POST 2 INFLUENCES IN ART PRACTICE - ARIANNA ALMAGUER 2/6

Who are the 5+ artists you chose?

• Maurice Sendak

• Tim Burton

• Jean-Michel Basquiat

• Chip Kidd

• Shawn Coss

What are 5+ themes these artists explore in their work?

• Maurice Sendak: Resilience, the unknown, imagination, harsh realities, and navigating difficult emotions. Sendak believed that children seek meaningful, passionate stories rather than overly safe ones.

• Tim Burton: Isolation, alienation, dark aspects of human nature, family, death, loss of innocence, and revenge. His unique gothic style embraces these eerie, melancholic themes.

• Jean-Michel Basquiat: Racism, classism, identity crisis, and power struggles in America. He used bold colors and textures to create emotional intensity and bring energy to his pieces.

• Chip Kidd: Minimalism, timelessness, nostalgia, and puzzles. As a book cover designer, he prioritizes simplicity while creating visually striking and thought-provoking designs.

• Shawn Coss: Mental health, depression, body dysmorphia, and death. He incorporates a dark, gothic aesthetic that complements the heavy subject matter of his art.

What are 5+ challenges these artists faced in creating their work?

• Maurice Sendak: Trauma from losing family members in the Holocaust, health issues, frequent criticism for his work being deemed too dark for children, censorship, and starting his career by illustrating psychology textbooks.

• Tim Burton: Feelings of not fitting in, depression, struggles of becoming an independent filmmaker, creative challenges to make unique movies, and criticism for lack of diversity.

• Jean-Michel Basquiat: Racism, poverty, heroin addiction, pressures of fame, and personal struggles that influenced his art.

• Chip Kidd: Changing norms of book designing.

• Shawn Coss: Mental health struggles, criticism for his depiction of mental health issues, and creative blocks slowing down his work process.

What are 5+ inspirations you drew from these artists?

• Inspired by Maurice Sendak’s belief that children need real, thought-provoking stories rather than sugar-coated ones. This approach made me rethink how to communicate through my own work.

• Jean-Michel Basquiat’s ability to embed deeper meanings into his art. His work carries strong messages, which I want to incorporate into my own art.

• Shawn Coss’s focus on mental health and raising awareness of difficult topics resonated with me.

• Admiration for the artists’ work ethics, dedication to their craft, and resilience through adversity.

• Attention to detail in even the simplest designs, making their work stand out. Using what’s available to create meaningful art.

What are 5+ things you would like to incorporate into your own work after learning about these artists?

• Bringing awareness to mental health and exposing the darker behaviors of human nature.

• Being honest and direct in my art, addressing difficult topics rather than straying from them.

• Keeping my work simple yet detailed, ensuring every element has meaning.

• Embracing the mindset that if these artists can overcome challenges and create amazing work, so can I.

• Developing strong work habits and dedication to my craft, just like these artists.