ILLESTHETIC a
r
t
b
y
l
u
n
a
c
o
l
l
e
c
t
i
o
n
s
MAGAZINE
ARTIST OF THE MONTH READ ABOUT JARED ALEXANDER'S ARTISTIC JOURNEY INTO PHOTOGRAPHY
A VARIETY OF VISIONARIES MEET MARVIN ESCOBAR, JARED ALEXANDER, KENNETH LOVE, MIKE MATAMORO, BRANDON BAKER, AND CHRISTION RONEY
OCT 2017
volume
3
cover photo by Jared Alexander
ILLESTHETIC magazine OCTOBER 2017
Art Director, Page editor, Staff Writer CALAH JONES Editor-in-Chief, Staff Writer LARENZ JOHNSON Photographer PATRICK FLETCHER Photographer, Staff Writer JULIUS KAUL Photographer, Staff Writer ELYSE PENN Staff Writer SHAE HARRIS Staff Writer KENAE MARILYN Staff Writer KENYA WILLIAMS
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3
letter from the editor
5-6
escobar, from grafitti to acrylics
7-10
a fashion statement, kenneth love
11-14 mike matamoro and the 'srch'
15-20 the many colors of jared alexander
21-22 brandon baker's art box
23-26 inside the mind of christion roney
2
letter from the editor
T
his is the third volume of ILLESTHETIC Magazine (pronounced ill-aesthetic), an ArtByLuna
Collections publication, founded by Page Editor and Art Director Calah Jones. The first volume of this magazine was published in February of 2017 with the intentions to give young writers and journalists an opportunity to write for their own magazine and to feature local visual artists. With our success, we have been able to feature several visual artists in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas. Visual artists include, but are not limited to, sculptors, graphic designers, painters, photographers, illustrators, culinary artists, fashion designers, tattoo artists, and more.
The vision for ILLESTHETIC Magazine is to give these
artists the voice and audience they may not have. Visual arts are often overlooked. Knowing this, ILLESTHETIC Magazine's goal is to help change this perspective and give visual artists the audience they may not have had in the past. This magazine is quarterly, meaning there are four issues each year. Each magazine can be purchased as a hard copy by emailing us through our website at www.illestheticmag.com.
— CALAH JONES
3
a
ILLESTHETIC r
t
M
b
y
l
A
u
n
G
a
c
A
o
l
Z
l
e
c
I
t
i
N
o
n
s
E
WRITERS JOURNALISTS PHOTOGRAPHERS ART DIRECTORS artbylunacollections@gmail.com or call (540)-226-0838
ARE WE
HIRING
ESCOBAR, FROM GRAFFITI TO ACRYLICS
R
ichmond, Virginia is filled with all types of
scale canvases up to 30x40 inches.
creatives and twenty four year-old Marvin
When asked about collaborating with
Escobar is one of them. Escobar is a painter and
other artists, Escobar explained how he has never
believes he’s an artist in the making. Originally from
collaborated; however, other artists have inspired him.
Brooklyn, New York, this young artist, like many others,
“One of my best friends, Manny, also a great artist
got himself into art when he was a kid. “I do have a
and one of the reasons I became better.” Escobar’s
fond memory of my mother giving me a sketchbook
inspiration comes from other artists and the support
when I was very young and from that moment on, I’ve
from his friends pushing him to keep advancing in his
been creating ever since,” Escobar said.
art.
Escobar has always identified himself as an
Although he has never collaborated, he does
artist. He’s always working on his art. “I draw and sketch
do exchange paintings with other artists. Exchange
every second I’m able to,” he explains, “it’s rare that a
paintings are when each artist paints something for one
day goes by that I don’t sketch.”
another rather than doing a commission piece or selling
the piece of art.
Even as an aspiring artist in the making,
Escobar says even he has difficulties getting the hang
of some things. “The hardest thing about painting is still
shows and pop-up shops in the near future to help
getting used to working with brushes, different types
promote his art. One of his goals is to one day have
of brushes, and messing with actual paint,” Escobar
one of his pieces of work at the Virginia Museum of Fine
explained.
Arts (VMFA) in Richmond, VA or to do a big mural for
Escobar wasn’t always a painter. The aspiring artist
the whole city to see. “Richmond has a pretty big art
has only been painting for a year. Escobar started with
scene,” he explained, “and I want to jump on that wave.”
graffiti and urban street art in high school. That is his
favorite kind of art to make and where his true passion
personal favorites in his own collection. “From my
lies. “When it comes to sketching, it’s sort of trial and
personal collection, I would say that my ‘Give Me Liberty
error sometimes.” Still searching for his own technique,
Or Give Me Wu Tang’, ‘Born Sinner’, and ‘Eye Of Insight’
Escobar admits that he is still learning as he goes.
pieces are my favorite.” Escobar loves getting feedback
on his work. “It truly is a good feeling knowing you have
Inspired in middle school and by the time he
Escobar is planning to be involved in art
The young artist in the making has a few
got to high school, Escobar started taking the art of
people behind you looking at your work and pushing you
graffiti more serious. Soon Escobar needed another
to do better and support your visions,” he explained.
outlet and began venturing with other mediums. “I went
through an artist’s block and a friend suggested I’d try
to just be you. “Don’t be stiff when it comes to painting
a different type of art other than graffiti. I began with
and drawing. Be yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for
watercolors and from watercolors, I went to acrylic,”
tips from other artists,” he enlightened. “Practice makes
he explained, “and even started experimenting with oil
perfect and never lose faith. Always believe in yourself
paints.” Escobar started small with 8x10 inch canvases
and continue to push yourself.”
Escobar’s advice to other aspiring artists is
and eventually got more comfortable working with larger
— CALAH JONES
5
6
photo by Shamon Jones, VA photographer
A FASHION STATEMENT, KENNETH LOVE
photo by JT Hicks Photography
7
8
O
riginally born in Lynchburg, Virginia
70s/80s R&B soul music, which is visible throughout
and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, fashion
his work. Other fashion designers such as Alexander
designer Kenneth Love started designing clothes back
Wang, Solange, Saint Heron, and Laquan Smith
in 2012. His sister was always into styling and clothing,
also inspire Love. VFILES, Paper Mag, and I-D Mag
which eventually inspired him. “When ‘thrifting’
are other inspirations for Love, as well. His favorite
became popular, my sister was very into it. She had
designer, however, is PHLEMUNS by James Flemons.
ideas to put patches on jackets and jeans or whatever
“I look at Laquan Smith and James Flemons and think
else and I would do it for her by hand stitching it,” Love
these are black men making a mark in the fashion
said. This got him into creating and starting to find a
industry. I can be and do that too. And I plan to,”
passion for fashion himself.
Love said.
Like many other visual artists, Love hadn’t
Love wants to design for the “average
always identified as an artist. He always thought artists
person”, meaning he wants to create designs for
were more visual, although fashion is also visual, it
everyday people. “I want to design for the Jaden and
may not be considered art to a lot of people. Love has
Willows of the world,” he explained. His vision is for
learned that what he creates is also an art form.
people to look at his designs and be able to imagine
his clothing on VFILES or in Paper Mag. “For myself,”
Being a fashion designer, Love prefers to
construct his art rather than design it. He creates
he said, “my goal is to just top everything I do every
many of his pieces from thought because he enjoys
time I create.” Love hopes for people to eventually
putting everything together visually rather than sitting
start wearing his clothes and to get his work to New
down and sketching and planning it all out. “That’s the
York. “I know where I want to be and what I want to do
hardest thing for me,” he said, “when what I envisioned
but that’s for me to achieve and for everyone else to
for a piece is not what comes together in the end. It
see,” he said.
would help a lot if I sketched each piece out.” Over
time, the aspiring designer has taught himself how to
fashion show at the Bearded Bird Brewery in Downtown
create his own designs without any previous studying
Norfolk, Virginia. The show will also be including his
or taking any classes in fashion. “Everyday is a
sister and owner of Koncrete Kulture, and their friend
learning process,” he explained, “so I take it one day at
Alexus Katrel, owner of T.R.E.L.L. Kreations. “(The
a time.”
show) will consist of six collections, two per designer,”
Recently, Love was in a pop-up shop and
On October 7th, 2017, Love will be hosting a
he explained. Love has been in several shows, both
fashion show for an online vintage clothing boutique
as a model and a designer, but says he is now ready to
called Studio 6 Vintage. “I did six pieces and a total
have his own show. “I got the idea for this show back
of four looks (for the show),” he explained. This was
in February before my 20th birthday. Before I turned
Love’s second show as a designer. His first show was
21, I wanted to have my own show, and I’m ready to do
his senior year at Norview High School. “I did a seven
one my way,” Love said.
piece collection for that,” Love said. He is inspired by
— CALAH JONES
9
10
photo by JT Hicks Photography
MIKE MATAMORO AND THE 'SRCH'
photo by William Harden, VA Photographer
D
esigner and creator of the brand ‘SRCH’,
coming from the top of the eye. He has played around
Mike Matamoro, is originally from Crown
with several ideas and decided to use that design
Heights in Brooklyn, New York. It wasn’t until he was
because it represents a sense of enlightenment. “I was
ten years old when he and his family moved to Norfolk,
in a really dark place, mentally, when I came up with
Virginia. Moving from the busy city life to a slow and
‘SRCH’, and the idea of the eye with the beams in the
quiet suburban life was a huge adjustment for Matamoro.
logo was the first thing that came to me,” Matamoro
While growing up in Virginia, the artist discovered a
said.
talent about himself that has now grown into a small
business.
knows now, the twenty-three year old now sells his
clothes to locals who support his business.
Matamoro designs logos for his clothing brand
Taking the necessary steps to learn what he
Matamoro
‘SRCH’. He designs caps, knit hats, and shirts. His
sells majority of his work through social media, more
vision for ‘SRCH’ came from a dream he had a year
specifically, his Instagram @SRCH1994. He recently
ago. In his dream, he saw a saying that read “the
created a website to sell his work from, as well, at
search continues” and that quote stirred Matamoro
www.srch.bigcartel.com. He prefers to keep his work
to create something out of that. “I always wanted to
on social media and online where people in his area can
indulge myself into something that interests me and that
see his work and connect through the same outlet.
saying really stuck with me,” he explained. Originally,
Matamoro wanted the brand to be called ‘The Search
in the area. “I’m trying to grow something here and when
Continues’, but narrowed it down to ‘SRCH’. Through
I get more known, then I’ll feel the urgency to make a
Adobe Illustrator, Matamoro creates his logos and ideas
website to sell my brand,” he said.
for ‘SRCH’. The brand’s main logo is an eye with beams
11
Most of the young artist’s sales are from locals
12
photos by Mike Matamoro
"JUST START SOMEWHERE AND EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO." — MATAMORO
photo by Elexiss Allison, VA Photographer
13
Matamoro enjoys selling his work locally
because he feels like it’s more personal when he can deliver his clothes to customers in person, rather than just shipping them off in the mail. “Right now, I just want to meet people and have them get to know me by face and not just by name,” Matamoro said.
In addition to designing clothes,
Matamoro wants to expand his brand to accessories and other useful essentials. “A lot of my favorite brands make more than just clothes; they make lighters, pens, and even socks. I want to make useful products, too,” Matamoro said. Even though he sees himself as a small business owner, Matamoro dreams to have his own store where he can sell all his ‘SRCH’ merchandise and eventually sell his work internationally. The young entrepreneur aspires to get into advertising, as well, which he already does for his own brand. “I want to work with the representation of things,” he said.
Matamoro believes in educating yourself
about something you want to work at. “You don’t have to jump in being a Ralph Lauren,” he said, “just start somewhere and educate yourself about what you’re trying to do.” Matamoro feels that when it comes to perfecting you craft and your artistry, you can’t be scared to and you have to be willing to learn. “My initial fear when I first started was that everybody else was making clothing brands and stuff, too. What made me stand out? To me, it’s more than getting money. I have a legit meaning behind my brand. There’s a reason that I started doing it and took the time to do it,” he said.
— CALAH JONES
THE MANY COLORS OF JARED ALEXANDER
photos by Jared Alexander
15
P
hiladelphia based photographer, Jared
pictures of my friends on campus and eventually people
Alexander, began creating when he
started telling me that I should keep doing it. People
was very young. In his beginning years of creating,
liked my pictures, so I started getting more serious with
he identified himself as an artist, but now he sees
it,” he explained.
himself as a creator of content. Alexander has many
areas of skill in terms of visual arts. He attended the
Alexander’s photography sets him apart from other
Creative & Performing Arts High School in Philadelphia,
photographers because of his own unique techniques.
Pennsylvania where he learned how to paint, draw,
His art shows bright and vibrant colors, usually of people
and later learned graphic design. Now, Alexander is a
of color and women with different artistic themes. “I try
junior at Hampton University where he studies Computer
to turn regular pictures into works of art with the colors
Science.
that I use,” he said. “I made a website, got my portfolio
“I never really picked up a camera before this
Using only a Nikon D3200 with a portrait lens,
past summer,” Alexander said. His photography began
together, and then that’s when I started experimenting
to attract the attention of his colleagues, pushing him
with color.”
to further experiment with his work. “I was just taking
Alexander explained that his inspiration to use
such vibrant colors in his work came from just wanting to be different. He seeks to catch the viewer’s attention every time they see his work. Being that this twenty year-old artist has always been artistically inclined, he’s spent most of his life creating. Photography was another medium for him to express himself as an artist. The feedback Alexander receives from his work has motivated him to push limits in his photography. "It was something that they hadn’t really seen before.”
One thing Alexander likes most about
photography is having the opportunity to meet different kinds of people and artists from all over. He explained how he made many connections in one summer alone after he started taking his work more serious. “I met so many different talented people and so many like-minded people that were also into the same type of art. It really helps with the creative process when you get all the same kind of people together,” Alexander said. Besides making connections in the art world, Alexander also enjoys editing photos. “Editing is the most fun part of the whole process. You get all your shots back and you just get to sit there and work on it. I can edit anywhere,” he said.
Alexander soon hopes to do a melanin shoot,
incorporating black faces and representing black people in a positive light. Being that Alexander attends an HBCU, he is around majority of black students, which he feels is the reason behind his creative motive.
The young artist’s dream is to eventually become
a Creative Director for a firm. “I want to put out a bunch of content, being a content creator for whoever needs it — brands, businesses, athletes — that’s my dream,” he said. Alexander hopes to start businesses centered on photography, and even a production company if possible.
His advice for all artists is to learn techniques
and perfect your craft. “Don’t worry about finding out what type of art you want to put out. It’s all about getting your feet wet first and practicing your craft. Your style will come later,” he explained. Alexander believes that rushing to find your style will only make your work less authentic. “It’s more important to figure out what you want to do and practice on it first.”
— CALAH JONES
"IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING YOUR FEET WET FIRST AND PRACTICING YOUR CRAFT." — ALEXANDER
18
19
20
photos by Jared Alexander
photo by Brandon Baker
21
BRANDON BAKER'S ART BOX
B
randon Baker, born in Poughkeepsie and raised in Queens, New York, enjoys painting, drawing and
photography from time to time. He aspires to get better in each medium. “I would like people to see my talent as well as my creative vision,” he said. Baker is currently located in Norfolk, Virginia where he works as a manager at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Emerging into the public just two years ago, he creates “not for public but for purpose.” As a painter, Baker makes sure his artwork is original. Having been in four art shows, he’s been able to sell majority of his work locally and attempts to eventually put together his own event to further expose his art.
The hardest thing Baker mentioned about his art is being
consistent and really taking the time to work on it. Getting caught up in his daily life, it gets difficult to fully indulge in his craft. However, finding new practice styles and new ways to create his art are what help to motivate him. The twenty-three year old is inspired by social media modern artists such as Paper Frank, Markus Prime, McFly, and JRuffHouse, to name a few. “My life (also) inspires me,” Baker said, “like the things I go through, my environment, the time period that I’m living in, and my friends and family.” Baker hopes his art gives an insight to what his interests are, most specifically with his more serious pieces. “I’d just like people to understand my thought process and attempt to relate if they can,” he expressed.
Baker plans to keep creating and push his thoughts out
into the universe and hopefully grow his art into a solid brand. “It’s extremely memorable when people notice my artwork when I’m not present…when my work evokes inquisition,” he explained. One interesting fact is that Baker wants to be an elementary school art teacher. “I want to inspire the youth to get into art, as well as to be a positive male figure in children’s lives,” Baker expressed. His advice for prospective and new artists is to have confidence and keep putting out work. “Practice makes perfect,” he said.
All while still creating his own art during his spare time,
Baker wants to continue to spread his ideas and bring them to life in some of his future projects. His dream project is to have his own home where he can design and create his own studio the way he likes. “I would like to have my own gallery to hang my work,” he said, “having my own space that is truly mine to do what I please with.”
— SHAE HARRIS
CHRISTION RONEY INSIDE THE MIND OF CHRISTION RONEY
photo by Patrick Fletcher
23 13
photos by Christion Roney
P
ainter Christion Roney, also known as
paintings are usually spray painted backgrounds with his
Chris Canvas, was born and raised in
ideas painted in the foreground in acrylic paint. He has
Dinwiddie, Virginia. Majoring in Kinesiology, the study
painted characters from television shows like Dragon
of movement, at Hampton University, Roney hopes to
Ball Z, Naruto, and The Boondocks. He also has realism
advance in physical therapy or athletic training as a
paintings and portraits of celebrities such as Rihanna,
career. His interest in art, however, started early in
Alicia Keys, and Chance the Rapper. Roney prefers to
grade school.
use acrylic based paint, but he also experiments with oil
paint from time to time, as well.
He was inspired by watching his older cousin
draw anime such as Dragon Ball Z characters, which
later encouraged him to find pictures and create
a reference. “I don’t have a style of my own,” he
drawings of his own. “I didn’t start getting good at it
explained, “because I haven’t really tried to make
until around the sixth grade,” Roney explained. He then
something without looking at it already.” He takes what
learned to draw and eventually moved onto to painting
he sees and makes his own version of it into his art. By
these characters.
practicing his line work and using references, he tries
to reproduce similar images of the characters and faces
Being that he has only been painting for a
year, the young artist has produced several paintings
Roney starts all his paintings by using
seen on television and manga today.
that have brought more attention to his talent. Roney’s
24
Roney has collaborated with other artists and
Even without taking any art classes in the past,
was recently in his first art show in April 2017 at the
Roney still excels in his business and has sold artwork
Urban Workshop Live Art Show in Norfolk, Virginia. “It
both online and through commission work. His pricing is
was really cool. I got to meet a bunch of other artists
based on the size of the canvas he uses and the quality
and I was able to sell some of my art there, too,” he
of paint used to create the work of art. His acrylic
said. “I want to host my own show someday around
paintings range from $150 for a 16x20 inch canvas to
here and include other artists in the area, too.”
$800 for a 48x60 inch canvas, but he also does other
Although Roney uses references for his
sizes to the client’s discretion upon request. “For any oil
drawings and paintings, he doesn’t recommend copying
paintings or realism paintings, I take thirty-percent of the
other pieces of work directly. “A lot of people ask me
original price and add that onto it,” he explained. Roney
for random tips,” Roney said, “but you can’t copy what
sells his artwork through his website at
someone else does that much because you have to do
www.ChrisCanvas.bigcartel.com and also posts his
what you like.” Being a Kinesiology major, Roney has
updated work on his Instagram @ChrisCanvas.
been able to use that in his art. “I would recommend doing studies of the body to learn proportions and just learn how to draw certain things, like hands, which were hard for me,” he said.
— CALAH JONES
photos by Christion Roney
26
ILLESTHETIC Visual Arts Magazine was published by ArtByLuna Collections.
www.illestheticmag.com