Post 2: Influences in Art practice - Mathew zurita

 

Mathew Zurita

ART-398-2381

Professor. Cacoilo

New Jersey City University

January 31, 2025

Influences in Art Practice

Five Artists that I've Chosen:

1. Sarah Sze: Designing a Subway Station | Art21 "Extended Play"
2. Barry McGee: Tagging | Art21 "Extended Play"
3. Zanele Muholi: Mobile Studios | Art21 "Extended Play"
4. Tanya Aguiñiga in "Borderlands" - Extended Segment | Art21
5. Theaster Gates: Collecting | Art21 "Extended Play"

Five themes the artists addressed about making work:

1. Sarah sze work involves mostly on contemporary art. She explores the relationship between technology and memory, the role of everyday objects, and the relationship between humans and the natural world. Her work often incorporates everyday objects, such as office supplies and domestic detritus, to create site-specific sculptures and installations. 
2. Barry McGee work explores themes of community, identity, and social justice. As well as homelessness and consumerism. 
3. Zanele Muholi work explores themes of identity, blackness and selfhood, and LGBTQIA+ representation. Their work challenges oppressive beauty standards and aims to create a more positive image of underrepresented communities. 
4. Tanya Aguiniga work speaks of the artist's experience of her divided identity and aspires to tell the larger and often invisible stories of the transnational community. Her drawings show an upbringing as a binational citizen, who daily crossed the border from Tijuana to San Diego for school. 
5. Theaster Gates work explores themes of social justice, urban renewal, and the revitalization of underserved communities. His art is socially engaged, meaning it aims to improve people's lives by collaborating with communities to address problems. 

Five challenges the artists faced in making their work

1. Sarah sze has faced challenges in making her work, including integrating her art into existing spaces, working with large-scale projects, and creating art during the pandemic. Sze struggled to create a work that would complement the High Line's existing experience. She eventually created a piece that bisects the promenade, so that the viewer becomes the center of the work. 
2. Barry McGee work balances the formal concerns of fine art with populist representations and communal modes of working. In doing so, he creates a body of work that combines the disparate worlds of street art and fine art. Through his drawings, paintings, and mixed-media installations, the artist creates a visual lexicon that addresses the struggles of contemporary urban life, looking toward his local community while building a world of his own characters, monikers, and motifs. 
3. Zanele Muholi has faced many challenges while making her work. She faced trauma, discrimination, racism, isolation, and lack of representation. 
4. Tanya Aguiniga grew up crossing the border every day to go to school in the United States. It was a critical part of Tanya's childhood, and informs a lot of her current art and design work. The isolation and frustrations, from violence to secrecy, that were a part of this daily process, gave Tanya a unique identity that wasn't quite 100% Mexican or American. Her cultural identity remained in a confusing place that resembled purgatory. 
5. Theaster Gates social design of "Theaster Gates: A Way of Working", a forum, lecture, and gallery presentation at The New School, didn’t allow his work to be shown. 

Five inspirations you drew from the artists

1. Sarah Sze is an artist inspired by painting, architecture, and the everyday. Her work is also influenced by the Italian Futurists and Russian Constructivists. Her work and dedication is what inspired me in the video. 
2. BarryMcGee was inspired by a variety of sources, including graffiti, urban culture, and folk art. His work often incorporates found objects like spray paint cans, liquor bottles, and scrap wood. The idea of using scarp wood is what caught my attention the most.
3. Zanele Muholi is inspired by their experiences growing up in apartheid-era South Africa, the Black queer community, and the history of colonization. Their work aims to educate people about these histories and to challenge racist violence and harmful representations. She is also South African photographer like myself, which inspired me the most. 
4. Tanya Aguiniga has drawn from personal experiences to challenge the utility of boundary lines and open up the borderlands as a space for reflection, resistance, and convening. 
5. Theaster Gates is inspired by the Black experience, the civil rights movement, and other historical events. His art often reflects his desire to make meaning and to help people understand and remember Black history. 

Five things you would like to incorporate into your own work after watching these videos?

1. More confidence working outside while not worrying about the public. 
2. Incorporate more graffiti or urban culture photos into my photography. 
3. Shoot more black history month related stuff into my photography. That way I be supporting into the black community. 
4. Shoot more personal things in my life for my photography project. 
5. Shoot historical movements or other historical figures for my photography project. 

Post 1 Introduction - Carla Herrera

Self Portrait, Photoshop 2025

"Mami"
Charcoal Drawing, 2023
Dedicated to my mother

"Count Cash"
Digital Painting, 2024
Anthropomorphism of my family dog, Cash

"Bananas"
Oil Painting, 2022
Oil Study

"Consultation"
Oil Painting, N/A

"N/A"
Charcoal Drawing
Experimental positioning

"Patterned"
Photoshop Pattern Experiment

"Inexplicable"
Relief Printing, 2024
Self Portrait

Bonded, 2023
Oil Painting
Experimental 

Hello, my name is Carla Herrera. I am an experimental artist in the BFA course at NJCU. My artwork consists of different experimental approaches that encapsulates my different interests. I like to work with charcoal, oil and digital media. My artwork is a visual archive of my different experiences and current interests. My artwork is forever changing as I am trying to find what kind of artist I will be. 

(Abstract Expressionist Painter) Jackson Pollock, inspires me because I believe his artwork is the ultimate proof of creative freedom. I love how there are no boundaries in his work and how it highlights this freedom. His usage of color and manipulating compositions is a form of art making I would like to incorporate in my work. 

Jackson Pollock, The Key, 1946

Jackson Pollock, Sleeping Effort, 1953

(French Painter) Victor Maury, is another artist that inspires me to create my digital works.
His splash art combines intentional and unintentional artistic choices that speak on different volumes and concepts. I Inspire to create this same reality he shares in his work for my own audiences. His work is very indulging and I enjoy this feeling when I am looking at his work. The more I dive into digital painting and media works, the more I realize how endless the possibilities are.  

Death Star Thresh, Splash Art, 2019

Pyke, Splash Art, 2018

Two quotes from Susan Sontag Article:


“While a painting or a prose description can never be other than a narrowly selective interpretation, a photograph can be treated as a narrowly selective transparency.”

In a way, they are describing how transparent photographs are as they are definitive proof of a moment in time. Like a photograph, my artwork describes what I have in mind currently and the interest that follows or not.

"As industrialization provided social uses for the operations of the photographer, so the reaction against these uses reinforced the self-consciousness of photography-as-art.”

Photography is a form of artistic expression. In my work, I believe my style depends on the artistic expression I would like to share with my audience members.

POST 2: INFLUENCES IN ART PRACTICE- Evan Pierce Blumer

     The artists that I picked were Wong Ping, the Guerilla Girls, Robin Rhode, Chris Ware, and Marcel Dzama. These artists all tackled different topics such as isolation, activism, helping out the youth, capturing life, and collaboration. Wong Ping, a Hong Kong based animator, discusses how he uses animation as an escape, creating random or funny situations with inspiration that he pulls from his surroundings. The infamous Guerilla Girls, an activism group based in New York active since the 1980s, focused mainly on tryin to spread awareness on the lack of support or recognition for women or artists of color in galleries and museums. Robin Rhode is a South African wall artist who employs the youth community from his hometown. Chris Ware is a Chicago based cartoonist who makes an effort to portray real life as authentically as possible in his work. Marcel Dzama is an illustrator who appreciates cooperation and feels that they're better with it. The works of all of these artists are so unique and stand on their own, but they all reveal something about their creators. Ping's work showcases his unique routes of escapism from his isolating world through his animation. The Guerilla Girls' 'in your face' activism is necessary in order for their message to be heard loud and clear. Robin Rhode works with geometric shapes to broaden his work while also making sure the young people of his community are productive. Chris Ware balances being a father and husband with working on his many comics, some of which have been in the works for decades. Marcel Dzama is learning to see everything new again now that he has a son and brings that perspective into his work. By watching all of them, I felt really inspired to pull more from my personal life and bring it into my work and to have a strong stance with my political stances. Ping, the Guerilla Girls, and Ware in particular stood out to me the most. Ping's isolation during the pandemic is something I really related to, and seeing him use art as a medium to feel free was comforting. The Guerilla Girls' posters and artwork made me feel strong and brave and wanting to take a stand. Ware's ability to balance his life makes me want to properly organize my own life so I can get to work on all of the projects I want to do. Now, I feel motivated to be more than who I am right now.

POST 1 INTRO- Beshoy

POST 1 INTRODUCTION- Beshoy

Hello, my name is Beshoy, a BFA major in photography. Photography has always been something I've loved to do ever since I was young. It's been almost a year now since I have broadened my versatility to Sports photography and I began to fall in love with it. I love to see motion and emotion. I believe that human motion can be art within itself so most of my work now involves athletics.

When I was first introduced to sports photography, I saw it through the lens of Jean Fruth. I would watch youtube videos of baseball games/pictures she covers and that's what made me decide that I want to try this field specifically. I now shoot many different sports, Basketball, Football, Baseball, Volleyball, Tennis, Soccer, etc. Ive even shot some cheerleading events. A Lot of my influence comes from other photographers I meet during events like this. I have learned many things just watching how someone shoots, where they stand to get the best shots, and even what they wear during certain conditions to be as comfortable as possible throughout harsh weather conditions.

There's something about the fast paced photography that really pulls me through, part of it is seeing the athlete do a crazy dunk or score a wild touchdown but the part is also just the fact that you have to capture it at the right moment and time. If you aren't prepared you don't get another chance, maybe the person dunking gave a reaction they've never shown before. These are the types of shots I crave to get. This is what I want to see myself doing as a professional career.

2 Quotes

The two quotes that stood out to me most were;

“Photographs really are experiences captured, and the camera is the ideal arm of consciousness in its acquisitive mood”.

“To photograph is to appropriate the thing photographed. It means putting oneself into a certain relation to the world that feels like knowledge -- and, therefore, like power”.

Both these quotes from a Sports photographers perspective I feel are important. What I understood from the first one was that every image is more then just a record, but a moment frozen with energy, struggle, and or even power. The camera allows us to capture these once in a lifetime moments in fraction of seconds, if they are not captured they are lost forever. Sure you might get a similar touchdown or dunk, but it won't be the same person, even if it is, it might not be the same emotion or intensity. Every shot of a game is shaping how the viewers sees it. By choosing to photograph the right moment of a certain player, it can change an opinion of a fan, either good or bad. One example of this is when I shot a highschool football game, although the team I was focused on lost, they had some awesome images of them looking and feeling powerful. That changes the perspective of the game, they did their best and in those images, you see that.

Post 1 Introduction - Isabelle Legaspi

Self-Portrait, Illustrator

    Hello, I am Isabelle Legaspi, a Filipino student with Type 1 Diabetes pursuing a BFA degree with a concentration in graphic design. As a graphic designer, I prefer to create designs that are aestheically clean but also fun to interact with while also matching with the subject matter. I also enjoy fine art and exploring its different mediums. I took every opportunity to do so at this school by attending ceramics, printmaking and photography classes. I've also had my hand in drawing with graphite and charcoal, as well as painting in acrylic, gouache and especially watercolor (in high school.) An artist that inspires me is Kai K (Instagram @_dollgirls) who is a Hong Kong artist and graphic designer based in the US. I was first intrigued by her printmaking work and fell in love with her designs. 

Chewies, glucose gummies packaging design mockup

Key & Switch, mechanical keyboard magazine design mockup

Milk Chocolate, chocolate bar packaging design mockup

Mahal: double meaning, silkscreen print

Masks, prompt: covid, graphite drawing

 Susan Sontag Quotes: 

 "Photographs, which packages the world, seem to invite packaging. They are stuck in albums, framed and set on tables, tacked on walls, projected as slides. Newspapers and magazines feature them; cops alphabatize them; museums exhibit them; publishers compile them." 

     Photographs are everywhere, organized and displayed in so many different ways. Whether in albums, magazines or museums, they shape how we view the world by capturing and presenting it in a certain way. As a graphic design student with a new profound interest in packaging design, the word "packaging" stuck out to me. I had never thought of frames or the other ways photographs are displayed as packaging. 

 "Photographs really are experience captured, and the camera is the ideal arm of consciousness in its acquisitive mood." 

     Photographs allow us to freeze moments in time, turning experiences into something we can revisit. The camera acts like an extension of our awareness, helping us collect and preserve memories that might otherwise fade. It's almost like a way of holding onto the past, capturing emotions and details we might not even notice in the moment.

Post 1 Introduction- Juliette Reyes

    Hello, everyone. My name is Juliette Reyes. I mostly create digital work and want to pursue a career in character design. I've always enjoyed making my own characters and daydreaming about their little worlds and personalities. 

    When growing up anime was my biggest influence, but as I got older Mila Useche and Jackie Droujko were the artists who really inspired me the most when I was first figuring out what kind of artist I wanted to be. 

    I loved Useche's work's vibrant colors and cute little characters. When I was first introduced to Mila Ushche's art she was a character designer who worked digitally, but now as a response to the creation of AI, Useche only works with paint on canvas to connect back to traditional mediums. 

    I also enjoy Jackie Droujiko's character designs. When I design a character, I always think back on how to create interesting shapes and volumes like Droujiko. I was introduced to Jackie by her YouTube videos. On her channel, she shows the process of her illustrations and short film animations and does portfolio critiques for other inspiring artists. I find her very encouraging and educational.

    As of late, I would describe my work as colorful and playful. I enjoy drawing round shapes and I have also been loving the colors blue and yellow together. 

    As for social issues, I've been thinking a lot about book bannings, class divisions, and Trump revoking the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972. These are just the things that have been weighing on my mind as of late and when I do I like to think about the quote..

"People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people".

-Alan Moore, V for Vendetta 

Portfolio of Artist:

Jackie Droujko

Mila Useche

2 Quotes + A Responce

"To collect photographs is to collect the world. Movies and television programs light up walls, flicker, and go out; but with still photographs the image is also an object, lightweight, cheap to produce, easy to carry about, accumulate, store."

    "A photograph passes for incontrovertible proof that a given thing happened. The picture may distort; but there is always a presumption that something exists, or did exist, which is like what's in the picture."

    I found these quotes interesting because the first quote feels nostalgic. Photographs indeed collect the world we view, and we things we find interesting and love. If we look at the photos on our phones it tells our story, what we did, who we were with, and where we were. I also think it's the photographer who shows their world and the world they want us to see. But I also think the second quote is interesting because it fuels the other quotes. The images we have are our presumes proof of our lives and our world. But the world we try to show can also be an unreliable narrative. 

Post 1 Introduction - Nam Maple

 

Personal Logo
(Procreate, 2024)

     Hello! My name is Nam Maple, and I’m an African American graphic designer and illustrator with a deep passion for creating through digital media. My artistic practice is heavily influenced by a wide range of media, particularly video games, animation, and graphic novels/comics, which have shaped both my style and my approach to design. I work primarily in digital formats, using tools like Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop to bring my visions to life.

My artistic style draws heavily from the bold, graphic qualities of pop art and street art, with thick outlines and vibrant colors that command attention. As a designer, I’m particularly drawn to creating logos, while as an illustrator, I enjoy designing original characters as well as reimagining those from my favorite series. I find that my skills in design and illustration go hand in hand as I enjoy combining character drawings and design aspects to create things like stickers and posters. The media I consume fuels my creativity and motivates me to create—whether it’s putting my own twist on existing ideas or crafting something new entirely. 

Here is some of my artwork:

Magical Tika Original Character Design + Logo
(Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, 2024)

Barcade Logo Redesign
(Adobe Illustrator, 2024)

Sonic the Hedgehog Char
acter Art
(Procreate, 2025)

Shadow the Hedgehog Character Art
(Procreate, 2025)

Tika Character Art
(Procreate, 2025)

La Montaigne Mascot Design + Logo Redesign
(Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, 2024)

Wario Land II Mock Magazine Ad
(Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, 2024)

Miscellaneous Photography
(2024)

Kirby Tilt 'n Tumble Mock Magazine Ad
(Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Procreate, 2024)

Miscellaneous Photography (2024)

Miscellaneous Photography (2024)

     Some of my favorite artists include cartoonist Bill Watterson, the creator of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, Akira Toriyama creator of the anime/manga Dragon Ball, Yuji Uewekawa, the artist behind the modern redesign of Sonic the Hedgehog in the early - mid 2000s, and pop singer Remi Wolf.

POST 1 INTRODUCTION: Brianna Pacheco

Self Portrait, Procreate

 

    Greetings everyone. My name is Brianna Pacheco and I'm currently majoring in BFA Illustration. It's mostly due to the fact that drawing is one of my hobbies and I enjoy being able to bring creative ideas to life. There are so many stories in my head that I not only want to flesh out but also illustrate them.

    I am generally a traditional artist. I started out with a pen but later switched to a pencil. Drawing with pencil is my preferred method because I feel that I have the most control over my lines and strokes when doing so. If I want to preserve my work, I'll ink it so it doesn't suffer from smudging or pencil lines fading. Rarely do I physically color a piece. Usually, if I want a drawing to be colored I put the work into a program like Procreate and color the work digitally. It is due to a lack of fear of messing up as a mistake can be undone digitally and the convenience of being able to change colors freely. I have tried colored pencils, acrylic paint, markers, gouache, and charcoal. Gouache is the only form of paint that I enjoy using due to its ability to be reactivated and lifted off from a piece if needed Charcoal is another material that I found myself enjoying using.

    What motivates me is Manga and Manhwa. They depict their stories through illustrations. Each has a distinct art style whether it be how the characters are designed, the shading techniques, the backgrounds, etc. Sometimes series may have a similar or exactly the same art style to another series due to influence or an artist working on more than one work. I enjoy viewing all the different styles of the artists. Some of the people who have profoundly impacted me are Lizbeth R. Jimenez, both author and artist of her manga series Sacred, and Katsura Hoshino, both author and artist of her manga series D.Gray-Man. Jimenez runs her own YouTube channel that centers around her manga series and tips for creating manga. Hoshino’s art style has developed over time as she worked on her manga.

Cow Witch, Photoshop

Young Self Portrait, Charcoal

Kitsune, Photoshop

Zelda, Procreate

Eliza, Pencil and Micron pen

Susan Sontag Quotes

"To collect photographs is to collect the world."

Photos are essentially still moments of time. If you capture the still moments of various places then you get the different perspectives of life happening all around us.

"Photographs furnish evidence."

As a photo captures a still moment, it presents the truth. That truth can be the current state of something or something that has happened.