Spring 2023 Senior B.A. Exhibition

Ally Miller is a senior at the University of North Georgia. She is getting her B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in Printmaking and a minor in Art History. Ally's artwork focuses primarily on body positivity and mental health, hoping to bring awareness to these very relevant topics in today's society. Ally has struggled with both body image and mental health issues since she was a kid. She hopes to inspire others to get the help they need and help shed light on issues not often talked about.

Artist Statement

My time as an artist has been very experimental, whether that be in technique, medium, or subject matter. After several art courses, I found a passion in Printmaking. My subject matter ranges from mental health, body positivity, and psychedelic animals. My work reflects my opinions on certain subjects and things that I have experienced personally. 

My etching, The Weight of His World, is part of my mental health and body positivity series. When we think of body positivity, typically women are subjects and the message that all women's bodies should be accepted and embraced. Rarely do we see those types of messages for men. While some of my work does include women, I really wanted a piece that could speak to men, as a way to connect to all audiences who view my work. I used Superman as the main character because in this society, men are expected to be strong, invincible, and unwavering. I hope that this work spreads awareness to the mental and physical struggles that men experience that isn't always talked about. 

The Weight of His World, 2022
Etching, 14x10

Andres Osorio is a Senior at the University of North Georgia working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design. When he was three, he migrated to the United States from Cali, Colombia. Growing between two cultures and far away from family, Andres turned to art to find an identity. Andres’ artwork focuses on narrative through detail, often weaving a story throughout its composition. His love of creating art coincides with an exploration of music. Andres’ pieces are influenced by the music he listens to and inspired his affinity for exploring new mediums and subjects for his artwork.

Artist Statement

Panacea is vector based, isometric illustration that invites the viewer into a suspended moment of tranquility and reverie. The idea was to challenge the often-sterilized nature of isometric flat isometric artwork. Moroccan architecture, intersecting aqueducts, and lush greenery give the structure a sense of purpose and invoke the human element. Despite this, no people are present. Instead, it is left up to the viewer to contemplate who, or what, inhabits these mystical hanging gardens.

This piece was inspired by a song with the same name from the soundtrack for the indie game Hyper Light Drifter. Oxford Dictionary defines the word panacea as “solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases”. The juxtaposition of nature and technology is explored through the relationship between the pieces’ computer rendered geometric forms and nature-based subject matter. It’s a window into a world that simultaneously feels welcoming and infinitely distant.

Ashlyn Werl, better known as Ashlyn Nicole, is a senior visual arts student majoring in Graphic Design at the University of North Georgia. Since early high school, Ashlyn has been drawn to design and started creating covers through Adobe Sketch and Canva for her poems published on her personal portfolio. She has since expanded her horizons by learning Typography and Print Making in the classroom and teaching herself to use other design tools such as Autodesk Sketchbook, Corel, and Adobe Creative Cloud. Ashlyn knows how to create high-quality and professional graphics for any occasion

Artist Statement

The objective of my art is to create a world that reflects our own, only instead of being told in news highlights and articles it is told through the eyes of a relatable character named Cavender. Cavender is my original story and will explore everything from world-wasting pandemics to misunderstood stereotypes and dying relationships.

Cavender: A Fantasy Story is an editorial booklet and the first of its kind in my Cavender series. Being an editorial booklet, Cavender: A Fantasy Story is meant to tell Cavender’s life from her birth years all the way to her saving a town that doesn’t really deserve it. All this takes place prior to the main events of the story. The themes in this booklet are to explore destroyed relationships and forgiveness in others as well as feelings of isolation and detachment from people and society.

Cavender: A Fantasy Story was created for an in-class assignment, but it was hand-crafted with great care seen in the decorative layout, muted color choices, and ranging movement. My process usually begins with research about events and items from specific time periods such as the fourteenth century. After this, I write the body text before starting on the spreads. Since this project was made in class, I had to follow certain guidelines and pull inspiration from another artist’s (Matt Willey’s) work.

Cavender (PDF), 2023

Brianna Taylor is currently a graphic design student at the University of North Georgia graduating this May. Art has always been a part of her life and ever since she was a small child she loved to draw and create. But, because she had previously prioritized dancing classical ballet, it was not until her senior year in highschool that she began to seriously invest in visual art. The fall of her freshman year at Covenant College she began to learn more about the nature of art as a field and started to really grow her visual artistic abilities. In 2018, Brianna transferred to the University of North Georgia and switched her major to graphic design. She believes that studying visual art and concentrating in graphic design is an extension of her lifelong love of art. When she graduates, she hopes to work in the graphic design field. 

Artist Statement

This pieced title "Brain Shopping" is a project I designed in Tiffany Prater's Typography class this Spring. My fellow classmates and I were provided with a body of text titled "Brain Shopping" which we were told to display in a visually captivating manner. We were encouraged to use design elements like proximity, repetition, alignment and other elements we covered in the previous class exercises. We could also play with space, color, size, and value. However, we were not allowed to use shapes, lines, or photographs. Instead, we needed to rely solely on the use of a single typeface. The final design needed to be in a 24" by 18" digital poster format.

To begin the design process, I placed a giant number "40" on the center of the composition and extended the strokes from the "4" so that they went off of the page to the right and the bottom. The rest of the title was split with "Brain Shopping" onto the diagonal stoke of the "4" and "Tips & Tricks for Getting Inspired" was placed along the horizontal stroke. The authors name with the remaining body text was placed in the bottom half of the composition on either side of the virtical stroke. To emphasize the contrasts among the various text phrases I utilized different colors and font sizes.

Julie Greenwood is an artist attending the University of North Georgia with the intent of graduating with a degree in Graphic Design. Her background as an artist starts in high school, where she first began drawing and painting. Upon enrollment at the University of North Georgia, she began taking a variety of art courses that taught the basics of traditional art. She also took many other degree-focused courses after completing the basics. Some of her personal favorites include photography courses and graphic design courses relating to packaging and logo design. She still uses her skills from these classes today in her internship with a local antique shop. Her goal is to push herself to learn something new in the creative realm each day. 

Artist Statement

As an artist, I have always aspired to craft a visual experience that elicits a reaction from people. My muse is color, regardless of medium, it always directs my hand as I create. 

These templates, made during my time as a student in the course “Graphic Design in Advertising” (Fall 2022), reflect best my purpose within the art I create. The templates were designed to complement one another, both in color and in structure. They were created for a package design project derived from a small-business chocolate company based in Atlanta.

Package Design Project for XOCOLATL, Fall 2022
Designed in Illustrator, printed on cardstock, cut, and folded 

Joseph Williams is a senior at the University of North Georgia with a major in studio art, focusing on drawing and painting. Interested in art from a young age, his work has continually shifted and changed through the years. During his time at the university he painted angular and pointed figures, seeking to express his discontent with the world around him. He has since developed a style of painting loose, vague figures that are typically cropped tightly to induce claustrophobia and forced intimacy in the viewer. Williams intends to go to graduate school upon graduation and eventually become a professor.

Artist Statement

My art is a memory. It reaches back into the furthest recesses of one’s mind. What are we doing and what are we seeing? These moments in our life are private, intimate, and overcome with emotion. I paint with an intent to recall moments lost in time. These events are ephemeral, and fade just as everything else does. Sometimes we look back with rose-colored glasses, was it truly that sweet and pristine? 

I completely soak my canvas with water prior to applying any paint, as a result, the visage of the painting becomes much darker. This changes the way I see the painting and the way it speaks to me. This is when I am most familiar with my paintings, and it is when I am most intimate with them. I dilute my paint with flow aid additive and water and apply my brush to the wet canvas, letting the paint soak and stain as it pleases. Once the painting dries, it reveals itself to me in its true form. It is like a stranger I have never met before, but feels familiar.

Like we used to (Just one more time), 2023
Acrylic on canvas, 36"x24"

Kelyta Blankschaen is a Visual Arts major with a focus in Graphic Design. From an early age she has always been fascinated with creating art, often spending hours at Disney World drawing while standing in line or hanging out with family around the parks. As a result, she places a high value on imagination. This artist's works often incorporate vivid and vibrant colors along with abstract and flowing shapes to create imaginative pieces of art. She also has passion for communicating about causes she believes in through her art. Whether it be to support a cause or to just whimsical silliness, this artist always strives to have a strong sense of story to be at the center of every single artistic creation. 

Artist Statement

Yzma’s Scheme is a digital media project created for a course which is called digital media. The entire project was made using Adobe Illustrator for the images and Adobe After effects to bring everything together in harmony.

The audio used in the project is from Walt Disney Animation’s The Emperor's New Groove. The use of this audio reflects the influence that the imaginative creations from the Disney company has had on the artist. The particular audio being used in this piece comes from a scene in the film in which the antagonist, Yzma, concocts a devious, clever, and humorous plan to thwart the protagonist of the film.

While this piece was created for a class assignment, a lot of the artist’s artistic passions can be seen throughout the piece. The use of vibrant color and shapes in this piece not only captures the humor and chaotic energy of the film from which the audio was sourced, it also captures the artist's own passion for rich colors and stylized shapes. There is also a strong emphasis on story which is also a big part of the artist’s passion to create art. 

Yzma’s Scheme, Fall 2022 
Adobe Illustrator and Adobe After Effects 

Watch Yzma's Scheme

Kerrington Costello is graduating with a degree in Visual Arts with a Graphic Design concentration at the University of North Georgia, her second year of college she transferred to UNG from Collin College in North Texas. She has enjoyed expanding her knowledge in art through the various mediums used to complete foundational and higher-level classes, growing her understanding in Adobe Creative Suite through the last year. She is passionate about photography, all things design, including graphic and type design, interior design, and painting. After graduating, she plans to move to Texas and work as a freelance graphic designer and continue to develop her photography business.

Artist Statement

While evolving my artistic voice over the semesters at UNG, I found an especially memorable assignment to be one that reflected my voice in art and specifically in photography. In this piece created for a series called Looking for Light, I experimented with soft light, unique angles, and some pops of subtle color, represented by the bright tones of the warm colored light crossing through natures textures at sunset. In the process of developing the thread of similarity between the series that this work is included in; I was looking for places where light proved to be the subject of the photograph. By finding light at specific moments in time the series innately developed an element of unity throughout the series. In this specific work an element of softness, simplicity, and optimism is revealed in the beam of light, from the unique upward facing angle, and the juxtaposition of bright and dark colors in nature that surrounds the light beam itself. All these elements expressing the glimmer of hope that light instinctively gives, moreover reflecting how every moment has a place where light can live. As I continue to progress my own artistic voice, I aspire that just like a beam of light offers hope to the world so we will find light in our own art as we share our works with the world.

Glimmer, Looking for Light Series, 2022
Paper Pro Luster 11"x16.5"

Lauren Taylor Varga was born in Northeast Ohio and raised in Cumming, GA and will graduate from the University of North Georgia in May 2023 with a B.A. in Graphic Design. From a very young age, she has been interested in art and design and was first inspired by cartoons and animations from her childhood which have had a great influence on her artistic pursuits. Later on, her love of nature largely influenced her work. Throughout high school, she became interested in graphic design since it was a great fit for her skills and strengths. Lauren is adept at creating work using many different materials in both traditional and digital media. She has a strong understanding of color, typography, and space.  She also has a love of photography, especially in relation to birds and nature. She has a great eye for detail and her work can be described as cute, creative, happy, and heartwarming.

Artist Statement

This series of photographs titled “Winter Time” captures celebrated moments of the season through the use of miniature constructed sets and figurines. Viewers are invited into an imaginative world to experience the excitement of the winter season. The artist hopes to inspire and spread joy through this body of work.

Peaceful and enjoyable moments are expressed in the photographs, which employ the use of meticulously arranged setups and forced perspectives. A bright, cool color palette was used to bring the whimsical winter wonderland to life. The scenes were constructed by the artist using a variety of materials including foam, paper, fabric, 3D-printed objects, wood, holiday décor, and fabric bird figures.

Lillie Wolfe is a graduating Graphic Design student here at the University of North Georgia. She has always enjoyed art in school, and when she started taking graphic design courses in college she knew it was her calling. Lillie enjoys using her creative mind to troubleshoot artistic problems and create designs that are beneficial for a greater project. Her favorite projects include Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe XD. She has a strong curiosity for UX and UI design and plans to delve deeper into both after graduation. 

Artist Statement

The MODA app is designed for both members of the Museum of Design Atlanta and the general public to view upcoming events and sign up for exhibition tours. The goals for the MODA app include allowing viewers to sign up for a group-led tour and get a notification after, have a clean look for either iPhone or Android users, and allowing viewers to donate to the gallery for selected currencies and receive a notification after.

When I started my process, I had a hard time figuring out where to start. My goal was to simplify information and keep key components for easy navigation. Through lots of troubleshooting and research, I had narrowed down my sections as they would be my 5 main pages/ tabs on my app. One problem I faced was making the app user friendly and easy to navigate. What helped me solve this issue was thoroughly doing research on other apps and how navigation is organized, keeping key components together, and having my peers thoroughly go through the app to navigate independently. Another problem I ran into along the way was choosing a color scheme that worked with MODA while not sacrificing legibility. To fix this problem, I decided to use brighter colors as accents and highlights to not overpower the viewer. 

The most enjoyable part of creating the MODA app for me personally was creating the UI and interactivity throughout the app and learning how to further develop user interaction within the app itself. 

Thank you for checking out my work!  

MODA App Design, 2023 
Adobe XD 

Luke's interests in art have been present for as far back as he can remember. His father had the most influence on me throughout my childhood; he shared with me his interests in antique cars, pop culture, vintage advertising, architecture, etc. These themes were present across my work throughout my childhood and into my teenage years.
High School was the time in which Alfred really started to test and enhance his abilities as an artist. He attributes Visual Art I-VI, Drawing I, and AP Studio, as instramentalin his gaining knowledge of mediums and techniques. Studying art at University of North Georgia has further challenged his skill and knowledge of art.

Artist Statement

Having always found the psychedelic era to present the most enticing of typefaces I decided to delve into the style in which so many graphic artists took part in during the late 1960s. Through research I discovered that many of the psychedelic typefaces were not exactly new but recycled from the art nouveau period of the early 20th century. One typeface that was commonly used across various rock posters during the era was Alfred Roller. Created in 1906 by artist Alfred Roller, the typeface was first intended for the Vienna Secession posters. To be admired are the organic forms and whimsical traits of the typeface but I felt conflicted by the lack of upper and lowercase, and the limited legibility. In response I decided to create my own rendition of Alfred Roller. My typeface, titled Alfred Roller LH, was created with the intention to be utilized in large formats as a display type. Alfred Roller LH was fabricated with legibility and casework in mind. Increased counter size and shape accompanied by the presentation of both upper and lowercase define Alfred Roller LH.

Alfred Roller LH, 2022 
Digital Composition 

Madison Wheatley is a visual artist from Fayetteville, GA. She is a painter, but she has recently dipped her toe in the pool of craft – and has loved every second of it. She likes to intertwine the two forms of art, blurring the lines between traditional art and craft. In her art, she explores femininity, what it means to be feminine, and how this impacts her own view of everyday life. She studies at the University of North Georgia, graduating this May with her B.A. in Studio Art. 

Artist Statement

This piece, an embroidered reimagination of the widely known Vermeer, is one piece of a larger series. This piece is using a traditionally “low-art” medium to recreate one of the most recognizable women in art history. With this piece, and series, I aim to recreate well-known women in art history by using craft to create the image. By using this medium that is traditionally thought of as “feminine” and low in the hierarchy of art to recreate this iconic piece, it brings a new light on the subject. This piece critiques the ideas of “low-art” and “high-art.” Recently, craft is becoming a more accepted form of artwork, but it is still widely considered just craft, not art. This piece aims to blur the lines between craft and art until it becomes one. This means that I am critiquing the patri

archal nature of art as a whole, as well. Because men have traditionally said what goes in the art world, for centuries they considered anything women made (especially if it had a purpose besides being decorative) not true art. By incorporating a craft that is traditionally feminine into a piece that is purely decorative, I aim to make the audience think about women’s roles in art.

To create this piece, I stretched raw canvas over stretcher bars. Once stretched, I referenced Vermeer’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring” and sketched out the basic shapes and planar changes. Once sketched, I used the image to pick out the closest colors to the image. Then, I spent hours, and hours, and hours embroidering the piece.

Untitled, 2023 
Stretched Canvas, Embroidery Thread 

Mirna Turcios-Galvez is a University of North Georgia senior majoring in graphic design. She first became interested in graphic design in high school. After taking three years of graphic design classes, she realized she wanted to study more and further explore a topic in which she had previously shown interest. When she enrolled at the University of North Georgia, she discovered that she had a genuine affinity for the arts. She uses Adobe InDesign and Illustrator for her compositions and focuses on type design.

Artist Statement

I was inspired by the 1960 film Psycho to make the script book I made in Typography II. I incorporated unique compositions throughout my book using the skills I gained from my previous typography course, such as scale and repetition.

The focus of my book was on the various emotions that were depicted during the film, and I incorporated different typefaces to capture the distinctive personalities of the various characters. I drew rough drafts of prospective composition concepts, which I then imported into Adobe Indesign. In order to draw attention to the movie's scenes where someone was being attacked, I created patterns using the word "Psycho" and the color red (which represents blood).

I made the book to help individuals who had not seen the movie and were unfamiliar with its psychological tone understand it. I concentrated on a few movie quotations that I thought were crucial for highlighting a character's characteristics. In the end, I produced 72 pages, divided across 37 spreads.

Psycho, 2023
Adobe InDesign 

Watch Mirna's Psycho video 

Olivia Grace Rainwateris a senior at the University of North Georgia pursuing a bachelors in art with a concentration in graphic design and a music minor. College has been a time of questioning religion, identity, and purpose for Olivia. Through research and asking so many questions, she has gained more understanding into her beliefs. Through art, she hopes to help others find truth for themselves. Upon graduation, she plans on going into ministry and using her graphic design and music skills to help others find this same contentment.

Artist Statement

As an artist, I enjoy reflecting on or giving reference to topics of faith in my artworks since religion is an important part of my life. I believe that I would not be the same person without my faith in the God of the Bible. Therefore, since I consider it to have a great effect on my life, I have drawn inspiration from it throughout my art career.

This typography spread gives historical context into the life of Johannes Gutenberg and his invention of movable type that effected the entire course of Christianity. Through the process of designing this spread, I was amazed at how two of my greatest passions were coming together. Not only did Johannes Gutenberg effect Christianity by allowing people to read the Bible for themselves instead of relying on the Catholic Church, but he also effected the entire course of printing and graphic design. I hope that my design choices reflect the style of the Gutenberg Bible and give credit to a man who never had the chance to be honored for his contribution to the world before he passed.

Don't Forget about Gutenberg, 2022 
Adobe software 

Peyton Avery is a senior at the University of North Georgia. Peyton will be graduating with a bachelor's in Art with a concentration in graphic design. When she first came to college, Peyton had no idea what she wanted out of life. However, the past five years have been full of new perspectives and experiences that have led her to where she is today. She hopes to take what she has learned during her time here and create work that she loves while inspiring others along the way.

Artist Statement

Since day one on my journey of becoming a graphic designer, I have learned more about myself and my passions than I ever had before. Most importantly, I learned about my love for color. The way colors can completely change your mood and how you see the world. This series, To You, with all my love, is meant to highlight the beautiful relationship between my mother and me with bold colors and whimsical compositions.

My family has been a great source of inspiration for my artwork over the years. My work can be very personal, so I enjoy sharing aspects of the people I hold most dear. Since I was a young girl, my mom has always held a special piece of my heart. Our relationship, while not always perfect, has been genuine, precious, and playful. With this series, I wanted to convey just that. I hope that my work also allows others to reflect fondly on the relationships they share with their loved ones.

To You, with all my love, 2023
Typography spread, Adobe Indesign

Ryan Beason is a senior graphic design student at the university of north Georgia. While having a passing interest in art since a young age, his first exposure to graphic arts and design came in his freshman year of high school. The ability to create and manipulate images and graphics with digital software opened a world of limitless possibilities, and allowed Ryan to fully embrace his creative side in a new and unique way. Working primarily with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Ryan believes that he can bring his imagination, from childhood to now, to life through his work.

Artist Statement

Deep in the Forest is a constructed photograph that is part of a series focusing on toys and figures in a variety of situations, ranging from realistic or cinematic, to comical and satirical.

Multiple dioramas featuring the figure and immediate surroundings were photographed, before being imported into post in order to add special effects and background elements.

For me, art has always been a way of translating ideas and aspects of my imagination into the physical world, and this series is an example of how I bring these scenarios to life. It is also a way to express my creativity through digital art and photo manipulation, which allows me to add fantastical elements, as well as truly make the image my own in a way the camera just cannot capture.

Deep in the Woods, Spring 2023
Digital Photography and Photoshop 

Sarah Henriquez is a senior at the University of North Georgia, majoring in Graphic Design. She first became interested in high school when she took a few classes and enjoyed them more than others. When Sarah started at the University of North Georgia, she learned more about Adobe InDesign and Illustrator and even became interested in UX/UI design when learning about Adobe XD. Dreamweaver is still new, but she is getting to know the program more. She doesn't have a primary focus but has leaned more toward type design.

Artist Statement

The objective of this project was first to collect dialogue from the movie of my choice, Shrek 2, and use it to develop my typographic compositions. Second, I had to improve the script book's typographical presentation and determine how it should be presented as a completed book. The final results should be functional overall. 

The first thing I had to start with was my sketches; I created more than twenty with the different layouts I had in mind. Developing various designs took a lot of work, as I wanted them to be different. I used random typefaces as a filler and started working immediately. I created about twenty-five spreads at first and copied and pasted all the dialogues I would use. I skipped the ones that were too short and spread out other scenes into several spreads from how long they were. I only had a little inspiration when I started laying out what goes where for the first fifth-teen spreads I did. Ultimately, I ended up with forty-five spreads, ninety pages. Around that time, some of my layouts looked too similar, so I added blown-up letters in the background. Some of these are the characters' names or words they say throughout that particular scene.

There was plenty of dialogue as there are many characters, and a character is rarely left alone. Regular script books are boring, so adding that silliness from the movie onto the book was fun. Overall my final product is functional and legible, with some pop of color here and there. 

Expressive Script Book: Shrek 2
Adobe InDesign

Born and raised an “Army Brat”, Samantha Gayler spent her childhood exploring different corners of the world. By the age of 15, she was living in Wiesbaden, Germany and developed a love for the arts and unique European culture. This summer Samantha will be graduating with a BA in studio art, and intends to get her master’s degree in interior design, as well as continue to paint/create in her free time.

Artist Statement

When you hear the word ‘home’, what images come to mind? You may envision the town you grew up in, or your childhood house. For children of military families like myself, this question is not so easy to answer. I spent my childhood years nomadic, moving from state to state every year or two, therefore, I don’t consider one location to be home. For me, ‘home’ is any familiar place that I can feel at-peace in. One place I consider the most to be home is Carillon Beach in Florida. The small beach town has been an annual escape for my family and has always felt more like home than any other place. Although I truly grew up all over the world, each stage of my life has been documented and imprinted in the sand of Carillon Beach. From being a toddler washing off in the outdoor showers to making cocktails for my mom and I to drink on the beach, I have watched myself grow and become an individual throughout my time in Carillon. Carillon's colorful town transports you to a different time and place, which is what I intended to do with my painting. The saturated colors and abstracted water create a dream-like mood to pull viewers poolside and become a part of the scene themselves tohear the music, taste the cocktail, and feel the salty breeze within the painting.

Poolside Convo, March-April 2023
Acrylic paint, alcohol marker

Sophie Kishor Mistry is a senior at the University of North Georgia working to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design. Her artwork focuses on embracing her culture and being different from other people. She has struggled with her identity and who she is since she was a child. Embracing her culture has brought more into her life and hopes it inspires others to embrace who they are.

Artist Statement

Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghamis a photography series I created which focuses on embracing my culture. In English, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham means “Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness. I grew up surrounded by people who were not like me, cultural wise. I always felt like I was being talked about and excluded. I have learned to embrace my culture despite there being ups and downs. These are just three photographs from the series.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness)
Photography

Sophia Howard is graduating in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Studio Arts from the University of North Georgia. In 2020, she transferred from Wesleyan College and finished her primary visual arts requirements. Sophia’s focus is in photography, where her art tends to emphasize nature and animals. After graduation, she is moving to Charleston, South Carolina, a scenic natural location where she plans to hone her craft and gain employment as a photographer. Sophia hopes to continue doing what she loves and share her photos with the world.   

Artist Statement 

Since I can remember, I've had an inherent love of plants and nature. While I enjoy hikes in the woods and working in the yard, houseplants - their unusual shapes, flowers, and seasons - really speak to me. I own a wide collection of plants at school, so when I need a subject, I always gravitate toward unique portraits of my beautiful houseplants.  

For this exhibition, I focused on monstera delicosa, commonly known as the Swiss Cheese Plant. A very popular houseplant, I have a special love for my monstera. The image shown is selected from a series of shots taken in my second digital photography class at the University of North Georgia. Highlighting the main leaf veins, while also capturing the natural light, the piece really brings a different perspective to a houseplant.   

By creating interesting and little-seen perspectives (versus a stock photo from a nursery), I hope to elevate everyone’s appreciation of the common houseplant.  

Monstera, 2022 
Paper Pro Luster 

Zachary Tyler Harvey, is a Senior at the University of North Georgia pursuing a degree in Art with a concentration in Digital Art. College has been an unusually calm time for Zachary. He has learned through trial and many, many errors how to better deal with stress, manage time and how not to do both of those as well. As reflected in his art and artistic process, he prefers using simplified images and “finishing” them as such, only to potentially come back and “tinker” with them later, applying new ideas and techniques learned to create something wholly new from the beginnings of something old. His biggest hope upon graduation is to make it into some form of Storyboarding, as he has a way with ideas for stories, and over time has gained the skills to put these ideas to digital form.

Artist Statement 

Art has always been a way for me to put to form the various, and sometimes strange, thoughts that run through my head. Many projects that I have created have their origins in a stray thought or idea that I decide to expand on or are themselves an expansion of a phrase or idea that another person around me has mentioned. I have never seen art as a commodity, or a message or even as a job. For me it has been more like a language, a way to communicate what others might refer to as “the madness of the human psyche and its myriad stray thoughts”, but I just believe to be the culmination of my own strange ideas. I have always tried to take a different approach to my works, whether it be through a different process than what is “recommended” or suggested by my professors or employers, or quite simply the creation of something totally different to the original ideas.

Originality is something that I have always strived for, sometimes more successfully than others. I have always tried to make people laugh with my works as well, incorporating silly, nonsensical imagery or sounds into my pieces and animations, but my focus has always been making something that is recognizably my own, such that anyone that knows me or knows of my work can look at it and say without a shadow of a doubt “Zachary made that”. Recognition for the sake of recognition has never been my goal, but recognition for my own style or ideas, and the entertainment of the viewer, however brief it may be, is what I as an artist strive for.

ClifGoose, 2022
Photoshop