Senior Exhibits 2019

In today’s society, social media is the main influence on young women. There are endless makeup tutorials that show how to get perfect porcelain skin and fitness influencers who motivate girls to do more squats so their butts can be as big as the Kardashians. Young women are growing up believing that they must look and act a certain way to be attractive and desirable. I am here to tell you this is not the case.
“The Ordinary Woman” series consists of five self-portraits that challenge modern ideals of female beauty and shed light on finding joy and acceptance in everyday life. These paintings show the five basic functions of life which are moments that are not considered social media worthy but still make us who we are. They are portrayed to give the viewer an inclusive look into moments that most people do not share with others based on being uncool or unpopular. These daily functions connect us as humans and are shared human experiences. This gives the viewer a chance to self-reflect and examine their own lives.
Getting inspiration from artists like Alice Neel, Chantal Joffe, and Jenny Saville, I use a loosely gestural and expressive style that results in an abstracted figure. I use acrylic wash and apply it in layers to add depth to the painting. Each piece is on raw canvas which allows for the medium to flow and speak freely. This shows proof of my process and immediacy of the work.

My work has, as its core, the formal philosophy of reducing nature to its purest form. Each work emerges from exploring the theme of Arizona and its natural beauty. I have always been inspired by adventure and the world around me. I was once confined by the small, rural, one red light town that I was raised in, but now I can live out the poster that I hung on my wall when I was young— “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” 
This current body of work is a distillation of forms that have been repeated and geometrically simplified through a process of digital manipulation. To express the environments that I was captivated by, the Saguaro National Forest, Monument Valley, and Antelope Canyon, I dug deep into how I felt when I was in Arizona. I was surrounded by different textures and landscapes and the way hot, red dirt would seep into my sandals. I remember traveling underground and sensing smoothness of the wave-like canyon walls, while the sun was beaming into the openings. The use of pattern gives each work a sense of movement and the surprise of new visual stimulus. The carefully chosen color palettes influenced by the Arizona skyline, and the layering of linear textures are added to influence a cohesive body of work. 
I have always been an artist that dabbles into different media. I enjoy all types of art: drawing, painting, weaving, and illustrating. I chose to form pattern designs because I could use all different media to create my final work of art. I start by sketching my motifs, converting it into vectors digitally to create the pattern, and then painting them to bring them to life. By having my patterns printed on everyday objects, such as socks, bags, notebooks, and home décor, I hope to inspire the everyday user and bring nature’s beauty into their everyday life. 
 Adventure and Place are the overall themes of my current body of work. I hope to inspire someone to reach outside of their comfort zone to find somewhere they finally feel at home and to look up and see the beauty that God has created around them.

Saguaro Cactus

Thank you is a body of work that focuses on my mother’s perseverance in spite of the trials and tribulations she faced as a single parent. It is a series of five large-scale assemblages that combine photographs and found materials that express my mother’s unique life experiences and personality. It is also a communication of my sincere reverence for what she overcame in raising a family by herself.
More broadly, this series is a broader look into the cultural phenomenon of single motherhood. This universal topic became a lens through which I could consider the struggles, support and love a mother like mine has given me. Each piece is composed of materials that aren’t considered to be art materials and few that are. While creating this series I used found objects from home along with handwritten words of affirmation to produce a meaningful assemblage comprised of objects, words and images. As a young child I found an outlet in art. I found a sense of freedom of expression and sense of belonging. My mother has always encouraged me in all that I have been led to do in life including pursuing my love for art. I want to convey themes such as struggle, perseverance, and love. Growing up I learned to appreciate discarded materials and the “make something out of nothing” ethic. It helped me to see everyday materials as art materials. The way you can take a piece of material that was intend3dfor a use outside of art and turn it into something new really excites me. Though the recycling of found objects and creating art out of nothing. The discarded materials also are given a new purpose. I ant viewers to see these works as something they can relate to. I want to express myself through a reflection of my past and present experiences with my mother. I want others to see beauty in the discarded and abandoned materials.

Durable

I was adopted into a healthy, God-loving family when I was just two days old. Growing up, I struggled with feeling accepted into my family because I was simply &ldquo;different&rdquo; than they were. When I was 15, and again when I was 18, I lost both my Brother Kyle and my Sister Alyssa to cancer. Two of my most trusted and accepting best-friends were now gone, leaving me with this burdensome load of loneliness and depression.
Then, after talking to a small-group leader at my Church, he was able to introduce the Gospel to me and the beautiful fact that the Lord sent his Son Jesus to die a perfect death in place of my sins so that I can be together with him, forever. It was there where the Lord called me into His Kingdom and I felt my chains being slowly but surely broken.
For years I struggled with carrying the weight of loss, depression, anxiety, acceptance, and loneliness. By understanding and believing in the willing and wholesome sacrificial Love that God gave me, He was able to take hold of my chains and shatter them, bringing me into a Loving relationship with Him.
-Landon
I believe that in this life we can all agree on one thing: we all go through struggles and pain, such as heartbreak, loss, and rejection, that leave us hoping for peace in our life. As a photographer, I am highly influenced by my own experiences and my faith. Due to circumstances in my life, I&rsquo;ve wrestled with depression and anxiety and it left me feeling empty and alone. Then, I discovered Christ and my faith in him gave me peace and allowed me to be joyful in those circumstances. I have found photography to be a creative tool to share about the incomparable hope I have.
Incomparable Hopeis a film photography series that describes the lives of three individuals and how they each discovered hope. I created three photographs per person to describe their journey in life from going through trials to being free from them. Light is a key component within my work and I applied it to this series to symbolize the progression of hope within each person&rsquo;s life. The darkest image is symbolic of their struggles and the lightest is symbolic of the freedom they experience. The middle image shares the moment they discovered their hope. Finally, I asked each person to write a short testimony of their story so that the viewer can first reflect on the images and then read directly from the individual. My goal is to share each person&rsquo;s story as truthfully as possible using my tool as a photographer.
My decision to create my senior show with film photography became apparent after my first film class. Today, digital photography is widespread and an effective tool, but I have found film to have an intimacy that can&rsquo;t be obtained through a digital lens. It intrigues me to watch a blank piece of paper come to life with an image I made in the darkroom. I love getting to use my hands to make edits on my image. I take pleasure knowing that a part of me is actually viewable in my work. The hours in the quiet darkroom also give me time to reflect and enjoy a peaceful moment while creating my work.
My desire with this series is to share the hope these few individuals have found through the struggles they experienced. In return, I ask the viewer not to look at these experiences as unique, but to reflect on their own and to question, &ldquo;Have I found hope in my life?&rdquo; I advise them not to leave without thinking deeply about the trials in their life. Each of these people have a story to tell and they all end in this hope they have put their trust in. With this series, I want to encourage the viewer to know that they are not alone in their suffering and hope is there to be found.

Chains Shattered

Water Chakra: Deals with Pleasure. Blocked by Guilt.
I enjoy the process of drawing. It has become a form of meditation for me. Each stroke I make is like a breath of fresh air. When I am producing a piece, there is a raw connection between my mind and the lines that I choose to put down. My personal meditation practice connects directly to my work. By focusing on one’s mental state through meditation, I believe personal well-being improves. As a result, spirituality is a prominent theme in this series. I aim to intrigue the individual by evoking a unique feeling or broadening their mind through abstract thought.
The chakra structure is a concept in which there are seven spiritual and emotional points within the body. Every point is opened through mental focus and self-reflection.I have abstracted my approach to the chakra structure, evoking a unique response from each viewer. The release of negative emotions is achieved through the development of each chakra and culminates with reaching one’s spiritual enlightenment. The complexity of the themes complements the intricate nature of my drawings. Digital painting is my preferred medium because of the ability to layer and incorporate effects. I use bright and intense colors, through overlap of the lines, to represent beams of light. This enhances the connection between the figure and the background within every composition. The singular color of the backgrounds, along with the line work, are what develop the emotional energy of each piece.
The technique and style of my recent work is a combination of realism and abstract drawing. I would say that I developed my technique by contemplating the feelings which relax me the most. I populate my drawings with patterns that drag the viewer’s eye across the page to view the intricate detail. I also use a combination of overlap, shading, and contour lines to display dimensionality. With this body of work, I aim to blur the line between the human spirit and the body. I demonstrate that life surrounds us in different forms of emotional energy.
Mental contemplation and meditation are the overall themes in my current artistic work. By using my drawing skills in combination with digital art, I aim to share a contemporary interpretation of the human chakra structure. I want others to view spiritual connectivity in a visually intricate manner. Life surrounds us with energy in different forms and we can make changes to improve our individual well-being.

Water Chakra

Beacons of Light is a body of work that focuses on the city of Atlanta. This includes expressing the dynamism of the urban environment, its celebratory settings and the eye-candy of its colors, textures and overall aesthetic. It is a series of nine large-scale double exposure color prints representing my home city through my eyes. I chose to photograph Atlanta to show the beauty of its nightlife as well as the memories that I hold of each place that is documented.
I have always been inspired to do film photography. My father did a series on Las Vegas neon signs, and this has always inspired me to photograph many of the neon signs back home. I used my father’s Hasselblad camera to further indicate his influence on my work. This portfolio is a combination of dreamy, nostalgic, and timeless photographs. There is a cinematic feel in some of the photographs that represents the commemorating of childhood achievements, dance recitals, getting my first job, birthdays, and holidays. All of these special events from my life were celebrations; usually commemorated with a drive down Ponce de Leon Avenue. This is where the many vivid neon signs were reflected off the windows of the other passing cars as we made our journey to whichever restaurant my parents were going to surprise us with. There was always a feeling of excitement as the destination’s big bright sign appeared in our windshield. I want to show the liveliness of the city. When you look at these photographs, I want you to think back to a time you were celebrating something special. I want you to think of where that place was and how special and vibrant it was.
My medium for this series is medium format film photography. I am also using a digital program to create a double exposure effect. This imbues the images with a surrealistic quality and a nostalgic feel. I chose to do nine photographs, consisting of three still-lives, three portraits, and three landscapes. I did this to show different attitudes and impressions I sense in each place. I am photographing at twilight, so the neon signs are very vibrant on the dark background.
This series communicates the unique vision I have in my mind’s eye when I think of Atlanta and the memories each place holds. Growing up in the city has given me a different perspective and now I am able to share that with my viewers. The energy of Atlanta is shown through the dazzling colors of each photograph. The nostalgic feel is created by the double exposures. Lastly, the symbolic similarity is presented by the use of my father’s Hasselblad camera. Beacons of Light is a portfolio that focuses on the celebratory memories of my life since early childhood.

SOS Tiki Bar

CC BY 4.0 Attribution

Muscari

Veins

“Sight for the Sightless” focuses on my brother, Gabe, who has been blind since birth. Everyday, I grew up witnessing how he interacts differently with the world due to the loss of such an important sense. Without this sense, his other senses have been magnified and that is evident in everything he does. I believe that his loss of sight should not limit him or others to interact with art. Instead, it should propel the artist to push boundaries and create art for more than one audience.
I have always used photography to express my feelings and it has occurred to me that Gabe cannot see and experience the feelings or emotions I have captured. In this exhibition, the images are captured in a way that visually represents Gabe and his everyday environment. While growing up with Gabe, I have seen how his everyday environment is different because he has had to adapt to aspects of life in alternative ways. Braille is a language that I do not need, but for Gabe, it has allowed him to understand what he cannot see. The braille is a description made by Gabe of what he was feeling or experiencing in the image. I chose to incorporate the application of braille to the photographs so he could understand the emotions that the image is portraying. The decision to photograph with a 35mm film camera was because of the aesthetic that the photos capture. There is no English description of the braille because I wanted to create an even playing field for the viewers who cannot see and the viewers who can see the feeling. This gives the viewers who can see an idea of what it is like to not to understand a photograph just like someone who can not see a photograph. This exhibition gives a fair chance to viewers with sight or without sight to understand the same image even though they are experiencing it differently.
As humans, I strongly believe that we take for granted the sense of sight, and I wish to examine the idea that maybe we do not need sight to see or feel. Gabe can not see these photographs but, by reading the braille, he can remember the feeling in the moment, therefore he is understanding the photograph like those with sight do. Artist have the ability to create and express emotions through alternative methods and the absence of any sense should not limit what can be experienced.

Light

keys

I believe that in this life we can all agree on one thing: we all go through struggles and pain, such as heartbreak, loss, and rejection, that leave us hoping for peace in our life. As a photographer, I am highly influenced by my own experiences and my faith. Due to circumstances in my life, I’ve wrestled with depression and anxiety and it left me feeling empty and alone. Then, I discovered Christ and my faith in him gave me peace and allowed me to be joyful in those circumstances. I have found photography to be a creative tool to share about the incomparable hope I have.
Incomparable Hopeis a film photography series that describes the lives of three individuals and how they each discovered hope. I created three photographs per person to describe their journey in life from going through trials to being free from them. Light is a key component within my work and I applied it to this series to symbolize the progression of hope within each person’s life. The darkest image is symbolic of their struggles and the lightest is symbolic of the freedom they experience. The middle image shares the moment they discovered their hope. Finally, I asked each person to write a short testimony of their story so that the viewer can first reflect on the images and then read directly from the individual. My goal is to share each person’s story as truthfully as possible using my tool as a photographer.
My decision to create my senior show with film photography became apparent after my first film class. Today, digital photography is widespread and an effective tool, but I have found film to have an intimacy that can’t be obtained through a digital lens. It intrigues me to watch a blank piece of paper come to life with an image I made in the darkroom. I love getting to use my hands to make edits on my image. I take pleasure knowing that a part of me is actually viewable in my work. The hours in the quiet darkroom also give me time to reflect and enjoy a peaceful moment while creating my work.
My desire with this series is to share the hope these few individuals have found through the struggles they experienced. In return, I ask the viewer not to look at these experiences as unique, but to reflect on their own and to question, “Have I found hope in my life?” I advise them not to leave without thinking deeply about the trials in their life. Each of these people have a story to tell and they all end in this hope they have put their trust in. With this series, I want to encourage the viewer to know that they are not alone in their suffering and hope is there to be found.

Acceptance Driven

Drink

Bells

Buzz

Majestic

Varsity

Throughout my life, painting has always been an opportunity for release. A time to relax and regain peace of mind during times that were filled with fear and uncertainty. I go into a painting not knowing how it will turn out in the end. Using the medium of watercolor, I allow the paint to flow freely, and with minimal manipulation I ultimately allow the painting to create itself. Knowing that while painting, I am able to let go of structure and control, and still create something that is beautiful has. It always been a fascinating quality that I have come to enjoy so much about watercolor. 

This experience is what inspired my series Release. In this series, I work in an intuitive and non-objective manner to best portray the flowing and unrestrained freedom I experience when painting. My works explore the effects that certain colors have on the viewer. I chose to use colors that promote a calm and positive state of mind. I use large amounts of color to convey my desire to be surrounded by the positive effects of each color. Inversely, the smaller darker images represent things in my life that cause stress, fear, or sadness. The cord symbolizes myself and the connection between the range of emotions represented through each painting.

Growth

I knew from the beginning that I was meant to take charge. I have always been comfortable with stepping up, standing out, and even being misunderstood because of my assertive personality. My parents watched me turn from a bossy young girl into a woman with strong leadership skills and a highly creative mind. While I am very outgoing, I am surprisingly a proud introvert. I find satisfaction in art because it is a way of communicating that takes place in a solitary process that is protective and refreshing. I want my art to be refreshing and inspiring for the viewer. My artworks aren’t weighed down with heavy meaning, but are meant for taking delight in.
I am inspired by women who work, lead, and influence. My show is a celebration of women who do so in society. Amongst my digital paintings are women who have inspired me to step onto the field, run for that position, and take the reins of my career as a graphic designer. People like Jackie Kennedy who are strong yet elegant and chic, and people like Serena Williams who are bold yet graceful. All the women I chose turn the clichéd phrase “Like a Girl” into an empowering message for young women.
I am influenced particularly by American painter Alex Katz, who simplifies his portraits by using large blocks of color. I aim to also formally simplify my work without loading my images with politics, race, or debate. Teil Duncan, an American painter has also influenced me to explore the subject matter of women and their style, while painting both with sparing detail.
My four years in college have been a defining time of who I am as a woman and a leader. Between being an athlete, serving on campus, and holding multiple leadership positions, I revealed a Macy that I didn’t know existed. I have developed a confidence that is through the roof, a competitive edge like no other, and a desire to live my life as far away from my comfort zone as possible. I hope that my paintings will spark a flame in you to become the best version of yourself. I also hope to make you feel motivated to work towards your personal goals, even the ones that seem bold, crazy, and out of reach.

Blake

Yia Yia

A fusion of contemporary art and technology lives through me and flows, ink on a blank canvas. I create works with bits of myself hidden within and giving soul to the faces of my creations. The face of a company, with the marks of a hapless, tired soul woven like thread through the images. Sharp colors and angles, strewn with subtle imperfection; the straight line of a computer, and the shaky hand of a person that lives guarding a thread of hope within their heart lives together here. <a>[1]</a>
I want to instill a sense of playfulness, intensity, whatever the mood is that I desire to pull through the threads of the human psyche. Works that appeal to the human emotion have always been the most important to me, and this is something that shows in almost all of the things that I make. Creators are architects to the emotion. This is my most powerful belief.
Some may believe that designing a graphic leaves less to the imagination than a painting, but both are wrought from the heart of the artist, carrying their style and their soul. To an extent, a piece of the creator is left behind in each work. It is a personal journey, to recall the emotions you felt while building something, to finally see it in its entirety.
I come from a simple upbringing, where my ideas were encouraged, bizarre or unconventional as they may be. I was raised to see the beauty in everything, be it something in nature, or something made by human hand. Beauty can be found in any small space, if you go looking for it.

Leviathan

When I was six my father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. This disease is not dramatic, it doesn’t immediately upend a person’s life. However as the years go by it takes more and more of the human body and spirit. While most people are aware of the physical disabilating effects MS has, they are less aware of the psychological. Watching my father suffer from MS was like always having some dark force on the edge of my vision that I couldn’t grasp or fight off. And growing up I always wanted to do or make something that would provide him with happiness, even if only for a moment.
Despite what my family thinks, I get my love of learning and creativity from my father. My earliest memories are of him reading both fiction and nonfiction books to me. That wanting to know more and to think critically about the things around me, lead me to build entire fantasy worlds within my head. And although I am older now, and don’t have the opportunity to read as much as I use to I still like to imagine stories to help cope with the stresses of everyday life. Usually my ideas for stories are sparked when I am driving and listening to music. The song will have a phrase that conveys a feeling or an idea that lingers in the back of my mind until it becomes a fully formed character that I then build up a world for.
My story is about a grim reaper having to protect a child of satan from demons and monsters. Growing up in a Catholic household I was fascinated by the mythology of the Christian religion. As a child I imagined fighting demons and monsters while playing with my toys. I chose to illustrate my story because I am inspired by comic book artists like Frank Miller and Kohei Horikoshi to not just think of a world, but to build it using drawings. I rely heavily upon knowing how to foreshorten the body limbs, using lines to create a flow of movement, and dramatic uses of tone to set a mood. Also the need to craft compelling dialogue is necessary to connect my readers to my characters. The story, while having a good deal of action, will focus on being driven by characters and their interactions. Because at the core, this story is about battling my deepest fears and the fears of many people amongst my generation. Fear of an unknown future, of past failures, and the constant feeling of never being good enough.
The materials I select for my work are the computer, however I always start with the tried and true pencil and paper. I will sketch the setting and characters with pencil on bristol paper, then add pen for basic outlines and cross hatching, and finally I will scan the pieces in and add tone using digital painting in Photoshop. After I am satisfied with how it looks I will print it out several times while adjusting the levels of darks and lights to get the best quality print.

The Book of Diane Cover

The Main Characters

The Reapers

Fizz & Bubbles

Fears Dominating

Heart Chakra: Deals with Love. Blocked by Grief.
 I enjoy the process of drawing. It has become a form of meditation for me. Each stroke I make is like a breath of fresh air. When I am producing a piece, there is a raw connection between my mind and the lines that I choose to put down. My personal meditation practice connects directly to my work. By focusing on one’s mental state through meditation, I believe personal well-being improves. As a result, spirituality is a prominent theme in this series. I aim to intrigue the individual by evoking a unique feeling or broadening their mind through abstract thought.
The chakra structure is a concept in which there are seven spiritual and emotional points within the body. Every point is opened through mental focus and self-reflection.I have abstracted my approach to the chakra structure, evoking a unique response from each viewer. The release of negative emotions is achieved through the development of each chakra and culminates with reaching one’s spiritual enlightenment. The complexity of the themes complements the intricate nature of my drawings. Digital painting is my preferred medium because of the ability to layer and incorporate effects. I use bright and intense colors, through overlap of the lines, to represent beams of light. This enhances the connection between the figure and the background within every composition. The singular color of the backgrounds, along with the line work, are what develop the emotional energy of each piece.
The technique and style of my recent work is a combination of realism and abstract drawing. I would say that I developed my technique by contemplating the feelings which relax me the most. I populate my drawings with patterns that drag the viewer’s eye across the page to view the intricate detail. I also use a combination of overlap, shading, and contour lines to display dimensionality. With this body of work, I aim to blur the line between the human spirit and the body. I demonstrate that life surrounds us in different forms of emotional energy.
Mental contemplation and meditation are the overall themes in my current artistic work. By using my drawing skills in combination with digital art, I aim to share a contemporary interpretation of the human chakra structure. I want others to view spiritual connectivity in a visually intricate manner. Life surrounds us with energy in different forms and we can make changes to improve our individual well-being.

Heart Chakra

Sound Chakra: Deals with Truth. Blocked by Lies.
I enjoy the process of drawing. It has become a form of meditation for me. Each stroke I make is like a breath of fresh air. When I am producing a piece, there is a raw connection between my mind and the lines that I choose to put down. My personal meditation practice connects directly to my work. By focusing on one’s mental state through meditation, I believe personal well-being improves. As a result, spirituality is a prominent theme in this series. I aim to intrigue the individual by evoking a unique feeling or broadening their mind through abstract thought.
The chakra structure is a concept in which there are seven spiritual and emotional points within the body. Every point is opened through mental focus and self-reflection.I have abstracted my approach to the chakra structure, evoking a unique response from each viewer. The release of negative emotions is achieved through the development of each chakra and culminates with reaching one’s spiritual enlightenment. The complexity of the themes complements the intricate nature of my drawings. Digital painting is my preferred medium because of the ability to layer and incorporate effects. I use bright and intense colors, through overlap of the lines, to represent beams of light. This enhances the connection between the figure and the background within every composition. The singular color of the backgrounds, along with the line work, are what develop the emotional energy of each piece.
The technique and style of my recent work is a combination of realism and abstract drawing. I would say that I developed my technique by contemplating the feelings which relax me the most. I populate my drawings with patterns that drag the viewer’s eye across the page to view the intricate detail. I also use a combination of overlap, shading, and contour lines to display dimensionality. With this body of work, I aim to blur the line between the human spirit and the body. I demonstrate that life surrounds us in different forms of emotional energy.
Mental contemplation and meditation are the overall themes in my current artistic work. By using my drawing skills in combination with digital art, I aim to share a contemporary interpretation of the human chakra structure. I want others to view spiritual connectivity in a visually intricate manner. Life surrounds us with energy in different forms and we can make changes to improve our individual well-being.

Sound Chakra

Beacons of Light is a body of work that focuses on the city of Atlanta. This includes expressing the dynamism of the urban environment, its celebratory settings and the eye-candy of its colors, textures and overall aesthetic. It is a series of nine large-scale double exposure color prints representing my home city through my eyes. I chose to photograph Atlanta to show the beauty of its nightlife as well as the memories that I hold of each place that is documented. 
I have always been inspired to do film photography. My father did a series on Las Vegas neon signs, and this has always inspired me to photograph many of the neon signs back home. I used my father’s Hasselblad camera to further indicate his influence on my work. This portfolio is a combination of dreamy, nostalgic, and timeless photographs. There is a cinematic feel in some of the photographs that represents the commemorating of childhood achievements, dance recitals, getting my first job, birthdays, and holidays. All of these special events from my life were celebrations; usually commemorated with a drive down Ponce de Leon Avenue. This is where the many vivid neon signs were reflected off the windows of the other passing cars as we made our journey to whichever restaurant my parents were going to surprise us with. There was always a feeling of excitement as the destination’s big bright sign appeared in our windshield. I want to show the liveliness of the city. When you look at these photographs, I want you to think back to a time you were celebrating something special. I want you to think of where that place was and how special and vibrant it was. 
My medium for this series is medium format film photography. I am also using a digital program to create a double exposure effect. This imbues the images with a surrealistic quality and a nostalgic feel. I chose to do nine photographs, consisting of three still-lives, three portraits, and three landscapes. I did this to show different attitudes and impressions I sense in each place. I am photographing at twilight, so the neon signs are very vibrant on the dark background. 
This series communicates the unique vision I have in my mind’s eye when I think of Atlanta and the memories each place holds. Growing up in the city has given me a different perspective and now I am able to share that with my viewers. The energy of Atlanta is shown through the dazzling colors of each photograph. The nostalgic feel is created by the double exposures. Lastly, the symbolic similarity is presented by the use of my father’s Hasselblad camera. Beacons of Light is a portfolio that focuses on the celebratory memories of my life since early childhood.

Krispy Kreme

To me, the word “good” means selflessness, honesty, hope, kindness, honor, and humility. As I’ve grown, I’ve integrated this concept of good into my digital photography as my way of serving others, and as a means to appreciate the life I’ve been given. Broadly speaking, I hope that my artistic journey captures the beauty of those I photograph and gives others a sense of overwhelming love for who they are and the life they live. More broadly, this work is about expressing every human being’s struggle with morality and the choices they make.
There is a war being waged within us all. Every day we choose to fall into darkness, or take joy in the light. Darkness feels cold, desperate, lost, void, and hopeless. Light feels warm, spirited, passionate, and lively. I aim to draw attention to this internal war. Some of those whom I photograph are comfortable in the dark, hiding away from the light. Some crave the sweetness of hope and the warmth of the light, as they try to break free from the shackles of darkness. Some are basking in the light and only desire to share this light with others. I’m creating art that expressing my every-present search for the light. I believe the nature of warmth, spirit, and passion take their root in Jesus. This art revolves around the experiences of Christians who fight for the truth, and fall short. But because they can experience grace, and redemption through Jesus, the battle is not lost when they fall.
Photography is the study of light. I feel there is no better medium than photography to explore not only the physical quality of light, but also the concept of light as a social, emotional, and spiritual experience. In this series of photographs I am using the progression of darkness to light like a grey scale to show the physical change that happens in a person when on this inward journey for light. I use natural light predominantly, but occasionally utilize studio light to create thought provoking scenes that accentuate the individual’s state of mind. The photograph explores how the subject is interacting with the amount of light they have in the frame. The physical representation of how the person is interacting with the light is a metaphor for how the person is dealing with the light inwardly. 
Seek Light, Be light is a show about the relentless search for light within those who believe in Jesus Christ. It is about the reality of living in a world of sin and choosing to believe in truth instead. My hope is that anyone who sees this show will be able to resonate with some part of it regardless of personal beliefs. Because, after all, there is a war waging within us all, and it should be known that none of us need to feel alone in this battle.

I knew from the beginning that I was meant to take charge. I have always been comfortable with stepping up, standing out, and even being misunderstood because of my assertive personality. My parents watched me turn from a bossy young girl into a woman with strong leadership skills and a highly creative mind. While I am very outgoing, I am surprisingly a proud introvert. I find satisfaction in art because it is a way of communicating that takes place in a solitary process that is protective and refreshing. I want my art to be refreshing and inspiring for the viewer. My artworks aren’t weighed down with heavy meaning, but are meant for taking delight in. 
I am inspired by women who work, lead, and influence. My show is a celebration of women who do so in society. Amongst my digital paintings are women who have inspired me to step onto the field, run for that position, and take the reins of my career as a graphic designer. People like Jackie Kennedy who are strong yet elegant and chic, and people like Serena Williams who are bold yet graceful. All the women I chose turn the clichéd phrase “Like a Girl” into an empowering message for young women. 
I am influenced particularly by American painter Alex Katz, who simplifies his portraits by using large blocks of color. I aim to also formally simplify my work without loading my images with politics, race, or debate. Teil Duncan, an American painter has also influenced me to explore the subject matter of women and their style, while painting both with sparing detail. 
My four years in college have been a defining time of who I am as a woman and a leader. Between being an athlete, serving on campus, and holding multiple leadership positions, I revealed a Macy that I didn’t know existed. I have developed a confidence that is through the roof, a competitive edge like no other, and a desire to live my life as far away from my comfort zone as possible. I hope that my paintings will spark a flame in you to become the best version of yourself. I also hope to make you feel motivated to work towards your personal goals, even the ones that seem bold, crazy, and out of reach.

Michelle

Clermont Hotel

Atkins

Growing up I always struggled with my self-confidence and put my worth in all of the wrong things. From boys to alcohol to the clothes and makeup I wore every day, I placed my fears and all of my values in everything besides what actually mattered.
I remember the day that I realized I actually needed Christ in my life on a real and everyday basis. It was during my parents&rsquo; divorce. I always felt so alone and I realized that the only way I could truly be free is to completely surrender my control to Christ.
Since I gave my life to Christ, even when those same struggles and temptations come my way, I can face them with courage because I know that Jesus is in control of my life, not me.
-Camille
I believe that in this life we can all agree on one thing: we all go through struggles and pain, such as heartbreak, loss, and rejection, that leave us hoping for peace in our life. As a photographer, I am highly influenced by my own experiences and my faith. Due to circumstances in my life, I&rsquo;ve wrestled with depression and anxiety and it left me feeling empty and alone. Then, I discovered Christ and my faith in him gave me peace and allowed me to be joyful in those circumstances. I have found photography to be a creative tool to share about the incomparable hope I have.
Incomparable Hope is&nbsp;a film photography series that describes the lives of three individuals and how they each discovered hope. I created three photographs per person to describe their journey in life from going through trials to being free from them. Light is a key component within my work and I applied it to this series to symbolize the progression of hope within each person&rsquo;s life. The darkest image is symbolic of their struggles and the lightest is symbolic of the freedom they experience. The middle image shares the moment they discovered their hope. Finally, I asked each person to write a short testimony of their story so that the viewer can first reflect on the images and then read directly from the individual. My goal is to share each person&rsquo;s story as truthfully as possible using my tool as a photographer.
My decision to create my senior show with film photography became apparent after my first film class. Today, digital photography is widespread and an effective tool, but I have found film to have an intimacy that can&rsquo;t be obtained through a digital lens. It intrigues me to watch a blank piece of paper come to life with an image I made in the darkroom. I love getting to use my hands to make edits on my image. I take pleasure knowing that a part of me is actually viewable in my work. The hours in the quiet darkroom also give me time to reflect and enjoy a peaceful moment while creating my work.
My desire with this series is to share the hope these few individuals have found through the struggles they experienced. In return, I ask the viewer not to look at these experiences as unique, but to reflect on their own and to question, &ldquo;Have I found hope in my life?&rdquo; I advise them not to leave without thinking deeply about the trials in their life. Each of these people have a story to tell and they all end in this hope they have put their trust in. With this series, I want to encourage the viewer to know that they are not alone in their suffering and hope is there to be found.

Courage Leads

Light Chakra: Deals with Insight. Blocked by Illusion.
I enjoy the process of drawing. It has become a form of meditation for me. Each stroke I make is like a breath of fresh air. When I am producing a piece, there is a raw connection between my mind and the lines that I choose to put down. My personal meditation practice connects directly to my work. By focusing on one’s mental state through meditation, I believe personal well-being improves. As a result, spirituality is a prominent theme in this series. I aim to intrigue the individual by evoking a unique feeling or broadening their mind through abstract thought.
The chakra structure is a concept in which there are seven spiritual and emotional points within the body. Every point is opened through mental focus and self-reflection.I have abstracted my approach to the chakra structure, evoking a unique response from each viewer. The release of negative emotions is achieved through the development of each chakra and culminates with reaching one’s spiritual enlightenment. The complexity of the themes complements the intricate nature of my drawings. Digital painting is my preferred medium because of the ability to layer and incorporate effects. I use bright and intense colors, through overlap of the lines, to represent beams of light. This enhances the connection between the figure and the background within every composition. The singular color of the backgrounds, along with the line work, are what develop the emotional energy of each piece.
The technique and style of my recent work is a combination of realism and abstract drawing. I would say that I developed my technique by contemplating the feelings which relax me the most. I populate my drawings with patterns that drag the viewer’s eye across the page to view the intricate detail. I also use a combination of overlap, shading, and contour lines to display dimensionality. With this body of work, I aim to blur the line between the human spirit and the body. I demonstrate that life surrounds us in different forms of emotional energy.
Mental contemplation and meditation are the overall themes in my current artistic work. By using my drawing skills in combination with digital art, I aim to share a contemporary interpretation of the human chakra structure. I want others to view spiritual connectivity in a visually intricate manner. Life surrounds us with energy in different forms and we can make changes to improve our individual well-being.

Light Chakra

Breathe

Weight Lifted

Fire Chakra: Deals with Willpower. Blocked by Shame.
I enjoy the process of drawing. It has become a form of meditation for me. Each stroke I make is like a breath of fresh air. When I am producing a piece, there is a raw connection between my mind and the lines that I choose to put down. My personal meditation practice connects directly to my work. By focusing on one’s mental state through meditation, I believe personal well-being improves. As a result, spirituality is a prominent theme in this series. I aim to intrigue the individual by evoking a unique feeling or broadening their mind through abstract thought.
The chakra structure is a concept in which there are seven spiritual and emotional points within the body. Every point is opened through mental focus and self-reflection.I have abstracted my approach to the chakra structure, evoking a unique response from each viewer. The release of negative emotions is achieved through the development of each chakra and culminates with reaching one’s spiritual enlightenment. The complexity of the themes complements the intricate nature of my drawings. Digital painting is my preferred medium because of the ability to layer and incorporate effects. I use bright and intense colors, through overlap of the lines, to represent beams of light. This enhances the connection between the figure and the background within every composition. The singular color of the backgrounds, along with the line work, are what develop the emotional energy of each piece.
The technique and style of my recent work is a combination of realism and abstract drawing. I would say that I developed my technique by contemplating the feelings which relax me the most. I populate my drawings with patterns that drag the viewer’s eye across the page to view the intricate detail. I also use a combination of overlap, shading, and contour lines to display dimensionality. With this body of work, I aim to blur the line between the human spirit and the body. I demonstrate that life surrounds us in different forms of emotional energy.
Mental contemplation and meditation are the overall themes in my current artistic work. By using my drawing skills in combination with digital art, I aim to share a contemporary interpretation of the human chakra structure. I want others to view spiritual connectivity in a visually intricate manner. Life surrounds us with energy in different forms and we can make changes to improve our individual well-being.

Fire Chakra

Sleep

Cosmetic Labels

CenseBio

The Demons

Mercury

Rising Sun

Control Surrendered

Thought Chakra: Deals with Cosmic Energy. Blocked by Earthly Attachments.
I enjoy the process of drawing. It has become a form of meditation for me. Each stroke I make is like a breath of fresh air. When I am producing a piece, there is a raw connection between my mind and the lines that I choose to put down. My personal meditation practice connects directly to my work. By focusing on one’s mental state through meditation, I believe personal well-being improves. As a result, spirituality is a prominent theme in this series. I aim to intrigue the individual by evoking a unique feeling or broadening their mind through abstract thought.
The chakra structure is a concept in which there are seven spiritual and emotional points within the body. Every point is opened through mental focus and self-reflection.I have abstracted my approach to the chakra structure, evoking a unique response from each viewer. The release of negative emotions is achieved through the development of each chakra and culminates with reaching one’s spiritual enlightenment. The complexity of the themes complements the intricate nature of my drawings. Digital painting is my preferred medium because of the ability to layer and incorporate effects. I use bright and intense colors, through overlap of the lines, to represent beams of light. This enhances the connection between the figure and the background within every composition. The singular color of the backgrounds, along with the line work, are what develop the emotional energy of each piece.
The technique and style of my recent work is a combination of realism and abstract drawing. I would say that I developed my technique by contemplating the feelings which relax me the most. I populate my drawings with patterns that drag the viewer’s eye across the page to view the intricate detail. I also use a combination of overlap, shading, and contour lines to display dimensionality. With this body of work, I aim to blur the line between the human spirit and the body. I demonstrate that life surrounds us in different forms of emotional energy.
Mental contemplation and meditation are the overall themes in my current artistic work. By using my drawing skills in combination with digital art, I aim to share a contemporary interpretation of the human chakra structure. I want others to view spiritual connectivity in a visually intricate manner. Life surrounds us with energy in different forms and we can make changes to improve our individual well-being.

Thought Chakra

Fizz & Bubbles - Advertisement

Biology is one of my most intense fascinations, and it has been since I was a child. As I got older, my passion for art grew and overlapped with my love for biology. Biology, however, is unforgiving, unknowing, and does not care about the lives it describes through its clinical methodologies. I learned this fact through personal experience. My mother, my best friend, my mentor, and my inspiration was diagnosed with Stage III brain cancer. The day I discovered this was the way that I declared an internal war with the unfeeling calculations of science.
Doctors dedicate their life to studying this emotionless science. They must look at cases from a stoic, guarded standpoint. They can talk to us like we’re ignorant of any fancy terms or the true meanings of the terms that describe her situation. Art is inherently emotional. As a practice, it is made to make the viewer feel something. It communicates in a way that sometimes the most terrifying or meaningful of words cannot. There has always been an interesting relationship between the two disciplines, and many believe they cannot interact since they are so inherently different. Together, though, they can communicate a message not easily described with fancy terms. Together they create a new understanding of the analytical and creative.
I use Plexiglass in this series to tie into my title: Did You See It Coming? The viewer sees through the glass but is obstructed by the body parts. The pieces spin independent of each other, so the viewer can have some semblance of control over the human body. I depict each image representationally with narratives written on the back. These narratives are to show my personal connection with the pieces as well as some of the scientific jargon used to describe the medical condition my mother is battling. I use colored pencil and graphite for the simple reason that it creates a gorgeous representation of reality. My goal is to show the viewer parts of their own body they might not often think of and to force them to think about their bodies in different ways. I choose body parts that are affected by various diseases, and I show them in different states of healthiness or decay.
Through drawing different body parts, their medical properties, and their stages of deterioration, I have found some semblance of control and understanding. Through the stories I have written on the backs of these artworks, I have found a way to communicate my thoughts and feelings while refraining from breaking down every time I think about her. If I can control how the body is shown on paper, then maybe I can find a way to control my strength and composure towards my mother. Maybe I can find a way to honor what she is going through. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to stop it.

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