Aesthetic Judgement
Aesthetic quality of my work and how it reflects on my artistic identity
Artist Statement
As an artist, I love all that is unusual and retains a sense of elegance. I am interested in the remnants of surreal dreams, the ‘what-ifs’ that are taken too far, and the obsessively drawn doodles. When I look at my art, I see an academic under the influence of a whimsical child.
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I do most of my creative work in digital software and dry media. They are perfect for designing and experimenting, which I appreciate as an aspiring concept artist. My influences change as fast as my interests, but the figure has been a constant subject in my work. American painters like Rockwell and Leyendecker are my artistic parents, and I, like an excited kid, introduce them to modern tastes. The early stages of my process do not involve art materials; I research the complexities of my subject so I can simplify them with design principles. One of my digital works is a character concept of a messenger boy. The reference sheet provides initial sketches, facial expressions, explained props, and a final illustration of the messenger. The design is meant to show a futuristic concept of an old stereotype and break down its components.
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It is ideas like these that I want to explore further. I wish to form a conversation between art and logic; to provide the public with something as conceivable as it is fictional. That is my personal ambition as an artist.
The Messenger
Personal Work
The Messenger is a character concept of a delivery boy. The idea originated from the early 1900s, an era where messenger boys would bike around the city with deliveries, up until child labor protection laws took responsibility for their working conditions. My concept places them under a utopian light by adding futuristic elements to the messenger’s job that would facilitate their deeds: namely, delivery shoes that use high-pressure jets as the transportation method, and a crate that would only open by the messenger’s hand and gloves.
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I began by drafting a mood board with references, focusing on different fashion choices and a couple of prop ideas for the character. Curators like Wolfgang Wild, who share photographs of Americans throughout the decades, facilitated the research for this project. I was also interested in steampunk concepts from artists and fashion designers. My art begins with variants of my initial idea followed by outside opinions. When I establish a final design, I think of how to show the character’s personality by adding facial expressions. Stock images of the same model are great references for it, alongside stylized works from artists like Rockwell. The palette of brown and gold tones are a reference to sepia photographs of the 1900s, and I use a complementary blue to give the character a recognizable color. The sheet is meant to be informational, so I add a breakdown of the props and a functional illustration of the subject.
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While the whole artwork looks impeccable, many instances show careless coloring and stray line art. This affects the final quality of the character sheet and my own professionalism. However, the work has clear positives. The crate’s materials and textures make the concept a useful resource for both realistic and stylized pipelines. The style reflects the subject’s personality, and the design is complex enough to address its influences, but simple enough not to overwhelm the viewer.
I enjoy having a strong foundation for my concepts, and I want my future work to reflect my dedication towards research and creativity. As I develop my skills as a concept artist, I wish to be more confident in my design choices and carry them to polished, professional products.
The Messenger
Mood board and Expression reference