I still try to find inspiration elsewhere since at times I seem to get lost and look towards others for help. In Character Development, I tested my own creativity and created characters that other artists, who are pros, asked me to draw. In doing this, I learned that I find it difficult to draw humanoids and easier to draw creatures since the human body is a bit more complicated to piece together. In Art for Games, I came up with a horror game concept that I really am proud of, since horror is the genre I like most. I made two character designs (more are on the way) and two backgrounds to go with the concept, since it is also a multiplayer concept.

My audience is anyone who wants to take the time to examine my drawings, and I do not judge people for what they find interesting.

25

ERIC FLATT EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ

East Brunswick High School

PHOTOGRAPHY GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO SKATE INDUSTRY: ILLUSTRATION + DESIGN DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

ERIC’S ARTIST STATEMENT My artwork focuses on the mockery of pop culture and those who people worship. My ideal subject is pop culture and the people “icons” associated with it. I find it interesting how much influence one person, as an “icon,” can have on others. My work is created through a combination of collaging, photocopying, and digital finishing. I am inspired by the work of Andy Warhol and how he portrayed pop culture in his time period. My work varies in size from smaller stickers to large skateboards.

26

ADINA GEWIRTZMAN AMBLER, PA

Germantown Friends School

ADINA’S ARTIST STATEMENT I like abstract and impressionist styles and look up to artists like Monet, Picasso, and Mondrian. I mostly draw, but I also experimented with painting and collage while at UArts this summer. I hope to use my background in art to help design medical devices as a biomechanical engineer in the future. I am a process-based artist and enjoy using different mediums and techniques to produce my work. I also like to incorporate the theme of nature into my art.

ILLUSTRATION JEWELRY + SMALL METALS EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING FIGURE DRAWING

27

MATTHEW GRILLO CHERRY HILL, NJ

Cherry Hill High School East

MATTHEW’S ARTIST STATEMENT I work digitally when making posters. I make drawings of comic book characters, too. I am inspired by all the comic books I’ve read and the animated shows I’ve watched. Comics are a huge reason why I want to be an artist.

When working digitally I prefer to use Photoshop, which is the program I am most comfortable using.

In my drawings, I usually start in pencil and eventually go over it with a brush pen. The materials I use for my drawings vary. The size of my projects often varies, as well. I love seeing the detail in other peoples work.

When I work, I tend to work at a slower, more careful pace than others.

I do work for myself and the people closest to me. My main interest in art is the character design and the plots of each story. I would love to create my own comic one day.

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO CINEMATOGRAPHY ART FOR GAMES

28

JILLIAN HARVAN CHALFONT, PA

Central Bucks High School West

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC NOVEL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FIGURE DRAWING

JULLIAN’S ARTIST STATEMENT My art’s focus is to tell a story through images, whether it be illustration or comics. Most, if not all, my art is made from a combination of pencil, pen, and digital media. My art often depicts humans or fictional fantasy creatures and characters. Each has their own story, which I try to convert through my art. Some are clearer than others. Because of the under appreciation of art and what it brings to the world, I strive to have my work recognized by others. I do most of my work for myself, but my ultimate goal is for others to enjoy it just as much as I do.

29

JAZZMINE JACKSON PHILADELPHIA, PA

Multi-Cultural Academy Charter School

JAZZMINE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I draw women signifying the imperative role models in my family. My strong interests in art are painting and illustration. While drawing or painting, my compositions are mostly influenced by my grandmother’s kindhearted personality. Most of my paintings are bright and warm with colors of violets, blues, greens and yellows which remind me of her soft smile and kind words.

The abstract aspects of the women I draw are exaggerations, from their facial expressions to their disproportionate body language and curves.

Abstract art will always push me to broaden my growing imagination.

In the future I plan to become a cartoonist because I love it to tell a story through my family and friends at home.

PAINTING FIGURE PAINTING TINKERING: TOY DESIGN ART FOR GAMES

30

DOMINIQUE JACKSON PHILADELPHIA, PA

Multi-Cultural Academy Charter School

SCREENPRINTING JEWELRY + SMALL METALS CREATIVE WRITING STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

DOMINIQUE’S ARTIST STATEMENT Right now we have our first woman democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

I wanted to represent that through my screen prints and other works.

I enjoy the process of working with an emulsion. It requires patience which works for me because I don’t have to rush. I can take my time and enjoy every step. I love the power of multiples. By creating multiples, I can make variations of each image to emphasize my collection of prints.

31

RACHEL JACOBSON ARLINGTON, VA

Yorktown High School

RACHEL’S ARTIST STATEMENT I draw illustrations, paint landscapes, and shoot animations in sizes ranging from medium to large. My subject matter tends to be natural or organic, such as nature, creatures, and characters. I’m particularly fond of contrasting the background with the subject and making the background its own character. I have been influenced by comic books and photographs, and learned most of my techniques through art class and online tutorials.

My objective is to combine my skills in order to create immersive animations that tell a story.

ANIMATION CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ART FOR GAMES

32

ZAIASIA JONES UPPER MARLBORO, MD

Dr Henry A. Wise Jr High School PAINTING GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

ZAIASIA’S ARTIST STATEMENT My work stretches across multiple mediums, including charcoal drawings, oil and acrylic paintings, mixed media, and graphic design work.

Despite variations in my art, each of my works maintains a conceptual idea and individual unique color scheme. Being able to spread this across different mediums to reach everyone is what I value most about my work.

33

CLAIRE JOSEPH FALLS CHURCH, VA

Falls Church High School

PHOTOGRAPHY GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

CLAIRE’S ARTIST STATEMENT Keeping a story alive and sharing that story with the world is an important aspect of my art. When taking photographs of people I know or people I find on the street, I like to document them as they are in a moment, rather than how everyone wants to see them. The media these days likes to document people in an unrealistic manner, but with my work I like to portray people as their everyday selves and not what society dictates them to be.

I capture people in a realistic way by using a shallow depth of field/aperture to isolate them from their busy environment. I apply little to no editing so the photographs are raw and uncut, unlike typical media. The rule-of-thirds plays an important part in my work because by not having the subject in the middle of the frame, employing the rule creates a sense of space within the photograph.

I use art to capture specific parts of life. Whether it be creating a poster for an event or making a photograph of a crowd at a protest, my work encapsulates one small moment in time. It freezes that moment right then and there forever.

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PIXIE KOLESA ROYERSFORD, PA

Spring Ford High School

PIXIE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I’m a high school student from Royersford, Pennsylvania whose art career has just begun.

My life has always been more focused on academia than art, but over the past year that’s changed. Most of my work now is done with ink, and I usually focus on cartoon characters.

Grew up watching cartoons and I still love them. My biggest inspirations are Rebecca Sugar, the creator of Steven Universe, and my friend Rebekah. Rebekah and I work on a comic together called Aliens and Other Oddities that we plan to publish online. A2O2 is done traditionally with inks and watercolor pencils. I love storyboarding for A2O2, and I hope to one day publish lots of comics. I mostly just want to keep creating!

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC NOVEL CREATIVE WRITING DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

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MARIAH KONDASH EWING, NJ

Notre Dame High School

PIXIE’S ARTIST STATEMENT

ANIMATION CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

TO BE INSPIRED AND TO INSPIRE Ever since I was three years old, the lure of Disney princess movies and other elements of animation have left me in awe at the sight of them. The story told through these dynamically designed characters and settings interested me and made me think, “Could I do that?” As I grew older, I realized that even the tiniest doodles in spiral notebooks that date back even to second grade had a story to be told. I strived to not only to create appealing characters, but also their adventures and goals. I knew by the age of 10 that I would one day want to pursue a career that could allow me to show my stories to the public eye. At first, I assumed that I wanted to be a writer, but I couldn’t imagine describing my characters with words rather than art. So, becoming a writer fluctuated into becoming a graphic novelist. Though I did stick with this idea for a while, and still consider it more of a hobby now, there was that one career choice I always fathomed, “Could I possibly become an animator? Could I possibly one day as well animate stories almost as miraculous as the ones that have inspired me since the age of three? Could I do that?”

Today, I am 16 years old and slowly creeping towards the age of 17. At the moment I am at the UArts Pre-College, majoring in Animation. I am still learning the ropes, not just of basic animation, but also how to tell stories through it. In my personal time, I design characters and plots that intertwine with them, and that I will one day share through animation and other desired media. As I am coming closer to college and closer to being employed in the career of my dreams, many people ask what my goal is. After all, there must be an important reason to choose this career over a far more realistic choice. The reason why I chose to be an animator is to inspire. I want my animations to be viewed by young artists as little as I was when I first took interest in the arts. I hope that one day people will see the worlds I have created and the people I have designed and have the ambition to publish their works, as well. I want nothing more in the world than to inspire, as others have inspired me.

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SHANNON KRIEG SCHWENKSVILLE, PA

Perkiomen Valley High School

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC NOVEL EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING FIGURE DRAWING

SHANNON’S ARTIST STATEMENT I make illustrations as a way to communicate what is happening in my life.

I use multiple mediums including watercolor and ink. I feel drawn to these mediums because of the textures I can create in watercolor and the control I have in ink. I was also drawn to these mediums at a young age because my mother often used them in her own work.

I am inspired by my mother and sister along with the illustrations in many fairytales and children’s books. I have always been interested in the way artists create a conceptual piece from a unique story and this inspires me to incorporate stories into my work. I strive to be able to go to an art school and later have a career in art. I make art mainly for myself and anyone who is interested in what I do.

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IVY KURNIAWAN JAKARTA, INDONESIA

British School Jakarta

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO CREATIVE WRITING FIGURE DRAWING

IVY’S ARTIST STATEMENT I make small to medium illustrations by both traditional and digital methods. Most of my work is based on or about books, which are something I am passionate about. My work has many fantasy elements, mostly inspired by authors like Sarah J. Maas, C.S. Lewis, and Leigh Bardugo. I tell stories through my work because whenever I’m reading, it creates images in my mind that inspire me to make the scenes and characters come to life. I also like to illustrate characters with strong individual personalities because they’re usually derived from characters I feel connected to.

In the future, I imagine myself creating artwork and illustrations for picture books, novels, and book covers. I strive to reach and connect with an audience who loves stories as much as I do.

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ALEXANDRA LOCKWOOD WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ

Shore Regional High School

ALEXANDRA’S ARTIST STATEMENT My work consists of many different mediums and styles, and while I do enjoy experimenting with different media, my favorite is watercolor. Even if I am not using watercolor my style usually reflects it. A lot of different subjects that interest me are also included in my work, and much of what I make focuses on anatomy and the human form, while also telling a story. All of my art shows aspects of religious allegory, tales, and fables.

ILLUSTRATION FIGURE PAINTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ART FOR GAMES

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JOCELYN LUCIANO WALLINGFORD, PA

Strath Haven High School

JOCELYN’S ARTIST STATEMENT My artwork isn’t based on one subject or another. There is never a consistent theme that I focus on. I am influenced by what I see and feel. My medium is normally graphite and pen because I love the way pen can add detail to a piece of art. I think it makes the piece look more interesting and realistic.

I’ve always had a passion for incorporating detail into my artwork. With influences like Mark Crilley, I’ve learned a lot about character design and how to draw realistically. In some of my artwork, I use references and ideas that are so integrated into the process of the composition of the work that they may escape those who don’t take the time to explore how and why these things haunt them.

I am interested in abstraction and love to create pieces so abstract that it leaves the viewer wondering what it is I am trying to express through my drawing.

That is what makes a great artist to me. When I look at someone else’s work, I like to see things that look off or different. It makes the artwork deceptively challenging but unique.

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC NOVEL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

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ISABELLA MALOSSINI GLENSIDE, PA

Abington High School

PAINTING FIGURE PAINTING EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS

ISABELLA’S ARTIST STATEMENT I work with acrylic and oil paint, charcoal, and mixed media. My paintings, along with other pieces, are non-figurative, large, expressive, abstract paintings. Things that influence my paintings are music, dreams, and other artists and art work. I don’t enjoy reality and with my paintings I can escape reality and make my own.

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LYNN MARCUS WILMINGTON, DE

Cab Calloway School of the Arts

LYNN’S ARTIST STATEMENT I did not always have as strong an interest in creating human figures in my art as I do now. Many years ago I only drew animals in watercolor and occasionally pastel. However, something changed in me and I have found myself more fascinated with sketching people, figures, and faces recently.

So as the years have passed, I have continuously practiced drawing and painting intricate poses and surreal situations. I find the human body to be aesthetically pleasing in all its shapes and forms, because to me, the curves, sharp lines, bones, muscles, structure—all of these features—make a body a piece of art. I try to recreate the human body realistically, but with a sense of surrealism. I mainly use graphite pencil to define the features of a figure. In this way, I can add detail in smaller spaces. I favor adding details to pieces because I think it really brings my work together and gives it an extra special kick.

ILLUSTRATION FIGURE PAINTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS

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JESSICA MARSHALL QUEBEC, CANADA

Saint Georges School of Montreal

SCREENPRINTING JEWELRY + SMALL METALS EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING FIGURE DRAWING

JESSICA’S ARTIST STATEMENT The media portrays the stereotypical teenage girl as insecure, shallow, self-absorbed, and superficial. In my art, I strive to challenge these ideas in various ways through screen prints and collage. There is no such thing as one typical adolescent, and I enjoy integrating these ideas into my art.

The goal of my pieces is to show the truth about teenage life, without common misconceptions or romanticized notions. Being a queer young woman, I have dealt with many stereotypes concerning my sexually and personality. I was raised in a religious environment, which led to struggles surrounding my sexual identity and my mental health. This led to self-exploration, which is an important element in my art work. My work is made to be thought provoking, and to start a journey of self-reflection in the mind of the spectator.

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TALIA MARTINI GLENN MILLS, PA

Westtown School

TALIA’S ARTIST STATEMENT As I turn the corner to go down Walnut Street from my Dad’s office, I see everything as an inspiration for my movies. I wonder what the homeless person on the curb’s story is: Is he a drug addict? Does he have a family? Was he let go from his job or just fired? What was his childhood like? Or sometimes I wonder why the woman in the business suit is rushing past the red light, endangering herself just to get to work. Maybe she’s a single mother with two kids who rely on her, and if she’s late one more time, she’ll get fired. I look up at the construction workers as I walk under a shielded tunnel below them. It’s one hundred degrees outside, and they’re up there working with power tools. I hear one speak Spanish to the other, and wonder if he immigrated here, or if his parents did. How long ago did they immigrate?

Where did they immigrate from? Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominican Republic? Is he used to working in this blistering heat, or does it get him every time? I finally walk into the elevator at Terra hall at the University of the Arts, press the 14th floor button, and leave at the ding. I walk past a janitor, who gives me a cheerful “Good morning,” and asks me how my day was. There’s a man I admire, a man who works hard at what he does, and always has a smile on his face. I enter my classroom and realize how blessed I am with the opportunities I have been given. I have been given the opportunity to pursue the career that I love, and in doing so, I’m going to make sure the homeless man on the street, the businesswoman, the construction workers and the janitor’s story is told through my films. I want my audience to see that everyone, even the people we pass on the street and don’t think twice about, has a story. Film is the best way to pursue this. With film, I can show these characters, these real human beings in real life, create characters which may be made up things, but can be transformed through these real people’s stories and personalities. Film can take an audience on the very adventures of people whom they pass on the street, without thinking twice about them. Film shows an audience what they should notice, through characters and camerawork. Film is real life condensed onto a screen and I won’t stop until I have shown everyone all they are missing in life.

FILMMAKING CINEMATOGRAPHY DIGITAL EFFECTS FILM + ANIMATION

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CAROLINE MARZOCCA RARITAN, NJ

Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School

CAROLINE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I paint small observational palette knife paintings that focus on the way light and shadow interact to create form and dimension. I am compelled by the simple and effective way an observational palette knife painting can convey complex subjects. I often draw inspiration from Leonid Afremov’s heavily textured paintings due to the way he uses palette knives to create thick strokes of paint. The palette knife painting technique helps me to focus on the form of the object or figure instead of the small details of the subject. In the future I hope to use this observational skill and my interest in texture to explore other forms of art.

PAINTING FIGURE PAINTING EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS

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SEAN MCGINNIS SICKLERVILLE, NJ

Winslow Township High School

SEAN’S ARTIST STATEMENT My work as an artist has varied over the years. While my methods have remained the same, using (the traditional) paper and pencils, the tone and ideas of my work have gone from being fun and silly comic strips to... more fantasy-esque pictures with a cartoonish style. But as I think about what to make, I now have a tendency to merge that with real life values and ideas. I’ve been inspired by creators like Don Bluth, Bill Watterson and Charles Schulz to do this.

In Calvin and Hobbes (Watterson), Peanuts (Schultz), and films like The Secret of NIMH and An American Tail (Bluth), they managed to implement fantasy and comedy (to a degree with Bluth) with mature and realistic themes and morals without pandering to them or coming off as blatant. I want to do the same for the world of animation, with my fantasy/cartoon style and quirky ideas that pop into my head. Especially since a majority of mainstream animated films are comedies made primarily for kids.

ANIMATION CINEMATOGRAPHY DIGITAL EFFECTS FILM + ANIMATION

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DASHAWN MCINTOSH-INNISS PHILADELPHIA, PA

Science Leadership Academy

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: MAKER LAB GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECT

DASHAWN’S ARTIST STATEMENT Art is a vehicle for experimentation; it is about making mistakes and fixing them to make something even better. I love designing things, drawing, and experimenting with art. As an amateur artist, I am testing myself with my different skills and talent. To me, understanding that there is always room for improvement when it comes to art is a big part of the process. Because of this, the refining process is one of the most important stages in making my artwork. Currently, Iam greatly interested in graffiti, designing things in Illustrator, and fine art. Mastering these few skills will have a major impact on my pursuit of becoming a professional.

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CATHERINE MORIARITY WEST PALM BEACH, FL

A. W. Dreyfoos School Arts

ANIMATION EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

CATHERINE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I work with traditional hand drawn animation as well as puppet animation.

Animations are important to me because they turn fantasy into a reality for the enjoyment of others and oneself. Animation takes a lot of patients, a skill everyone needs. I also work with experimental painting often working on a large scale with spray paint and oil paint.

When experimenting in art there is freedom to be impulsive. My work focuses on how mood and impulse changes a piece and changes the viewing of the piece. Working with many mediums on one canvas also adds to the idea of impulse. Art can be whatever you want it to be.

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KACIE MULLIN HADDONFIELD, NJ

Haddonfield Memorial School

KACIE’S ARTIST STATEMENT My art primarily takes the form of comics on paper, created with pencil or micron pens. Recently, I have also been working with a wider variety of mediums, including Sculpey clay and digital sketching. I have also begun experimenting with taxidermy using ethically sourced small mammals, as well as animation, both of which I took interest in recently. I have gone further with various types of animation then I have ever gone before. My goal as an artist is to portray a unique range of emotions within both human and animal characters on paper, in taxidermy mounts, and through works that I have themed to be like royalty. Eventually I would like to continue to explore all fields of animation, illustration, character design, and taxidermy into my near future.

ANIMATION CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT TAXIDERMY AS WEARABLE ART

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NIR NETZ PHILADELPHIA, PA

Friends Central School

NIR’S ARTIST STATEMENT I am a rising 10th grader who draws and writes, and is in the process of learning about filmmaking. My skills have developed through school, camps, instructional books, and my own personal practice. I enjoy editing film and audio, writing scripts, and hope to direct an animated film one day.

Above all, I enjoy drawing digitally and on paper. My artwork is inspired by songs, movies, literature, cartoons, and video games such as Total Drama, Dust: An Elysian Tail, Heart String Marionette, and Homestuck. These inspirations help with designing and fleshing out characters, creating settings at fictional worlds, and creating a unique story. My ideas usually involve a large group of peculiar characters coming together. I develop the characters so the viewer gets a deeper view into who the characters are, and the characters’ evolving relationships with one another. I enjoy creating art because it relaxes me and gives me purpose.

FILMMAKING CINEMATOGRAPHY ART FOR GAMES

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EZRA OKESON PHILADELPHIA, PA

Germantown Friends School

FASHION + FIBERS: DRAFTING FASHION + FIBERS: DYEING EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING FIGURE DRAWING

EZRA’S ARTIST STATEMENT People ask me what inspires me, and my genuine answer is that I do not know. While I do feel inspired to work when I see finished pieces and beautiful art, I guess I just don’t spend enough time looking at art to have a favorite artist or designer who inspires my work. I tend to draw inspiration from people around me and things in the world. I see someone walking down the street rocking a look and that helps me create. Most of my work is fashion based, so ideas can be far more abstract than, say, a realistic painting. I’ve found that my three classes have become more connected in my work than I expected originally. Figure drawing is basis for all life drawings, and that has helped me in both my paintings and in thinking of the body as the basis for clothing.

In fashion, every company has an idea of a person they are designing for, and they try and portray that person through the clothing. I have found that, consciously or not, I have created an image of myself through my works. Identity is a personal thing, especially for those of us who have had to come to terms with our own identities. I try to be boldly myself, both in daily life and through my work. By creating genderless clothing and experimenting with different mediums between paint and sculpture, I try to create conversation. I find great art isn’t very straightforward; it has to make you think. My goal for my work is to spark more ideas.

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KATE ORTEGA MIAMI, FL

New World School of Arts KATE’S ARTIST STATEMENT Through my assignments of context and content to my constructions, which assimilate into narratives of interacting symbols, I attempt to emphasize the primal relation of humanity to the rest of nature—where a self-inflicted separation permeates. With eternal grasping towards differentiation and a malleable form of self-identification, our species metamorphizes into a nearly singular, massed being of accumulated constrictions and shrouds to its existence; this is contradictory in the manner which extends beyond connecting strings of value to survival with reflection upon the generalized vision of culture. In order to analyze the deconstructions and sidelong over-complications of reality, as well as the subsequent manifestations in which all preceding and succeeding segments of time are influenced through perception, I compose representations and structures, both in two and three dimensions, which heighten consciousness of physicality in the observer. This is intended to alleviate the weight of the proximity to the extremities attached, in a manner which instills these additives nearly as intrinsic in our minds, to our nature—while confronting them with the limitations to our ephemeral shells. With documentations of nuances, through empathy of line and attempts at depths of attention to shifts in sensitivity of the slight movements of contours, I embolden awareness of the habituations and normalizations which flow within our existence, directly leading to a desensitized passivity.

The physicality of our primitive beings may be evident within the drifting speeds at which we feel the movement of time’s hand. Humanity’s self-motivated separation from nature’s rest lends to trundling passivity, which erupts warps in time and binds us sparingly to the earth.

ILLUSTRATION SCULPTURE + INSTALLATION CREATIVE WRITING ZINE + SMALL PRESS

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BRYCE PATTERSON CHESHIRE, CT

Cheshire High School

BRYCE’S ARTIST STATEMENT My favorite part of art is the creative process. I enjoy being creative because I enjoy how my mind works and how I can put what I envision on paper. Sometimes, art can be therapeutic for me. If something in the piece has me stuck, I can often work through it, but sometimes I mentally repeat the process of drawing until I can find a good approach. My work mainly consists of drawings on paper, but sometimes I also paint and use graphic design programs.

PAINTING GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

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DAVID POTASHNIK DALLAS, TX

Booker T. Washington High School

ANIMATION CINEMATOGRAPHY FIGURE DRAWING

DAVID’S ARTIST STATEMENT My art is a private outlet that conveys a plethora of influences, expressions, thoughts, and personal experience. I use art as my outlet because I am able to connect with millions of others through this common language that appears so vague in the physical realm, but so simple and calming in our imaginary plane. My goal is to captivate the audience viewing my work through a dark sense of humor, a feeling of distress, and a childlike sense of wonder that carefully arranges itself into a bouquet of organized disaster. I create this world of disaster using a mix of bleak dark colors, bright pastel backgrounds, and cartoon figures that move explosively across the page.

This style has been influenced by two extraordinary artists and animators, Maxwell Atoms and Hayao Miyazaki. These artists have sculpted my artistic vision, and by doing so, have inspired me to reignite the spark and ambition that was handed down to me. With this, I hope to one day be able to inspire an audience the same way these artists inspired me.

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KEMBA POWELL PHILADELPHIA, PA

Chad Charter High School for Architecture Design

DAVID’S ARTIST STATEMENT When I draw, my inspirations come from other artists’ work and it is the same when I sew. I draw and create fashion because fashion is important in this world, and I think that is because there are people like me who express themselves through fashion. I want to make the world better by expressing my talents and making work that other people will like, too. I also draw anime characters because making my own characters is fun, and my audience gets interested in it as well. What drives me to create my art is that when I see something on TV or on the internet, I want to make my own version of it. In the UArts program I have learned many things, including how to use a serger machine when I sew, and how to draw figures using shapes that develop into actual body parts.

ILLUSTRATION FASHION + FIBERS: DYEING TINKERING: TOY DESIGN FIGURE DRAWING

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MCKAYLA REBILLON TRENTON, NJ

Ewing High School

MCKAYLA’S ARTIST STATEMENT Although modern art can be very conceptual, I am interested in the technical aspects of art, as I am a person with a technical mindset. I have always admired the creativity and style of artists such as Hayao Miyazaki and Shidu. Joining online communities and being surrounded by artists who share the same interests as me influenced me and my art. My art usually involves people and things made for people, usually created digitally or with pencil on paper. I do, however, like experimenting with other mediums such as charcoal and acrylic paint. In my spare time, I draw illustrations, but I plan on staying on the technical side of the art field and pursuing industrial design. I intend to bring the modern feel of the art styles I admire into the objects I may design. My work is meant to appeal to the current generation of people by being stylish and simple, yet comfortable-feeling.

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: MAKER LAB GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO TINKERING: TOY DESIGN FIGURE DRAWING

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CRISTINA RODRIGUEZ MIAMI, FL

New World School of the Arts

CRISTINA’S ARTIST STATEMENT In my work I draw heavily upon my personal experiences being raised by two independent women. The main source of my work is generated by the concept of memories, relationships with others, and how I relate to myself.

I consider myself an intuitive artist. Throughout the process of developing concepts, ideas, and materials, I may come across creating something new.

Experimenting during the creation stage allows me to continue to engage with my work.

ILLUSTRATION FIGURE PAINTING EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS

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ASHLEY SAMUELS HYATTSVILLE, MD

Emerson Preparatory School ILLUSTRATION FIGURE PAINTING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

ASHLEY’S ARTIST STATEMENT I create drawings and paintings that depict nude figures, original characters, and landscapes that are abstract and fantastical in nature. My work primarily deals with death, decay, and my personal struggles—often displaying figures with visible elements of their skeletal structure and decaying limbs. Likewise, my landscapes deal with the same subject matter—they are dark and desolate showing no signs of life. My decaying figures are usually luminescent, which represents their final moments of life. My mediums of choice are graphite, charcoal, and pastels. I am particularly drawn to charcoal because of how versatile and expressive it can be. I am also interested in the rich values that can be achieved with the medium. I typically separate my figures from a background and use a solid color or a gradient to symbolize loneliness and isolation. With my portraits I like to emphasize my subject’s eyes. My figures I seldom portray joy. Instead, I prefer to depict people that are crying or in pain.

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BRIGITTE SCHACKERMAN HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ

Haddon Township High School

BRIGITTE’S ARTIST STATEMENT The problems that teenagers and students face are often trivialized and brushed away from the public eye. I use illustrative techniques to bring awareness to issues surrounding teenagers and students. My work has focused on the education system because I have felt affected by various issues associated with it. I use Adobe Illustrator and InDesign, as well as mixed-media to create my digital work. I enjoy using geometric shapes with distinct color schemes as well as incorporating perspective.

PAINTING GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY FIGURE DRAWING

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CHARLES SCHIMPF DUNELLEN, NJ

Dunellen High School

CHARLES’ ARTIST STATEMENT Charles Schimpf is a high school student from rural New Jersey. He spent his summer in Philadelphia exploring a diverse group of courses.

His focus has always been on exploring design and this summer he was able to work on his design aesthetic in both 2-D and 3-D.

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: MAKER LAB GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO CINEMATOGRAPHY DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

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NELLEKE STALLINGS MILLERSVILLE, PA

National Connections Academy

PHOTOGRAPHY FIGURE PAINTING TINKERING: TOY DESIGN ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS

NELLEKE’S ARTIST STATEMENT Within my art making practice, which consists predominately of oil painting and photography, I am highly intrigued by representational work. Artists such as van Gogh and Rembrandt have influenced my style greatly. Through translating the visual reality that I perceive onto a two dimensional surface, I hold the ability to capture momentary emotions.

My favorite subjects are figures and portraits for both painting and photography, due to the life expressed in each. Growing up, I was surrounded by my father’s own artwork, which has shaped me as an artist. In my future, I want to see myself working with realistic, textured oil paintings.

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ROSALIE TIERNO MEDFORD, NJ

Shawnee High School

ROSALIE’S ARTIST STATEMENT Mental illness and the secrecy of its existence is becoming entirely too common. I am interested in creating art that expresses emotion. I use the overall idea of mental health in order to release my own feelings, show others who struggle that they aren’t alone, and allow people who are uneducated about the topic some insight into the mind of someone who knows the subject all too well. Anxiety, depression, and self-hate are all common in my expressive, yet realistic, multimedia pieces. I don’t find that I am drawn to any particular medium, and as an aspiring art therapist, I try to be familiar with every medium.

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING FIGURE DRAWING

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My favorite artists are Vincent van Gogh and Andy Warhol. I appreciate van Gogh’s expressive lines, flowing movement, and his color palette.

What I enjoy about Warhol’s work is his bold, graphic style. I attempt to incorporate parts of their work into my art while still keeping it personal and meaningful. Something people often say about my work is that they appreciate how honest it is. The overall goal of my artwork is to make an impact on people and get society to see that mental illness is a real issue that people struggle with.

CHRISTOPHER TOCCHET ORELAND, PA

Upper Dublin High School CHRISTOPHER’S ARTIST STATEMENT I create films for the viewer’s enjoyment. I want to convey a certain message with each film I make. Sometimes it’s something big, other times it’s funny, but there is always a message in each of my films. Most of the time my message is about something that most people don’t really notice at first. My messages are tiny problems that people take notice of when they watch my films and the film keeps them thinking about the message in them for a while. I feel that making films is the best way to express my feelings, emotions, and opinions, because I get to control the whole thing. I control what the audience sees, what they hear, and how they hear a line from an actor. I control all of it. Since I have complete control, I can therefore determine how my message comes across and push the audience to feel one way or the other.

My biggest inspiration is filmmaker Casey Neistat. Neistat mainly makes videos on YouTube but he has also made TV shows for HBO and Netflix. I discovered him on YouTube when I was searching for the best camera to buy. I saw one of his videos and I was hooked. His editing style is so quick and clean; he has a message and just says it. Because of Neistat, I now always try to edit in sync with the music or audio I choose for the film. I also learned to make quick cuts, and to stop giving so much information to the viewer and trust that they are smart enough to understand what is going on. He has inspired me to be the filmmaker I am today.

I hope one day I will be making films for a living. I have a talent for storytelling, and I feel that I would be great at creating films people would like to watch. I am great at coming up with stories that people can relate to, and stories that people can relate to are entertaining for the viewer. They can put themselves in the place of a character and become enthralled in the story. This is what makes me different from most filmmakers my age and I think this is what makes my films great.

I want everyone to be able to watch my films. I feel that I can convey messages in my videos that anyone can feel or relate to. I want to have people thinking after they watch one of my films, and I want the film to stick with them. I want to push people into thinking about what they just watched and what impact it had on whatever it’s about. I want people to feel something after watching my films—I feel like that is what filmmaking is all about.

FILMMAKING CINEMATOGRAPHY DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

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ASHLEE VALLE PHILADELPHIA, PA

Creative Performing Arts High School

FASHION + FIBERS: DRAFTING FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

ASHLEE’S ARTIST STATEMENT Being a conceptual artist has driven me to develop skills in various forms of artmaking. My ideas translate into autobiographical series about growth and experiences that have changed the way I perceive or interpret. The series usually consists of three, creating balance amongst the message. A major pattern in the messages of my pieces is new beginnings. My approach to making can go from learning a new technique and directly applying it to the piece, to expressing my growth from experiences I’ve had throughout the piece. These new beginnings have shaped me into the artist I am today.

Up until this point, concept and style have always influenced my artistic practices. Since I started taking classes in photo, design, and fabrication, I’ve realized that concept and style is what ties the three mediums together. Looking back at all the work that I’ve produced over the course of taking these classes, fashion design and photography in particular have meshed into one another to create my overall concept, while adding a distinctive style to the project. This learning experience has taught me plenty, but most of all has made me grow in areas of art that I was underdeveloped in.

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VICTORIA VELTRI DOYLESTOWN, PA

Central Bucks East High School

VICTORIA’S ARTIST STATEMENT My drawings depict different creatures interacting with their environment.

I use media such as colored pencils, inks, and digital art to achieve this. I draw creatures like robots and squids to provide an escape for my viewer.

I do this by exaggerating reality and making sense of the world we live in.

This is why I draw realistically, because then I can combine real world images with abstract ideas.

Sara Pichelli, who draws realistic people in fantastical settings, inspires my style. My style is very detail oriented. After college I see myself drawing comics. I want to be able to bring the viewer into my worlds, while still using reality as a foundation.

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC NOVEL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

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DAHLIA VISCONTI BRIDGEWATER, NJ

Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School

DAHLIA’S ARTIST STATEMENT I make illustrations and comics about characters that I come up with.

I mainly depict these characters in suburban and rural settings, with themes that range from the struggles of adolescence to mishaps with the supernatural. The mediums I use are watercolor, pen, and ink. I paint my illustrations with muted colors to create a dull and mundane atmosphere.

I am interested in drawing people in suburban settings because it reminds me of home, and I want to make these typically boring settings appear more interesting. I aspire to become a comic book artist and to write and draw my own comics.

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC NOVEL CREATIVE WRITING DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

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ANGELA VISCONTI BRIDGEWATER, NJ

Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School

ANIMATION CREATIVE WRITING DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION

ANGELA’S ARTIST STATEMENT I create illustrative sketches, paintings, and most recently hand drawn animation. I explore character design and experiment with inks and watercolor through sketches to study form. I began making hand drawn animation to start pursuing the kind of artist that I want to be. I am greatly inspired by Katsuhiro Otomo, Hayao Miyazaki, and James Jean, as well as many comic book artists. The works of Otomo, Miyazaki, and Jean contain imaginative and highly appealing uses of color, human figure, subject matter, and storytelling. Almost every aspect of the works by these artists inspires me to create stories and build worlds of my own.

I mostly make work for myself, but eventually I want to make work for much larger audiences. My goal is to create feature length animated films that communicate the same level of awe that I experience viewing works by my favorite artists and filmmakers.

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STEFANI WEBB PHILADELPHIA, PA

G. W. Carver High School of Engineering and Science

STEFANI’S ARTIST STATEMENT I make small still life and figure paintings in oil, as well as still life drawings in charcoal. When I started making art in middle school, I began painting still lives of organic matter and ever since then I have been painting still lives. Most of my paintings are on canvas and/or on paper. My drawings are done on charcoal paper. I arrange the objects that I am painting off to the side of the page to create a good composition. I intend to begin making conceptual art that conveys a message to the viewer. I hope to use my prior painting and drawing experience to help with my future projects. This notion comes from my favorite artist, Banksy, and his painting, What we do in life echoes in Eternity. Another person who has inspired me is my advanced drawing projects teacher, Veronica, who has shown me other types of artwork in the world that I could possibly make. Once I create my conceptual art, I would like it to be placed where it can be accessed by everyone, and yet cannot be reproduced.

PAINTING FIGURE PAINTING EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS

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JASMINE WILCOX PHILADELPHIA, PA

Paul Robeson High School JASMINE’S ARTIST STATEMENT I create vibrant, constructed pieces for people to wear to express themselves. I believe that in order to feel beautiful you have to look beautiful. Everyone is art. I use traditional African cloth because it gives me a different look. What caught my eye about this particular fabric is the contrast of patterns. Typically, when you look at African fabric nothing has been changed about the material.

I used a starburst effect for a pleated skirt, and the two sides of the garment were clipped together with clothes pins, and then topped dyed. The shirt went through the same top dyeing process as the lower belt.

The first step I take when reinventing a garment is tracing garments that I already own. Then, I cut them from the fabric. When the fabric is cut into its shape, I finally connect the geometry together.

What makes my shirt design different from the original is the fit. For the belt design, instead of five to six lines going through the belt, the larger half is the first layer, the smaller fraction is then placed on top to give a layered look. The pleated skirt was my second design, and I reduced the amount of pleats leaving a comfortable fit. The pants are tighter and fall higher. The bow shirt I am wearing was inspired by Moschino. I made a 2-D bow first. Then, I traced a white woven non-stretch shirt.

The reason I didn’t use a stretch fabric in my final design is because the heavy bow would droop the shirt.

I am a starting designer, so I’ll look for something I can possibly do myself. It gets my attention when a garment is basic, but still really makes me think about how to put it together and with what.

It inspires me to keep my garments basic and classy. I also keep my garments basic because my fabric has a lot of patterns.

As my instructor, Chrissy, said, “Welcome to the world of the straight lines.” This may not seem like a big deal, but it definitely was a change that redefined my craft and eliminated my old bad habits.

FASHION + FIBERS: DRAFTING FASHION + FIBERS: DYEING EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY ZINE + SMALL PRESS

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DAVANDA WILLIAMSON WINCHESTER, MA

Winchester High School

DAVANDA’S ARTIST STATEMENT The large variety of art I make includes 2-D and traditional animation, digital painting/sketching and traditional drawings. Subjects I like to draw are anime-based fan art or my own creation of characters and environments. My enjoyment of creating characters and/or environments comes either from inspirations or from my head. I try to use a range of techniques in my work so I can express ideas in as many mediums as possible. My audience is myself because I care about being able to see my improvements or what I need to work on more.

When I view other artists’ work, I appreciate the techniques they use, and try to learn from them so that I can apply new techniques to my own work. The type of artist I would like to be is my own artist.

ANIMATION CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ART FOR GAMES

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ERICA WISE HARLEYSVILLE, PA

North Penn High School

ILLUSTRATION SCULPTURE + INSTALLATION CREATIVE WRITING STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

ERICA’S ARTIST STATEMENT My creations are inspired by conveying my perspective in my life experiences. Most of the landscapes and sculptures I produce are large, in order to portray the many elements and details involved. My portraits, however, are usually smaller to give a more intimate representation of the subject. I love to explore other styles and techniques throughout my different pieces. I feel as though the inconsistency allows me to be more open and expand my creativity and ability.

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JOSCELYN YETTER WILMINGTON, DE

Cab Calloway School of the Arts

JOSCELYN’S ARTIST STATEMENT Cartooning is the main format of my art and I aspire to write and illustrate my own comics in the future. I enjoy drawing cartoons because of how expressive and dynamic they are. I love working with characters and how they interact with each other, and this is what I want to focus on when I begin my own comics. Storytelling through pictures is what I enjoy most, and one day I hope to create worlds with my art that will inspire others.

ILLUSTRATION GRAPHIC NOVEL CREATIVE WRITING FIGURE DRAWING

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FACULTY AMANDA D’AMICO

DAVE DUNN

ZINE + SMALL PRESS

CINEMATOGRAPHY

BA ‘04 Sarah Lawrence College

BFA ‘01 Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University

Studio Art & European History

MFA ‘07 The University of the Arts Book Arts/ Printmaking

BETH BEVERLY TAXIDERMY AS WEARABLE ART

BFA ‘00 Tyler School of Art, Temple University Metals

Film Studies

DEBRA HOFFMAN PAINTING STUDIO, FIGURE PAINTING

BFA ‘93 The University of the Arts Painting

MFA ‘97 Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts

2010, Pocono Institute of Taxidermy

JAMES HEIMER

BRANDON KLEVENCE

ILLUSTRATION; SKATE INDUSTRY: ILLUSTRATION + DESIGN

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: MAKER LAB; TINKERING: TOY DESIGN

BFA ‘04 The University of the Arts

BS ‘14 The University of the Arts Industrial Design

CHELSEA MAJURI GRAPHIC DESIGN: POSTERS + PROMO

BA ‘14 Rutgers University–Camden Graphic Design

Illustration

JASON CORBETT ART FOR GAMES

BFA ‘15 The University of the Arts Design Art + Technology

JEN PASCOE ZINE + INSTALLATION

CHRISSY DAY FASHION + FIBERS: DRAFTING + INDUSTRY; FASHION + FIBERS: DYEING + CONSTRUCTION

BFA ‘99 The University of the Arts Crafts

Intermedia

MFA ‘13 The University of the Arts Book Arts/ Printmaking

MFA ‘06 Cranbook Academy of Arts Fiber

SCULPTURE + INSTALLATION

JODY SWEITZER

CHRISTIAN PATCHELL

BFA ‘95 The University of the Arts

ILLUSTRATION; GRAPHIC NOVEL; CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Metals

MFA ‘03 University of Pennsylvania

BFA ‘95 The University of the Arts

Fine Arts

Illustration

JOE HOCKER

CL ARISSA CAPONERA

PHOTOGRAPHY

FASHION PHOTO

BFA ‘11 The University of the Arts

BFA ‘15 The University of the Arts

Photography

Photography

DAVID BERGER

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BFA ‘04 Pacific Northwest College of Art

MFA ‘14 Tyler School of Art, Temple University Photography

FIGURE DRAWING

JUSTIN PEKERA

BFA ‘91 The University of the Arts

EXPERIMENTAL PHOTO; EXPERIMENTAL PHOTO

Painting

BFA ‘02 The University of the Arts

MFA ‘94 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Painting

Photography

LINDSEY MARTIN

REBECCA GILBERT

FILMMAKING

SCREENPRINTING

BFA ‘05 Virginia Commonwealth University

BFA ‘00 Marshall University

Photography + Film

Printmaking

MFA ‘12 Temple University

MFA ‘02 The University of the Arts Book Arts/ Printmaking

Film + Media Arts

SARAH GAMBLE

LOWELL BOSTON ANIMATION,DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM AND ANIMATION

DRAWING I: INTRODUCTION; EXPERIMENTAL PAINTING

BFA ‘88 The University of the Arts

BFA ‘98 Corcoran College of Art & Design Fine Arts + Art History

Animation

MFA ‘01 University of Pennsylvania

MFA ‘91 California Institute of the Arts

Painting

Experimental Animation

VIRGINIA GRANT

MALLORY WESTON

CREATIVE WRITING

JEWELRY + SMALL METALS

BS ‘05 University of North Alabama

BFA ‘09 The University of the Arts

English

Crafts

MA ‘07 University of North Alabama

MFA ‘13 Rhode Island School of Design

English

Jewelry + Metalsmithing

Ph.D ‘14 Auburn University English

MICHAEL GEORGE DIGITAL EFFECTS FOR FILM + ANIMATION

VERONICA CIANFRANCO

BFA ‘06 Rutgers University–Camden

ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS

Art/Computer Animation

BS ‘08 Southern Connecticut State University Studio Art

MFA ‘10 The University of the Arts Painting

TEACHING ASSISTANTS CAROLYN ANELLO FASHION + FIBERS

ERIKA BALL ILLUSTRATION

GIGI KALOUSTAIN

T YLER NELSON

ADVANCED DRAWING PROJECTS; EXPLORING 2D DESIGN

FILMMAKING

EMILY KATES

ILLUSTRATION; CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: MAKER LAB

KELLI BERTOLINO GRAPHIC DESIGN

CHRISTIAN BRADY CINEMATOGRAPHY

MARILYN HUGHES

TIM MILLER ART FOR GAMES; CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

LIZZY O’DONNELL

ANNA L ADD PHOTOGRAPHY; EXPERIMENTAL PHOTO; STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

HALEY MONSON ANIMATION

JEWELRY + SMALL METALS

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PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS 320 S. BROAD STREET PHIL ADELPHIA, PA 19102 Email PRECOLLEGE@UARTS.EDU Phone 215.717.6430 Web UARTS.EDU/SUMMERINSTITUTE