THE START OF CREATIVITY
From childhood, drawing was my first love. I can just remember all the tiny doodles I've drawn throughout my young school years. Every folder and binder, seemed to be filled with my own artwork. I seriously even remember doodling on a high school AP exam; if you didn't know, that's a test that requires you to pay money just to take it. However, my creativity did not just stem out of nowhere. I was one of those kids whose eyes were glued to a TV screen. Oh yes, how I loved watching those Saturday morning cartoons and late 90s anime. Not only that, one Christmas, my parents bought me and my brothers an N64 and Playstation. So as time progressed, I grew up on these creative outlets. Back then it seemed like mindless fun, which no doubt, some people still think today. It was different for me. This was the kick-start of my inner, creative being.
ART IN THE YOUNG DAYS
I owe it to the TV shows and video games to make my childhood. Most people would call it immature to still dwell on such things, but if you just think for a moment of all the little things that make your life joyful, why would it be a negative to reflect on it? Many professionals do not consider anime or cartoons as real forms of "art," or video games as something elegant or sophisticated to the mind. But I think these, so-called, "mindless" activities do a lot for individuals. You see today the effect nostalgia has on the current generation. We reminisce about what we once enjoyed. And with current technology, we carry it forward in new ways. I used my nostalgia in simple pencil drawings. It helped me practice and hone in on my passion. From mere doodles, to understanding various shapes and anatomy, I began to really find an appreciation of the work that goes into character creation. Fan creations, or "fan art," was a big step in refining my talent. Fan Art is not about benefiting off the work of others, but rather a benefit in learning new things by studying their works. I found new ways to sketch, new ways to line, new ways to shade, and so forth. If someone can make these designs and concepts, then I can educate myself to do the same as well.
It was around middles school when I would discover Adobe Photoshop. As a self-teaching individual, I made myself learn the program. After years of learning even throughout high school, my skills increased to another level. I took what I learned in traditional ways of drawing to the digital realm. Not only could I draw on paper, but now I could create new effects to my work. To be honest, it made me confused and frustrated at times, but boy did it help in my future.
NEWFOUND SKILLS IN GRAPHIC DESIGN
University was a slight turning point when I decided to major in Graphic Design. Me being an ignorant high school graduate, I thought it was exactly the same as the digital art I've come to learn. Slightly disappointed, I went through my courses in hopes of designing my own characters. Not to mention, I just bought a new Surface Pro 2 to learn how to digitally draw. I realized I almost "mastered" Photoshop by this time, but everyone around me knew Adobe Illustrator instead. Internally panicking, I was confused as to whether I was in the correct major. I trudged forward, learning design principles, basics, color theory, hierarchy, typography, etc. Before you know it, I was having a blast. My eyes opened to another world. I never thought I could design a logo. I never thought words could look so good. I never knew these things that would normally just please my eyeballs had a reason as to why they visually pleased my eyeballs. I ended up cherishing this newfound skill set. And behold, light bulb moment; I could intertwine my past skills with the newly acquired knowledge of communication design.
WHAT I AM TODAY
I believe an artist should be versatile. My capabilities have stemmed from traditional forms of art. Imagination caused me to doodle as a child. Drawing fan art through my teenage years to caused me to study characters and expressions. Expanding into graphite and charcoal works in university art classes to have help me refine anatomical structure and good composition. I have since moved on to the digital world, using both digital art and graphic design to reach diverse levels of communication. I now understand both dynamic and simplistic design.
Even if opinions differ amongst different artists, there is no doubt that we all love sharing art and design to the world. The world void of color, concepts, and even just aesthetic appeal would not be a world that I would live in. To me, an artist is dedicated to sharing their creative work that can garner an emotional, direct, or ideological response from others. This can be anything from simple appreciation to a deep connection.
there is nothing more important TO ME than MAKING someone’s DAY because OF the EXCELLENT work of an artist or designer.
Today, I am constantly in the realm of the geek culture, and I plan on keeping it that way. I would rather draw inspiration from things that keep me motivated and excited rather than from things I was formally educated on. I don't regret all of my education on art and design, and probably owe more to being taught as so. But, simply, it doesn't motivate me now to go forward as much as something that I enjoy in a more simple manner. Why? Because I use that to make my professional work stand out. Let's face it, some tasks can be mundane. That's why I take what I view as fun and let it influence my design in different directions. I don't mean making it less professional, but using those concepts of fun, craziness, imagination, silliness, or whatever it may be, in bringing the work to life. I don't know if that makes much sense to anyone, but it will always work for me.
We are not bound to finite objectivity; rather, we are able to decide for ourselves what makes us creative.