Money Talks!

I am officially inspired!

While browsing through the rapper "Jay- Z" blog called Life + Times, I found one of the best articles I have ever read and it was something I could incorporate into my own thesis. This picture will show you what I mean:

This is awesome and I was so shocked because it's something we see everyday but never really use it to it's full potential besides its spending power. The use of dollar bills to create revolutionary messages is so profound based on the history of the dollar and the messages on the actual physical bill. It's like taking a devil's trident and molding a cross out of it. This is such a powerful way to convey your opinion through something that is argueably the reason of most of our problems.

Going back to my thesis, I want to display a mirage of truths and expose the lies of American history and these art works inspire me because they are not saying a lot nor are they elaborate. The most important aspect is that they are EFFECTIVE. The first plans for my thesis was to make a large elaborate piece that forces you to give attention to it but I think I was to go more of a simple way like the art works shown above. I feel as if minimalistic approaches are more effective because they do not drown the message and/ or cross interact with the content embedded. The artist of these "Money Works" is Dan Tague and his website is here: http://dantaguestudio.com/index.php?/installation/cost-of-war-price-of-freedom/

Change of Heart

My first intentions of my exhibit was to make the presentation raw, using natural resources like cardboard and paper etc. and constructing a large harsh size.

But as I talked to other people and surfed the web looking for different inspirations and perspectives, I turned a new leaf. I decided to keep all the content about the corrupt government and the lies of history but I will present them in a different vehicle.

I'm still pondering on the specifics of my canvas but I changed my mind and it will not be a huge collaged like I first said I would.

This should be interesting...

Exhibit Thoughts

The recent gallery had some interesting pieces... and then it had some pieces that weren't so interesting...

well for me.

This was my favorite piece in the exhibit. It consisted of four square frames with drawings of mathematical shapes in them. The most intriguing component was that in side the math signs were highly detailed drawing of scenery including dirt, oceans and forest landscapes.

Besides the obvious visuals, I enjoyed the concept that these drawings as a collection projected. I started t think of a fusion between two different elements in science and nature. In my opinion, there is a church- state separation like relationship when it comes to nature and science but in all actuality nature and science are complimentary to each other. I liked the way the drawings were placed on a clean white canvas and a clean square border; even the drawing were placed in a clean grid formation.

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Then there was a piece or project that I was just confused about. It consisted of an old and rusted ice skating cleat placed to a yellow bunny mold.

Honestly, this piece was not appealing at all. It was a combination of two unrelated things and without a story to tell, they do not match together. I looked around the block it was placed on to see if there was a book or a catalog of some sort to tell the relationship between the two but there was not. So my confusion just took over and I walked away...

After having Thesis class and pondering on what the theme of my thesis project will be, I know I wanted it to be something controversial but respected. Something people are nervous to speak of but something people will speak of. Something that will hold things that may have been forgotten in the shadows of history but that something that will never be forgotten. I want to take advantage of this thesis opportunity to show the world my thoughts on the history of this country.


This the album cover for an artist called Lupe Fiasco and he pretty much resembles the atittude that I am trying to portray in my thesis. The title is pretty much self explanatory but his songs are about things that people are scared to say. He speaks about the government and their evil ways, false and covered up history, and the subliminal life. I want to commit to similar thoughts and somehow place them on canvas.

This will be interesting...

Thesis Interview w/ Dan Winistorfer

What is the theme for your thesis?

For my thesis, i can honestly say i dont have an exact idea of what is going to be created, but i can say that i want to combine two different mediums. I prefer illustration over any type of visual art. Being a graphic design student, i have slowly strayed away from illustration, besides small sketches of different design ideas. I would like to work on creating different portrait drawings, but also using them to their full advantage in new design ideas. What i am trying to communicate with this combination of illustration and design, i do not know yet, but im sure with a little bit of time and drafting, i will find a good concept.

What are your strongest qualities and weakest qualities when it comes to your art ethic?

My strongest qualities in my eyes are my drawing abilities, and color palette selection. I try to use it to my advantage as best i can, and when possible or necessary. I am very good at replicating images, and often combine specific qualities from several images to reinvent a whole new image, idea, or concept. I'd say my weakest qualities are my ability to navigate through the technicalities of using computer programs. My instinct to be illustrative may be too strong at times, because i revert back to old habits, instead of using newer tools to make new habits. Also, I feel that I need much improvement in being minimal, but also communicating a message. Minimalism meaning using negative space, composition, and text size correctly. I feel like the solution to this is to spend more time in front of the computer, but also make test prints a little more often.

Do you have an artist idol or an artist that has a great influence on your work?

No current artist in particular. I feel like thats also another weakness of mine. I enjoy looking at many different works of graphic designers and illustrators, and also try to keep myself updated on different design websites. but i never followed a specifics artist work in large quantities. The only artist that I can honestly say i have seen and been influenced by all of his work is M.C. Escher.

What kind of style would you say you have?

I have a visual style. Id like to work on my conceptual approach to my work. Ultimately i would like to have a style that combines illustration and design.

How long have you been in the art game?

I've been drawing my whole life. Ive got a few old notebooks at home that i filled with drawings from kindergarten through elementary school. Looking back on them, its interesting to see how well i payed attention to the smallest details. But i've literally been drawing since then. once i figured out that i could draw, i started trying other ways for me to use my talent for attention to detail.

Do you make art for the purpose of the audience or self satisfaction?

Id say both. my satisfaction comes from the audience. But at the same time, if someone doesn't like something I've done, I wont always agree with them. If i think it looks good and i consider it finished, than thats all that matters to me.

What do you want your audience to think when they view your thesis?

I want them to understand my love for illustration. I want my audience to understand that i am an illustrator, but also see that i can be creative by not just using a flat piece of paper to draw one. I want to bring illustration to digital media.

In 5 years, where do you want to be with your art?

I want to be happy. I want to be confident with my work, but at the same time, i want to enjoy what i do. Nobody knows where they'll be in five years, but i still dont doubt that i will still be drawing, no matter on what surface or program i use to do it.

Pioneer Modernism

After the World War, the art world changed and evolved as the public's situations and life evolved. Pioneer Modernists were the "go getters" that seeked and searched for this new way of life. Thier mindsets and goals were set on ideas and concepts of communication through vision. Their strong suit was abstraction and manifestos. I respected the effort and visions that the pioneers shared because they broke the standards so that a new fresh life could emerge. But like most strong forces, their weaknesses became obvious and its exposure grew. This group of strong willed intelligent individuals were maybe to good for thier own sake. The unity between the pioneers began to dissolve because everyone had their own opinions and views on certian aspects of life. Each designer wanted to bring something the world has never witnessed before but at the sametime their ideas were migrating from one central idea. Also their abstraction made sense to them but it wouldn't have made sense to the general public. So lack of communication was the main reason why this group never succeeded together. Even though the fianl result was a fail, in a way it was success because future minds and minds of today can look back at this unique group and gain motivation from the work that these pioneers did.

The Marriage & Divorce of Art & Design

M/M delivered interesting opinions about the difference between design and art. Various artists and designers presented their ideas and opinions on the subject. There is also the discussion of what constitutes a gallery and what makes a room a gallery? Also, how does the objects and art work relate with its surrounding environment. As I read this article I realized that design snuck its way into this art discussion because galleries and the way artwork are placed in them send visual messages to the viewers. So in a way the art is relating to the people because the design sends messages. Kees Dorst article explores the boundary between designers and artists' limits and purposes. This reading seems to give an advantage to artists because artists are more free than designers. Artists do not have to follow rules and regulations like designers do. But designers are very professional and strict on their assignment. This article also sought out to see the affect of the crossover of design and art. In a way they compliment each other because in order to produce an art piece you must first brainstorm a design and in order to design you must have a sense of art. The superflex article was a tad bit different from the two other articles I discussed because it focused more on the social side and the relation that art has to the public. After going through these documentations I realized that art and design are definitely compliments of each other.