Students
Meet the rising stars of 2018. These are the 2nd year students in the Advertising & Graphic Design Department at Alamance Community College. Each has their vector self-portrait, along with a brief quote.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.” —A.A. Milne
I really feel as if we need to live in the moment, not the past or the future. We should enjoy what is going on right now. Enjoy your life today because you might not have tomorrow.
“Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.” —Henry David Thoreau
To achieve happiness in life, we must be true to ourselves, pursue our dreams, and follow our hearts. When everyday life feels as a dream, then we are truly living. I try to put my heart into everything I do, to bring my ideas, my thoughts and my dreams into reality.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”—Pablo Picasso
When I started drawing in my early teens, it became my emotional outlet, and as I was going through adolescence and puberty, I drew all the time. I have come back to school to show my daughters that you can do anything, no matter the time in your life or your age. In the process I found my outlet again.
“You don’t have to take a photograph; you make it.” —Ansel Adams
I have always had a love for art. I have a huge passion for both graphic design and photography. Everyone sees the world differently. I want to be able to capture moments and give others memories that they can hold onto forever. With my photos and artwork, I want to show others the beauty of the world. My work represents how incredible our short lives really are.
“My hope still is to leave the world a bit better than when I got here.” —Jim Henson
As I pursue my creative path, at the foremost of my mind is creating something of beauty and meaning, something that will inspire and touch the heart of another. I am an animator, designer, and storyteller. My hope is that the work I end up leaving in this world can also inspire the dreams and hopes of others, and maybe leave the world a bit better than when I got here.
“A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.”—Salvador Dali
The ability to create works of art is subjective. When it comes to creating there is no right or wrong because art is a form of self-expression. It gives us the ability to transcend the limitations of language and to communicate in a way that invokes deeper emotions without the use of words. This is why I create.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” —Robert Frost
The way I look at design, inspiration can come from anywhere. Sometimes, you have to walk down paths less traveled in order to find fresh and original ideas. And I cherish the ability to make my own and others’ ideas come to life.
“In spite of everything, I shall rise again; I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing.” —Vincent Van Gogh
When I feel distraught about my work, I usually doodle something goofy. I feel some comfort in being silly, and following my mental excursions I get back to the work. My strongest quality is my intense stubbornness, the inability to be separated from my task for too long. Or maybe it’s my hair. Actually, it’s definitely my hair.
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right—for you’ll be criticized anyway.”—Eleanor Roosevelt.
I always feel that no matter what you are passionate about, someone will try and stand in your way and tell you how wrong it is. But the best thing is to prove that what you love was right for you.
“What you believe to be true—is it true? Or do you believe that it’s true because you were taught that it was true and never looked further?”—Unknown
The natural and unnatural worlds are my biggest inspiration for creating art. The stories that we pass down through generations make me want to illustrate a narrative and show the world my own stories.
“You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”
—Charles H. Spurgeon
Look around and be humble. Be content with what you have. Find ways to work with what you have and it will make you a great person. I want to make sure my mind is in the right place and live a life of humility.
“Don’t sell yourself short.” —Unknown
You should never say anything negative about yourself or work. You are usually your biggest critic. In my vector portrait of myself, I am leaning on a desk and looking into the future. The background is a 3-D motion illusion to represent the type of designer I want to be, which is a motion graphics artist. All the icons represent the Adobe Suites that I currently know how to use.
“With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity.” —Mark Twain
From pencil sketches to illustrating using Adobe Illustrator, I have come a long way in the past thirty years. With a retro soundtrack fueling my workflow, I strive to create out-of-the-box concepts and designs anchored with the past.
“Do or do not. There is no Try.” —Yoda
In my life I have come across different things that have motivated and inspired me to be a better person, and to work hard to be successful, but none greater than Yoda from Star Wars. This quote is motivating to me, even if it’s just part of the movie. Yoda was saying in a few words that you will either do your best or you won’t. Give your all or don’t give it at all.