Influences In Art Practice
5. Chocotoy
1. Who are the 5+ artists you chose?
Paula Scher
Paula Scher is a prominent American graphic designer known for her bold typography and iconic brand identities. She has worked with major clients like Citibank and Windows and is a partner at the design firm Pentagram. Her style combines modernist principles with expressive, dynamic visuals.
Jessica Walsh
Jessica Walsh is an American graphic designer, art director, and illustrator. She is known for her bold, colorful, and experimental design work, often blending graphic design with art. Walsh is a co-founder of the creative agency &Walsh and previously worked as a partner at the renowned design firm Sagmeister & Walsh.
Raymond Pettibon
Raymond Pettibon is an American artist known for his distinctive drawings that often combine text and imagery, creating thought-provoking and sometimes darkly humorous works. His style blends comic book aesthetics with elements of punk rock, pop culture, and social commentary. Pettibon gained prominence in the 1980s with his involvement in the Los Angeles punk scene, especially through his album art for the band Black Flag.
Jamie Hewlett
Jamie Hewlett is a British comic book artist and co-creator of the virtual band Gorillaz. He is known for his distinctive animation and illustration style, which blends elements of comic books, cartoons, and pop culture. Hewlett gained fame for his work on the Tank Girl comics before working with musician Damon Albarn to create Gorillaz, which has become a globally influential multimedia project.
Karen Guevara & Luis Albornoz
Karen Guevara and Luis Albornoz are Venezuelan graphic designers, illustrators, and 3D modelers, and the co-founders of Chocotoy. Their work combines creativity, emotion, and bold colors, with a distinctive style that blends playful shapes, toys, and candy, designed to bring joy and laughter. Chocotoy's unique aesthetic, aimed at young Venezuelans, has garnered international recognition. They’ve also worked on projects for Latin music stars like J-Balvin and Bad Bunny, including the artwork for their Oasis album.
2. What were 5+ themes the artists addressed about making work?
One of the main themes Paula Scher addresses in her work is the importance of boldness in design. She emphasizes stepping outside of the norm and pushing typography and visuals to make a statement. Her work often reflects the necessity of using large, impactful fonts and forms that grab the viewer’s attention. She also discusses the idea of evolving with the times—how design can be a reflection of societal shifts, especially in urban environments like New York.
Jessica Walsh discusses the importance of personal expression and emotional vulnerability in her design process. She believes design should not only be visually appealing but should also evoke emotions. A key theme in her work is authenticity, creating designs that speak to her own experiences and reflect her true self. Walsh encourages taking risks and pushing the boundaries of what design can do in terms of personal storytelling.
Raymond Pettibon focuses on using humor and satire as powerful tools for commentary. His work often features political and social critiques, blending dark humor with pop culture references. He demonstrates how art can challenge the status quo, with a particular focus on addressing societal issues through sharp, exaggerated imagery and iconography. Pettibon also touches on how art can be confrontational and how it forces the audience to engage critically with the work.
Jamie Hewlett emphasizes the importance of multimedia storytelling in his work, particularly with Gorillaz. He demonstrates how combining animation, music, and graphic design creates a more immersive and engaging narrative. A key theme in Hewlett’s approach is collaboration—how working with musicians and other artists enhances the depth of his projects. He shows how blending different media can expand the impact and creativity of art, taking it beyond traditional boundaries.
Karen Guevara & Luis Albornoz's work revolves around playfulness and vibrancy in design. Their colorful, surreal characters and 3D illustrations showcase the importance of joy and fun in creative work. They also explore youth culture—specifically Venezuelan youth—emphasizing how cultural context plays a crucial role in shaping design. Their art is highly energetic and focuses on bringing light-heartedness and positivity to the viewer through whimsical, bold shapes and colors.
3. What were 5+ challenges the artists faced in making their work?
One major challenge Paula Scher faced is balancing personal creativity with commercial work. She often has to find ways to maintain her bold design style while meeting the requirements and constraints of clients. Scher also discussed the challenge of keeping her work fresh and relevant over time, particularly as design trends shift and evolve. As her work is often tied to cultural shifts, staying ahead of the curve and constantly innovating is crucial.
Jessica Walsh discussed the challenge of maintaining emotional authenticity while working within commercial constraints. When working on client projects, she has to balance the desire to create personal, expressive work with the need to meet specific client expectations. She also spoke about the pressure to create something unique and meaningful in an industry where trends often dominate, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining originality.
Raymond Pettibon’s challenge is his bold and often controversial approach to art. His use of satire and political commentary can be polarizing, and he discussed the difficulty of making art that pushes boundaries while still resonating with an audience. Additionally, staying relevant in an ever-changing political and cultural landscape is a challenge, as his art frequently engages with current events and issues that are constantly evolving.
Jamie Hewlett faces the challenge of adapting his work to the digital age while maintaining the integrity of his creative vision. As technology and media consumption evolve, particularly in animation and music, Hewlett must ensure that his work, such as the Gorillaz project, stays relevant and immersive. Collaborating with different artists also presents its own challenges, as balancing different creative visions can sometimes lead to conflicts but also fosters innovation.
For Guevara and Albornoz, one challenge is incorporating new technologies like 3D modeling into their design process. Learning and adapting to technical tools while staying true to their creative vision can be difficult. Additionally, creating a cohesive identity in a crowded visual market is a challenge, especially when aiming to appeal to both local and international audiences.
4. What were 5+ inspirations you drew from the artists?
Paula Scher’s use of bold typography and graphic experimentation inspired me to take more creative risks in my own sesigns. Her ability to use design to make a statement—whether through large-scale visuals or typography that commands attention—encouraged me to embrace stronger design choices. I was particularly inspired by her confidence in making big, visual statements and how she navigates between the boundaries of fine art and graphic design
Jessica Walsh’s approach to emotionally-driven design inspired me to be more vulnerable and authentic in my work. Her willingness to use design to reflect her personal experiences and feelings made me realize how impactful it can be when you open yourself up in your creative process. Walsh’s focus on storytelling through design made me think about how I could incorporate more narrative into my work, even if it’s personal or abstract.
Raymond Pettibon's use of satire and dark humor to address political and cultural issues was something I found very powerful. He showed me that art doesn’t always need to be serious or formal—it can be playful and still make an important statement. Pettibon also inspired me to think more critically about how art can serve as social commentary, pushing me to consider the themes I want to explore and how I can engage with contemporary issues.
Jamie Hewlett’s ability to combine animation, music, and design to create an entirely immersive experience inspired me to think outside the box in terms of the media I use in my own work. His work with Gorillaz showed me that combining different forms of expression can create something much bigger and more dynamic. Hewlett also highlighted the importance of collaboration, which reminded me that working with others can open up new creative possibilities.
The vibrant, playful aesthetic of Chocotoy’s work encouraged me to embrace more color, fun, and energy in my designs. Their use of bold, surreal elements reminded me that design can be whimsical and light-hearted, even when addressing serious or challenging concepts. I was inspired by their ability to create art that is visually engaging while also expressing a sense of joy and cultural identity.
5. What were 5+ things you would like to incorporate into your own work after watching these videos?
Paula Scher’s confidence in pushing design boundaries really resonated with me. As a graphic designer about to graduate, I often feel a bit anxious about stepping out of my comfort zone, especially when it comes to trying new design approaches. After watching Scher, I want to embrace bolder typography and experimental layouts, even if they feel intimidating at first. I see now that taking risks in design can lead to more dynamic and impactful work, and it’s something I’m excited to incorporate more into my projects, despite my worries.
Jessica Walsh’s focus on personal expression and vulnerability in design inspired me deeply. I tend to be a bit reserved about sharing my true self through my art, but Walsh’s approach made me realize that authenticity is what makes work stand out. I want to start incorporating more of my personal experiences into my designs and illustrations, not just focusing on aesthetics. Even though I feel nervous about putting myself out there, I know this will make my work more meaningful and connected to who I am as an artist.
Raymond Pettibon’s use of humor in his art was a great reminder that art doesn’t have to be overly serious to have a strong message. I want to experiment with using humor and light-heartedness in my graphic design work to comment on more serious issues or just to make people think. It’s a creative direction I haven’t fully explored yet, and I’m excited to start integrating it into my designs, even if it feels risky or uncomfortable at first.
Jamie Hewlett’s ability to blend animation, music, and design through the Gorillaz project really inspired me. As a designer, I’ve worked mainly with graphic design and illustration, but seeing Hewlett’s work made me realize the power of combining different media to create something truly immersive. I’ve just started exploring 3D modeling on my own, and I’d love to continue learning and integrate it into my designs. I’m excited to step out of my comfort zone and experiment with more multimedia projects, which I believe will open up new creative possibilities for me.
The playful, colorful, and surreal style of Chocotoy’s work spoke to me on a personal level. As someone who enjoys working with illustrations and graphic design, I often shy away from more whimsical approaches because I worry they might not be taken seriously. However, watching Guevara and Albornoz made me realize that playfulness in design can create something unique and engaging. I want to incorporate brighter colors and more dynamic, imaginative elements in my work, even if I feel nervous about how it will be received. This will help me push my creativity beyond my usual boundaries.
Oh! What about the Art21 video search?
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