Journal of Creative Arts & Minds, Vol.7, No.1 - Spring 2021

JCAM, Vol. 7, No. 1

Spring 2021 – Vol. 7, No. 1 An Original Publication of Jumbo Arts International Red Springs, North Carolina, USA

ISSN: Pending

Jumbo Arts International 2021

JCAM, Vol. 7, No. 1

Journal of Creative Arts and Minds

Published by

Margie Labadie, President John Antoine Labadie, Senior Editor & Chief Graphic Designer Larry Arnold, Board Member

Electronic Links https://www.facebook.com/JournalofCreativeArtsandMinds

http://www.jumboartsinternational.org jcam.jal@gmail.com

Jumbo Arts International Contact Information

217 South Edinborough St. Red Springs, North Carolina USA 28377-1233

+1.910.734.3223 Editorial – John Antoine Labadie & Margie Labadie Design – The JCAM Team of Jumbo Arts International

The Journal of Creative Arts and Minds is a publication of Jumbo Arts International.

This electronic publication is free. The views and opinions expressed in this

publication do not necessarily represent those of the publisher.

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President’s Message Vol. 7, No. 1, January 2021

This is our second Special All Student Edition of the JCAM, published while COVID-19 is still raging across our country and around the world. The ongoing shift in the world of academia from on-campus learning to online classes is still affecting university faculty and students.

After consulting with the JCAM editorial staff, I once again challenged the students of my Professional Art Practices course to prepare articles for publication. In these pages, you will read articles by university students from the Fall of 2020. They speak in their own voices about themselves, and their lives as future artists, as they share their artwork internationally for the first time.

As the Publisher of this international journal, I feel I must say something about recent events here. As a country, the United States is facing a deepening divide politically, while the pandemic kills and sickens so many. In January, the insurrection in our Capitol was both a tragedy and a wake up call, reminding us that we cannot take our Democracy for granted. We depend on our Constitutional right to freedom of speech not just because we believe it is a fundamental human right. Our freedom of speech is truly the heart of creativity in the United States. Whether art speaks to politics, the pandemic or protest, the work of visual artists, in all our various media, can be a voice for social justice and positive change, when mere words are drowned out by violence. We must cherish and protect our Democracy for the sake of Art as well.

And though COVID continues to keep much of our lives shut down, there is as they say, a light at the end of the tunnel. Vaccines are beginning to be administered en masse to our frontline workers and others. A new Presidential administration is taking shape that promises to address the pandemic on a national level. I ask you to your part. Mask up, social distance, and when you can, get the vaccine. It can save your life or the life of someone you love. We can’t afford to lose one more doctor, one more elder, one more artist, one more person, to this deadly disease!

Jumbo Arts International is proud to present this all new Special All Student Edition of the JCAM. Please enjoy the artwork and words of these up and coming artists; soon to be graduates of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Margie Labadie

JCAM Publisher & President, Jumbo Arts International Red Springs, North Carolina, USA jumboartsinternational@gmail.com

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Margie Labadie

Ungovernable Numbers From the series COVID-19 Unforgivable Numbers

Digital Artwork / December 2020

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Margie Labadie

“Irrefutable Numbers” From the series COVID-19 Unforgivable Numbers

Digital Artwork / December 2020

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Publishing every issue of the JCAM is a learning experience. Even so, working on this newest Special Student Issue during the COVID-19 pandemic has brought us an unusually large number of new challenges and opportunities for understanding how to navigate these difficult times.

One of the foremost learnings has been how resilient and caring our students and other UNC Pembroke faculty and staff have been since we began our campaign of self-isolation almost exactly nine months ago. We could not have asked for a more positive experience in our electronic interactions with these folks, especially considering the difficult and stressful conditions through which we have all have lived in 2020.

Another aspect of our work on this issue of the JCAM needs to be mentioned here; the tremendous value, power, and flexibility of the digital tools that have allowed us to work remotely and effectively with everyone involved in this publication process. Additionally, this year we have used an unusually wide array of apps, devices, networks, and cloud storage accounts to interact with individual submitters while often using the digital tools that worked most effectively for them. And, in the end, under some very difficult circumstances, and with the help of many people we have put together another an outstanding issue of the JCAM. Last, the students whose interviews and artwork form the basis of this JCAM are nearing the end of their undergraduate degree programs. We hope that the ideas and visual art they have shared is inspiring to their peers and to high school students who have yet to being their undergraduate programs as well.

John Antoine Labadie

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John Antoine Labadie / “Solid Geometry Series” / Tradigital image / 2020

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Alicia Haggans JCAM: What is your professional name? Where were you born and does that place still influence you?

AH: My professional name is Alicia Haggans. I was born and I still live in Robeson County, North Carolina.

Robeson County is known as the home of the Lumbee people. As Native Americans, this is our place. This land, and the way I was raised, the experiences and encounters I have had, are all part of how this place influences me. It is where I grew up and where I was taught everything I know about my culture and more JCAM: Do you have family, friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making and how do they make a difference in your life?

AH: Both my family and friends support me in my art making and my life. They are there when I need them, they give me advice when asked. They tell me the truth whether it hurts or not, because in life you will receive bad critiques as well as good ones.

JCAM: When and how did you start making art? Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do?

AH: I have been making art ever since I can remember. It started in middle school when taking art classes, then moved on to taking them in high school as well. I knew after my first art class that I wanted to pursue art as a career.

JCAM: Why do you make art now?

AH: As of now my artwork is about my own personal expression. But I want to start creating art dealing with political topics. Especially after the year 2020 which has been filled with rising social injustice and COVID. JCAM: How has your work changed or developed over time? What are you trying to communicate with your art?

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AH: My art making techniques progress and grow as I practice. But for me, concepts are still a struggle. My art is a continuous search for self discovery and growth as an artist. Through my art I want to be a voice for women, especially being Native American.

I know how much of an impact art can have on viewers and my goal is to create artwork around political stances.

JCAM: What new creative media do you use? What is your most important artist tool(s) and why?

AH: I consider myself a sculptor but I like to explore using mixed media and new techniques. I like painting in oils. I am creating multiple pieces from steel, plaster, manikins and even skin tone paint chips. My most important artist tool is my pencil because I like to write down every possible idea I can think of before working on my art.

JCAM: How do you know when a work is finished?

AH: I know my work is finished when I am completely satisfied with how it looks and when I am comfortable showing it to other people JCAM: What are your goals for the future?

AH: I want to finish pursuing my degree in art education but I still want to make art for people to see and share with others.

JCAM: What interesting project are you working on at the moment?

AH: My upcoming exhibition deals with Racism. I want my work to speak to the viewers to say that no person should be stereotyped based on their skin color and race.I want to address how character matters, and not the color of one’s skin. People shouldn’t be treated differently because of it.

JCAM: What or who inspires you?

AH: I lost my inspiration for years and I am slowly getting back to it. I have two year old daughter who is very outgoing and energetic. But as a parent I am the responsible one.

She is bi-racial and when I think about her future I think about the voice I have to be for her until she is able to have her own. I want her future to be filled with success and happiness, and not hate and prejudice.

JCAM: What does “being creative” mean to you? What is the best advice you ever had about how to be more creative?

AH: To be creative is to try more than what you are used to, to get out of your comfort zone and to take risks. Being creative to me means making work, messing it up and doing it again until you you’ve got it right. But you can’t be afraid to keep going.

Contact Info: Aliciahaggans97@gmail.com Aliciahaggans5@icloud.com

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Alicia Haggans Compass / Linocut

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Alicia Haggans Rose / Acrylic

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Daniel Ramirez-Lamos JCAM: What is your name and where are you from?

DR-L: My name is Daniel Ramirez-Lamos.

I am a current student at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and have been living in North Carolina since my early youth. Though I love the small town I live in I hope to be able to move and or travel to a bigger city. I was born in Princeton, New Jersey to a Colombian mother and Mexican father and I am a second generation American and very proud of both my American and Latin roots.

JCAM: Do you want to have a different name or artist signature and why?

DR-L: I do use a different name to sign my art and refer to myself. As a child I made up the name little cutiepie because I loved everything cute and charming. It was probably because of my mother and her fascination with similar cutesy things. As I grew, I became embarrassed by the name I gave myself, so I shortened it to LilQtPi or QtPi {Q - T - PI (like the Equation)}. I want to embrace my inner feminine side both as a male and as a queer male. While many do not express this side of their being for fear of rejection and othering, I want to improve my self-identity and embrace the parts of me I thought unappealing in the past.

JCAM: When did you realize you wanted to pursue a career in the arts and become an artist?

DR-L: I feel like it happened naturally over time. At first, I was just interested in drawing characters from video games and tv shows because I was influenced by anime. Then people started to encourage me to continue. So I really indulged in drawing, character, and figurative work. When I reached the end of high school, I decided I wanted to commit to art as a career path and profession and to improve my skills and vision. Now I am influenced by fine art. I am separating myself from cartoons and anime to create my own style.

JCAM: Do you have any creative patterns, routines or rituals associated with your art making?

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DR-L: To be completely honest I love making work, but most of the time I have art blocks or am not in the mood to create. I have to force myself to make artwork. I am more of the type of person who likes to relax and check social media. If I must have a ritual when creating artwork, it could go several ways. Often when I am creating digital work, I turn on the tv and listen to YouTube videos or podcasts and just work from the comfort of my bed. If I am working traditionally with media like painting, drawing, or sculpture I like to listen to music and sing along while I create.

JCAM: What element(s) of art making do you enjoy the most and why?

DR-L: The parts of art making that I enjoy the most are the conceptual or the sketching process. This is the part that really motivates me to create work. Usually I go on social media or listen to music and this influences me in creating a concept. Sometimes I will compile mood boards and save posts on Instagram before I begin to create. And another part of art making I enjoy is the coloring. Whenever I make a composition, I like to do the line work first. I keep the color in mind and apply it last. I usually go back and forth with colors and sometimes shift hues and tones to create a piece I am comfortable sharing.

JCAM: You dress uniquely. Does your outward appearance reflect you and how you want to be seen?

DR-L: I have always been interested in dressing differently from most of my peers. I want to express myself outwardly to provide visual cues and create silhouettes like in my artwork. When I am laying out my clothes in the morning, I tend to think of it as another form of artwork. I might choose complementary colors, or strong values, or high contrast for example. So yes, I do take a lot of interest in the way I dress.

JCAM: Is it important to you to “look like” an artist?

DR-L: Yes, I think it is important to me and I feel I do reflect that image of an artist. I want to show the difference between me and an Aéropostale-type cisgender heterosexual man. I feel it gets a little boring looking like everyone else and that it is much more fun expressing oneself differently outward.

JCAM: What do you want people to see in you when they see you?

DR-L: I want people to see a genuine and multifaceted individual who happens to create artwork. A person with a personality and character. As an artist I am not limited to the kind of work I create. I am a person capable of many ways of making art and creating. I want others to understand that too.

JCAM: How would you describe the art that you typically create? What kind of art do you want to create?

DR-L: I create artwork and visuals that I typically do not see in the art world around me.

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I want to create playful scenes filled with unique individuals. I want to create visuals like Retrofuturism or Afrofuturism. I really like the work of Pater Sato who makes futuristic works. I want to invoke that same visual intensity, but with my take on it. I use very angular lines and saturated colors that refer to my Latin culture and heritage. I showcase more ethnic figures and diverse body types showing the true beauty of these individuals and their appearances. I want to depict them as fully coming from a place of love and compassion. As a minority person and someone who struggles with selfimage, I like depicting people who might walk through everyday life, but I show them with a fun and charming twist. In my piece titled David, I depict Michelangelo’s statue of David, but in saturated chroma like Latin American textiles. The figure of David itself is replaced by a different ideal man who is of Afrocentric descent, giving this otherwise White European fine art some color.

JCAM: Are titles critical to viewers understanding your art? If so, why?

DR-L: Whenever I decide to give my works titles I either put a lot of thought into the title or none. My titles sometimes give further insight to the overall image, but without a title the image does not fail. Often, I title my work in Spanish because that makes it more intimate and closer to my personal language, and further links me to my roots and the language of my ancestors. Often the titles give a little more insight into my subject matter using short statements or single words. For example, my piece titled Biotin was much more of an afterthought, post drawing. I decided to name it Biotin because the character has long nails and slicked hair, and biotin is the vitamin needed for healthy hair, nails and skin. On the other hand, the title of my piece FuegoPorDentro means fire within. The title was influenced by my mother who, upon seeing the piece, shouted out “Volcano!” explaining that it looks like the character has fire within her. This title does encapsulate the meaning and visual of the composition - feelings and emotions bottled deep within but hidden behind a mask.

JCAM: Who is an artist that you admire and why?

DR-L: Lately I have been really interested in Pater Sato and Devan Shimoyama. These artists use figures and settings to immerse the viewer in fantasy and beauty. And of course, I must mention the tremendous Frida Kahlo and her surrealist paintings riddled with meaning, artifacts and messages mixed with rich culture and color. She is one of the first artists who I really identified with and felt a similarity to; she was a queer artist with roots in Mexican and Spanish culture who expressed herself limitlessly through both her appearance and craft. I strive to reach or even surpass the success her artwork holds and the meaning it has.

JCAM: Do you see yourself reflected in your art? Is your art biographical?

DR-L: I often use characters to portray or act as me in different scenarios and work.

These characters at times are alter egos or expressions of myself that I exercise and showcase without judgement or ridicule. These characters are extensions of my being.

They are not always Daniel the artist, but the essence of Daniel.

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JCAM: Would viewers be able to see you in your art? Do you focus on self-portraits?

DR-L: I want to start making more self-portraits and work biographically. But I have yet to muster up the courage to do so because I feel that leaves me in such a vulnerable state as a person. Therefore, I use characters as a messenger of these feelings and experiences. I want to make a series that entails intimate and close to heart stories leaving my character and self-raw, like the great Frida Kahlo. I someday hope to create this greater vision.

JCAM: Is your identity visible or critical in your art and if so, how?

DR-L: I feel like my personal identity and self has had a huge influence in the work I create. Growing up in a brown and Latin household all I know is my culture and family.

Beyond the threshold is an America that does not always reflect all the people who live in it, but panders to the White privileged. I ask if any individual can not be influenced by their upbringing and experiences? I make artwork of the people I see in the world, in my family, and the beauty that is not always praised in the mainstream. I want to be a positive influence on younger future generations of aspiring artists who are underrepresented and help pave a path for the ones that come after me, like the ones before me did.

JCAM: What interesting projects are you planning now?

DR-L: One of my dream projects is to combine my passion for making art with my love of vocal music. I was brought up in music and I have always had an admiration for it.

Since my youth I remember holding Christmas parties and gatherings where we would all get together and dance, sing and celebrate. I want to create work that has that sort of effect on others as well. I want to be able to make music videos with my vocals and artwork. But I think I have to wait until I am knowledgeable in the music creating process as well as filming and photography. Who knows how soon this will come to fruition, but I am working toward that.

JCAM: What is next for you?

DR-L: Well none of us really know what the future holds and what may await us. I might go to graduate school to expand my artistic skills. I want to participate in traveling exhibitions and show my work in galleries. I want to apply for artist residencies and be a part of places that curate art and give artists the opportunities to express themselves in new and unique settings. Down the road in my career I know that one day I will showcase my work and my ideas with the masses. But for that, only time will tell. I am not sure when, but it is bound to happen if you ask me!

Contact Information: lil.qtpi@yahoo.com, https://lilqtpi.wixsite.com/main Instagram: @lil_qtpi

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Daniel Ramirez-Lamos “David” / Digital Image

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Daniel Ramirez-Lamos “Biotin” / Digital Image

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Daniel Ramirez-Lamos “Fuego Por Dentro” / Digital Image

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Daniel Ramirez-Lamos “Palms” / Digital Image

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Daniel Ramirez-Lamos “Profile” / Digital Image

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Daniel Ramirez-Lamos “Calentura” / Acrylic on Skateboard

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Daniel Ramirez-Lamos “Gemalas” / Acrylic on Wood Panels

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Daniel Ramirez-Lamos “Cherry” / Digital Image

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Greg Guthrie JCAM: What is your professional name?

Where were you born and does that place still influence you? Where do you live now and how does that place influence you?

GG: My name is Greg Guthrie. I was born in Durham, NC and no it doesn’t. I still live in Durham, but through my life I have spent time in New York every year so that place influences me the most.

JCAM: Do you have family, friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making and how do they make a difference in your life?

GG: Yes, they make a difference by exposing my work to their people.

JCAM: When and how did you start making art?

GG: When I was young I was able to draw characters from a SpongeBob comic book. A lot of classmates would compliment my drawing because they were surprised to see a nine year old student with that kind of talent.

JCAM: Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do?

GG: The first time I realized was during my senior year in high school when I noticed how being successful came along with my creativity.

JCAM: Why do you make art now?

GG: Because it is something that I am good at. I know the talent I have for art can make a difference with my life.

JCAM: How has your work changed or developed over time? What are you trying to communicate with your art?

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GG: I have learned from the mistakes I made making my art and I have managed to fix those errors to make them better. I want to get my art noticed and out in the public where it can be seen.

JCAM: What element(s) of art making do you enjoy the most and why?

GG: Color and texture are what I enjoy the most because they have a huge impact in my artwork.

JCAM: What is your most important artist tool?

GG: My drawing tablet is the most important tool to create my art.

JCAM: How do you know when a work is finished?

GG: Basically when there is less open space in the image and every piece is at the right position in the image. That is when I know my work is complete.

JCAM: What are the art making tools you use now? What new creative medium would you love to pursue?

GG: I still use my drawing tablet and Adobe Photoshop. I believe learning different programs from Adobe could be very useful.

JCAM: What is the first artwork you ever sold?

GG: I sold one of my artwork on a site called Society 6 where I can put my artwork on merchandise. The first artwork was my Nipsey piece.

JCAM: What strategies could you share with other artists on how to become successful professionally?

GG: Find what inspires you to be successful. Learn from others who have dealt with similar situations to the ones you have gone through.

JCAM: What are your goals for the future, for both work and life?

GG: To be a successful artist and professional freelancer.

JCAM: What interesting projects are you working on at the moment?

GG: I am working on two projects. The first involves making my own manga series. The second is that I am making art that is inspired by Pop art and psychedelic art.

JCAM: What or who inspires you?

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GG: I am inspired by Pop Art and illustration because the colors are similar to cartoon characters which I like. I am also inspired by Street art. Especially the artist from Instagram who inspired me to do digital art. His name is Michael Farhat and goes by the community name Art Mobb.

JCAM: Do you have favorite – or influential – living artists? What work of art do you wish you owned and why?

GG: Yes, my favorite artists are Shepard Fairey and Michael Farhat. I wish I could own one of Shepard Fairey’s artworks because they are very extraordinary.

JCAM: Where do you find ideas for your creative work?

GG: By studying other artists and learning how they got to where they are today.

JCAM: What does being creative mean to you?

GG: Finding what you see and bringing it to reality.

Contact information: gguthrie35@yahoo.com, Instagram: @gwill.ent

Greg Guthrie C. Green / Illustra2on

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Greg Guthrie Carmen / Illustra2on

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Greg Guthrie Boricua / Digital Illustra2on

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Greg Guthrie Ebonique / Digital Illustra2on

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Isabella García Belloso JCAM: What is your professional name?

Where were you born and does that place still influence you?

IGB: My professional artist name is Isabella García Belloso I was born in La Guaira, Venezuela but this city does not influence me as much Mérida, the city that I was raised in. My work mostly revolves around the idea of incorporating different elements of my culture that reflect the positive side of my country.

JCAM: Where do you live now and how does that place influence you?

IGB: I currently reside in Aberdeen, North Carolina. I’ve lived here for four years now and it has definitely caused a great impact in my life since it’s been my first real encounter with the USA. My family and I have moved around a lot. We went to England when I was about three years old and then two and a half years later, we went back to Venezuela and lived there for ten years. Suddenly, my parents decided to pack our bags and move to Argentina when I was fifteen and two years after that, we did it all over again and came to the United States. I have experienced a lot of change to say the least. Moving from Buenos Aires, Argentina—a diverse city—to Aberdeen was quite the switch but I don’t see this as a negative thing. The only knowledge I had of the United States when I was growing up was what I understood from Hollywood movies and Disney shows— not a very accurate representation of a country. I of course did not know anything about U.S. history, especially Black and Native American history, and if I still lived in Venezuela or someplace else, I would most likely still be unaware. This is essentially what moving from country to country has done to me. It has filled me with so much knowledge and understanding and North Carolina is no exception from that.

JCAM: Do you have family, friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making and how do they make a difference in your life?

IGB: Yes, my entire family supports what I do, especially my parents. They have encouraged me to work on what I love and have helped me to become the person that I

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am today so I am very grateful to have them in my life. I would say that most of the artwork that I do is inspired by them. They keep me motivated and determined to keep doing what I do.

JCAM: When and how did you start making art?

IGB: I started making art from a very young age. This is something that has come naturally to me ever since I can remember. I started out by doing what many kids do, which is drawing and painting cartoon characters, landscapes that I saw every day, and my family. From that point on I never stopped making art and I immediately knew that I wanted to pursue it as a career.

JCAM: Why do you make art now? How has your work changed or developed over time?

IGB: I make art mostly to speak about my culture and identity, however, I have started to experiment with different styles and techniques that are much more abstract in terms of subject matter and visual composition. This way of working is an outlet for my visual creativity. I absolutely love using vibrant colors in my work and I believe that this style allows me to become even more creative.

JCAM: What are you trying to communicate with your art?

IGB: For a while, I have been trying to communicate the positivity that I see within my culture. Even though Venezuela is known currently for its political corruption I try my best not to add to that negative reputation by speaking badly about my country.

Instead, I try to focus on the better side. I do this by representing what I see as subtle yet rather powerful elements of Venezuela: its nature, traditions, and folklore.

Additionally, I have been focusing on social issues that affect the entire world. I do not consider myself a social activist, but I do not like to keep quiet about issues that may not necessarily affect me but do affect other people.

JCAM: Do you have any creative patterns, routines or rituals associated with your art making?

IGB: When I make paintings, I usually like to plan my ideas in my sketchbook by writing and making several thumbnails to choose from. Once I have the one that I like the most, I project it onto the canvas and allow the painting to take form. When it comes to other media such as clay or graphite, I use the same process and it works for me.

JCAM: What element(s) of art making do you enjoy the most and why?

IGB: Photography is one of the main reasons whyI never gave up on the idea of studying art. When I was about fourteen, I had a sudden interest in taking photographs.

I took a few courses and have been trying my best to improve on my skills ever since. I mostly use my phone to take pictures since it is so practical but I do have my own digital

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camera as well as an analog camera that I love using. I find the process of editing photos to be very fascinating. I like playing with the levels of color and light. I recently experimented with cyanotypes and found it a fun, photo-revealing process.

Besides photography, I am very fond of painting. Two years ago, I was introduced to oils and have been using them ever since. I enjoy using gouache and watercolor as of lately, and I consider them to be very therapeutic. Another medium that I like is clay. I would love to pursue ceramics as a secondary art medium for my artwork.

More recently, I have been working in digital art to create pieces for my online shop and to make cover art illustrations and videos for my dad who is a DJ in his free time. While using programs such as Illustrator and After Effects has been challenging, I can say that the results that I have achieved have exceeded my expectations. I really enjoy this process.

JCAM: What is your most important artist tool(s) and why?

IGB: Since I love painting, I think that my brushes are my most important tools at the moment, along with my phone and my camera for photography.

JCAM: How do you know when a work is finished?

IGB: This is a difficult question to answer. In simple terms, I just know. When I am working on a painting and I reach that point where I need to stop, it is usually at that time when I know that the piece is either finished or that it needs more work. I also like to “sleep on it”, get away from the painting for a while and come back with fresh eyes. If I cannot think of anything new that I can add to it, then it is finished.

JCAM: What new creative medium would you love to pursue?

IGB: I would love to try out lithography, screen printing, and developing film.

JCAM: What are your goals for the future, for both work and life?

IGB: My current goal is to have my own photography business and sell my paintings in either an online format or in galleries. I have also thought about obtaining another Bachelor’s degree in Art Education to teach at the elementary school level, but this would be more of a secondary plan for me.

JCAM: What interesting project are you working on at the moment?

IGB: As of now, I do not have a particular project in the works, however, I am currently exploring ways to sell my work online and essentially get my name out there. It is a very competitive environment for artists nowadays so I am working on getting more exposure on social media by creating videos of my pieces and promoting them through Instagram.

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JCAM: Do you have a favorite – or influential – living artist?

IGB: I don’t think that I have one artist that I can call my favorite since I enjoy looking into many people’s work. I recently discovered Amira Rahim, an abstract artist that makes beautiful paintings filled with vibrant color palettes. Her work immediately spoke to me since this is what I aspire to create. Another artist that influences me is Minnie Small, a YouTube artist who makes visually captivating paintings and drawings. I like to watch her videos whenever I am having a hard time finding motivation. She is very encouraging to her viewers and to aspiring artists like myself. I find Banksy to be quite influential on my work as well since he is known for being extremely vocal about societal views. While I have no interest in being so radical with my ideas, I admire his unique style.

JCAM: What work of art do you wish you owned and why?

IGB: Frida Kahlo is also one of my favorite artists so owning one of her pieces would be an honor. I had the opportunity of seeing some of her work at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Her sketchbook drawings really caught my attention since they appear to be more personal.

JCAM: Where do you find ideas for your creative work?

IGB: I like to browse for images and videos online since I can pretty much do this anywhere at any time on my phone. I mostly go on Pinterest, the Art 21 page and I sometimes watch documentaries on Netflix, watch YouTube videos, and listen to a ton of music!

JCAM: What does being creative mean to you?

IGB: I think that motivation is all it takes to be creative. When one is determined to make art for the purpose of conveying some type of emotion or idea, one is already achieving a sense of creativity.

JCAM: What is the best advice you ever had about how to be more creative?

IGB: Weirdly enough, the best advice I have heard for being creative has come from social media. I have heard many artists online say that it is essential to make ugly art.

While this a terrifying thing to do, deliberately making ugly art will allow artists to improve and accept that sometimes, not every piece of work will be great. The process of trial and error teaches me so many different elements that I can incorporate into my art, and yes, that also includes “ugly” elements that can be transformed into beautiful ones.

Contact Information: Instagram: @isabellag.art Email: garciaisabella10@gmail.com

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Isabella García Belloso “Autorretrato” / Conte Crayon on Paper

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Isabella García Belloso “Dancing Doods” / Watercolor and Gouache on Paper

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Isabella García Belloso “Diablo Danzante” / Gesso, Felt, Fabric, Beads, Acrylic and String

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Isabella García Belloso “La Llorona” / Copper Etching

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Isabella García Belloso “El Páramo desde mi cuarto” / Oil on Canvas

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Isabella García Belloso “Nostalgia” / Diptych, Woodcut

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Isabella García Belloso “Buenos Aires desde la terraza” / Oil on Canvas

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Isabella García Belloso “Espeletia” / Diptych, Oil on Canvas

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Jimmy Jenkins JCAM: What is your professional name?

Where were you born and does that place still influence you? Where do you live now and how does that place influence you?

Do you have family, friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making and how do they make a difference in your life?

JJ: My name is Jimmy Jenkins. I was

originally born in Columbia, South Carolina but moved to North Carolina some time around the age of 4. As of now, I currently live in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Carolinas have always been my home, and I hope will always be. They are one of the prime inspirations for some of my artwork. I definitely receive support from my family and a good chunk of friends who give their genuine opinions.

Those are the factors I would never trade away for anything.

JCAM: When and how did you start making art? Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do? Why do you make art now? How has your work changed or developed over time? What are you trying to communicate with your art?

JJ: Initially, I was interested in creating comic books at the age of ten. Two years after that, I first attempted to draw and write out my initial Manga by hand using nothing but newsprint paper and pen. But then I got to work on my own at the age of 14. While initially relying on Microsoft Paint, I was able to catch the gist of it and was able to create my own characters. It was at that moment that I realize that I can actually leave a mark on the world like this. My prime reason as to why I make my art is because I want to share with the world how I got to where I am today. I want people to know how I perceive the world around me and to shed some light for those who are on the High-Functioning Autism Spectrum like myself and for those who have Asperger’s Syndrome. I believe it is safe to say that my skill in comic book art has improved in my own right.

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JCAM: Do you have any creative patterns, routines or rituals associated with your art making? What element(s) of art making do you enjoy the most and why? What is your most important artist tool(s) and why? How do you know when a work is finished? What are the art making tools you use now? What new creative medium would you love to pursue?

JJ: At first I never fully established a process of my own. I would rely on my imagination as to how I wanted my comics to be depicted. However, I hoped my comics would be able to emulate the elements of Manga using the repetition of black and white, starting my story from right to the left, and giving my characters animated reactions. Repetition is one of the elements I enjoy because it helps me remember my style, and it helps give me insight on how I can improve my skills. To this day, I still rely on Microsoft Paint for my comics. But since 2018 I have learned the fundamentals of the CREATE app to establish my geometric style and designs with inspiration from Minimalism. It was from then on that I found another ah-ha moment and added Minimalism as one of the other styles I want to pursue. I now also use Photoshop to channel my style into non-geometric shapes, eventually creating new designs.

JCAM: What's the first artwork you ever sold?

JJ: My very first sale with my art was in 2018. It was a commission for a logo design.

Unfortunately, it was my only sale to date. But I will keep evolving my skills and keep them diverse.

JCAM: What are your goals for the future, for both work and life? What interesting

project are you working on at the moment?

JJ: For my dream, I hope to achieve my status as a Graphic Designer for any industry in

Charlotte mainly for stability and freedom. And if Graphic Design does not work, then plan B is to be an illustrator, since it is more specific in the Arts and Design. On a side note, my primary project is my Manga itself known as Nindragon: Scale Squad 5. I am currently planning to animate it into a web series with the use of Animation Desk… eventually. If anything, this project is actually inspired by the first ever Manga I ever read: Naruto, written by Mangaka, Masashi Kishimoto.

JCAM: What or who inspires you? Do you have a favorite – or influential – living artist?

JJ: For years, I have been following how much Kishimoto has molded his characters,

and his theme revolving around ninjas and Japanese culture. Having said that, I have decided to add this theme to my project. As stated, my project was inspired by my favorite shows on TV, comics and Manga including Naruto, Ninjago, My Little Pony, South Park, King of the Hill, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

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JCAM: Where do you find ideas for your creative work? What does being creative mean

to you? What is the best advice you ever had about how to be more creative?

JJ: My creativity comes from my desire to be free. The freedom of establishing my own universe. And if there is any advice I can give, it would just be to keep practicing with what you know. As Bruce Lee said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” Be not inspired by artists who practiced more than one style once. Be inspired by artists who practiced one style many times.

Contact information: https://megamtngandc.facebook.com/

Jimmy Jenkins “Flexible Over Rigid” / Digital Image

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Jimmy Jenkins “Hanami” / Digital Image

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Jimmy Jenkins “Night Stroll” / Digital Image

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Jimmy Jenkins “Summer Vibes” / Digital Image

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Jimmy Jenkins “Average Joes” / Digital Image

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Jimmy Jenkins “Late Bloomers” / Digital Image

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Jimmy Jenkins “Eye of the Storm” / Digital Image

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Kelsey Pearce JCAM: What is your professional name?

Where were you born and does that place still influence you? Where do you live now and how does that place influence you?

KP: My name is Kelsey Pearce. I was born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, which is a military town. I have lived here all my life—I would by lying if I said it hasn’t had any impact on me, though I often forget just how important it has been. People come and go so frequently here, so as a kid I lost many of my friends to PCS - a military term for a permanent change of station to any U.S.military installation in the world. I grew up listening to Fort Bragg’s training sessions, which sound like warfare right in your backyard. I think this town toughens people up in a lot of different ways, it certainly did for me. I learned how to get by on my own here, mostly by learning to create art.

I attended Fayetteville Technical Community College where I got an Associates of Fine Art before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. There many of my favorite peers, generally those who pushed me the hardest, were veterans. I saw in them that art was their peace as well, and so I have decided to pursue art therapy as a result.

JCAM: Do you have family, friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making and how do they make a difference in your life?

KP: I don’t keep people in my life who don’t support me and my art. My parents are musicians and music teachers, and my family has always been so supportive and understanding of the arts. I was always taught to appreciate musicians, artists, writers, anyone who puts themselves out there to bring beauty to the world. I don’t think I would have had the courage to pursue art or art therapy without being raised with that awareness. My social circle consists of fellow artists and art enthusiasts.

JCAM: When and how did you start making art? Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do?

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KP: I have always enjoyed drawing and I have for as long as I can remember, but high school was when I discovered my passion for art. I think high school is a rough time for a lot of people, and it certainly was for me. I used art as a therapeutic outlet in high school and soon realized that I couldn’t step away from creating. It changed my life for the better by giving me a real way to express myself in a healthy way. When I started taking it seriously, art gave me a voice that I had been lacking in my life.

JCAM: Why do you make art now?

KP: Apart from being a student, I create art simply to express myself. Creating art silences my mind and allows me to explore new worlds all at the same time. I am a dreamer, and art allows me to dream. I still use art as an outlet to work through life’s challenges, but my most favorite pieces are the ones that come together spontaneously.

I use art in a way that nurtures my inner child—it’s all a fun learning experience.

JCAM: How has your work changed or developed over time?

KP: I think that I have allowed my art to become more playful over the years. I try not to take my art so seriously that I can’t enjoy it, while still understanding its importance. I would say my art is much more expressive and creative now.

JCAM: Do you have any creative patterns, routines or rituals associated with your art making? What element(s) of art making do you enjoy the most and why?

KP: Art days for me start with caffeine. I enjoy a nice cup of coffee or tea and I take time to stop and smell the roses. I think that has always been the favorite part of my routine; taking the time to become present and notice small or hidden or inconsequential things that strike my fancy. I enjoy plants and own over fifty houseplants, so this ritual often involves delicately tending to them for fifteen minutes or so. This quiets my mind and helps reduce my inner critic.

As for creative patterns, I enjoy layers. Collaging elements together has become a very integral part of my creative process lately.

My favorite part of creating art is getting lost in it. I love the moments where I am creating and having epiphany after epiphany, constantly creating and reacting, and suddenly I realize I have been working for eight hours and my body is exhausted. It is such a rewarding and fulfilling feeling.

JCAM: What is your most important artist tool(s) and why? What art making tools do you use now?

KP: As a mixed media artist, this is a hard question. I would have to go back to the basics and say that good paper is an artist’s best friend. I keep all kinds of paper on hand, from heavyweight watercolor paper to mulberry and rice paper to vellum, and all different colors and sizes. For me, paper is the basis of a piece and sets a mood right off the bat.

I use a large range of material. I try to keep all of my media choices visible when working in my studio so I can make large decisions while working on layers quickly. Mostly all of my mixed media work begins as intaglio, lithography, or mono print.

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JCAM: How do you know when a work is finished?

KP: A work is finished when the feeling is complete. I used to have a problem with overworking pieces because I tended to try to perfect every detail and the result was a muddied concept. Now, I focus on the feeling of the artwork and I feel that the messages can come across more clearly.

JCAM: What new creative medium would you love to pursue?

KP: I hope to be able to procure an iPad pro in the near future. My goal is to slowly integrate my art into the digital realm because I can reach more people that way, whether through social media or being able to sell digital prints. I do have a general understanding of the technologies, I just have yet to spend any real time practicing any digital art.

JCAM: What's the first artwork you ever sold? Do you make a living from your art?

What are your goals for the future, for both work and life?

KP: When I discovered my talent for drawing in high school, I realized I could sell portraits instead of getting an after-school job. The first portrait I did was a commission for a baby portrait. I realized in that first portrait that babies are too round and smooth and not very fun to draw. I learned then that I didn’t want to earn a living making art that I didn’t want to create. So, after I graduated high school, I stopped selling portraits and focused only on art that I genuinely wanted to create.

I don’t currently make a living from my art, and I don’t plan to make my whole living on my art. I am not a fan of being commissioned for work, so my goal is to become an art therapist and be a working artist on the side.

JCAM: What interesting project are you working on at the moment?

KP: Currently, I’m working on a series of collages that explore different human experiences. My goal is to work in tandem with mental health services in the near future to create art workshops for relieving the emotional trauma people have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am in contact with a local counseling service in hopes of creating a workshop in the Spring of 2021. It is a difficult to plan to work within the community during such an unprecedented and uncertain time, but progress is being made all the time to reach people through social distancing.

JCAM: What or who inspires you? Do you have a favorite – or influential – living artist?

What work of art do you wish you owned and why?

KP: To be quite frank, living inspires me. I often mull over simple day to day experiences, and those tend to be the undertow of much of my artistic exploration. Larger emotions such as grief, shame, heartbreak, etc. make their appearances as well, but I tend to try not to focus all of my art on such heavy topics.

I really enjoy the works of WanJin GIM, Henrik Aa Uldalen, Jeremy Mann, and Natalie Krim. All of these artists work with the figure and have influenced my own figural art, though my style does not resemble any of them. Aside from artists I follow on social media, the most influential artists around me have always been my instructors, namely

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Callie Farmer and Brandon Sanderson. I can admit I have adopted some of their stylistic qualities in my own work.

I am honored to have so many of my favorite artists’ work already. Most of the art on my wish-list is ceramics. I collect coffee mugs, and there are quite a few more I would like to acquire.

JCAM: What does being creative mean to you and what is the best advice you ever had about how to be more creative?

KP: Being creative is harnessing an innate ability of humanity. I believe that to be creative is to be wholly human, to connect with ourselves. The best way to be creative is to let go. Don’t treat your artwork like it is precious. Make mistakes and find ways to make the mistakes work in art and in life.

Contact information: kelsey.k.pearce@gmail.com Social Media: @_oddfellow

Kelsey Pearce “Silenced” / Nupastel on Toned Paper

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Kelsey Pearce “Returning Home” / Monoprint with Chine collé, India Ink

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Kelsey Pearce “The Bitter Fruit” / Intaglio and Watercolor

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Kelsey Pearce “Unity” / Intaglio with Chine Collé

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Kelsey Pearce “Temperate” / Lithograph, Chine Collé, India Ink

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Kelsey Pearce “Lost” / Intaglio with Chine Collé, Blind Embossment

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Kelsey Pearce “Found” / Intaglio with Chine Collé, Blind Embossment

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Larry Parker JCAM: What is your professional name?

Where were you born and does that place still influence you? Where do you live now and how does that place influence you? Do you have family, friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making and how do they make a difference in your life?

LP: My professional name is Larry Parker I sign my art as Mynnell. I was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina and it influences me somewhat because it is where I have saw and experienced things in my life. I now live in Laurel Hill, North Carolina near there. I have had support from my family since deciding to pursue the arts. There are already others in my family who are very talented artists, so it was not hard to find support as long as I took it seriously.

JCAM: When and how did you start making art? Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do? Why do you make art now?

How has your work changed or developed over time? What are you trying to communicate with your art?

LP: I have been drawing since I was old enough to pick up a crayon. And I would say I decided to be an artist was when I was given my first anime magazine. Looking through it made me want to draw the characters that I saw. So that night I sat myself down and attempted to draw one of the characters. When I had finished it I really liked the feeling of what I had created. My goal ever since has been to always improve on my art and be able to create anything that I want to visually. My art has become more refined. I have learned about different styles and have developed my own. With my work I show a range of creative, fun and visually pleasing art that people can have a conversation about.

JCAM: Do you have any creative patterns, routines or rituals associated with your art making? What element(s) of art making do you enjoy the most and why? What is your most important artist tool(s) and why? How do you know when a work is finished?

What are the art making tools you use now? What new creative medium would you love to pursue?

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LP: With my work I like to make use of patterns, bright colors, and human figures. With my work I love to create a piece with a style that is creative and sometimes abstract, but I like to have my work be realistic in parts of the piece as well. When creating a piece I like to listen to music to really keep my mind set on what I am creating. I love using pencil and paper to plan and sketch out ideas I have. I like using spray paint and have learned how to use it for my art. I always want to learn new techniques and mediums. I would like to learn more about digital art and ceramics.

JCAM: What's the first artwork you ever sold? Do you make a living from your art? What

strategies could you share with other artists on how to become successful professionally?

LP: The first artwork that I ever sold was to a family member for a new house they were moving into. I would like to make a living selling my art. I would tell other artists to take time to develop your art and don't give up on your dream because success comes with time.

JCAM: What are your goals for the future, for both work and life? What interesting project are you working on at the moment?

LP: My goals for the future are to make a living selling my art and pursue my other passion

which is music. I want to be known globally for what I do. I would like to travel the world and meet lots of great people and learn from them. Right now I am working on a large canvas will be the cover for my upcoming music album.

JCAM: What or who inspires you? Do you have a favorite – or influential – living artist?

What work of art do you wish you owned and why?

LP: I am inspired by a range of things. It could be my personal experiences, something I have gone through myself, or something that I have seen around me. I find it interesting to look at what goes on in other countries other than mine and learn new perspectives. I get inspiration from artists all over the world including Frida Kahlo from Mexico and Japanese contemporary artists Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama. An artwork I would love to own would be Chiho Aoshima’s - Rebirth of the World. I like the style and the meaning behind her work.

JCAM: Where do you find ideas for your creative work? What does being creative mean to you? What is the best advice you ever had about how to be more creative?

LP: When I work, I try to really make it my own and find ways to do that. Being creative to me is about making something new and putting yourself into what you do. My advice on creativity would be to not try so hard to try to be different; it will come naturally. Also look and get inspired by a range of styles and artists and see how others present their creative works.

Contact Information: Parkerlarry856@gamil.com Instagram: @mynnell

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Larry Parker “Love is a House” / Installation

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Larry Parker “Garden of Eden” / Spray Paint on Canvas

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Larry Parker “Mother Nature” / Spray Paint on Canvas

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Levon Vinson JCAM: What is your professional name? Where were you born and does that place still influence you? Where do you live now and how does that place influence you?

LV: My professional name is Levon Vinson. I was born and still live in Fayetteville, NC and it has had a great influence on me. Without the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, and the county fair, I would not be the artist I am today. The experiences I had in these local exhibitions gave me confidence as an artist.

JCAM: Do you have family, friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making?

LV: Yes, a family friend named Tina Bennett. She was my private art teacher from the beginning of 6th grade until I graduated high school. She is a 2nd generation painter and she was and still is a great influence on me.

JCAM: When and how did you start making art?

LV: My earliest memory of making art was taking paper, stapler and staples, and a highlighter and attaching my art to a cork board wall to see what weird abstract things I could make. This event took place when I was around 5 years old. It was unusually fun and the act of creating was tremendously interesting.

JCAM: Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do?

LV: I think the first time I made artwork, if you can call it that, was during kindergarten.

We had an assignment to draw a picture and write about the picture we drew. We had a prompt that something like what do you like to do after school. My is the only major memory I have of kindergarten, doing those drawings each day. And that is when I knew I wanted to be an artist.

JCAM: Why do you make art now?

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LV: I have many reasons for making art for stress relief, as therapy, to create something and to have what I believe is the same feeling as a god has when they make something from seemingly nothingness. But depending on the piece it can be to tell a story or to pay respect to a non-Christian god.

JCAM: How has your work changed or developed over time?

LV: I started making artwork in the form of paper and colored pencils. Now I make art using acrylic paint on canvas or pencil on paper.

JCAM: What are you trying to communicate with your art?

LV: Through my art, I like to tell fantasy stories and creative mythical places. This could be for example showing Medieval style buildings or mythological subjects like the Minotaur from Greek mythology, along with recreating characters from old civilizations.

JCAM: Do you have any creative patterns, routines or rituals associated with your art making?

LV: Since I have been in college, I have found that I need to be in a certain mindset before I can make artwork. I call it the inspirational emotional mental wave in which I use the emotional energy that I have from stress, anxiety, etc. and I channel it into my art making.

JCAM: What element(s) of art making do you enjoy the most and why?

LV: I enjoy coming up with concepts and drawing them out in pencil. This is currently my favorite aspect of creating art for the reason that I can see the image come to life.

JCAM: What is your most important artist tool(s) and why?

LV: This question is tricky for me at least for I have never really had a favorite tool. But if I had to choose it it would be paper and pencil. I live by the lesson that one should always carry pencil and paper for you never know where inspiration will strike.

JCAM: How do you know when a work is finished?

LV: For me a work is never truly finished, just that a particular version of it has reached the end of its road. If I find something is completely wrong with a piece, I make a new one.

JCAM: What are the art making tools you use now? What new creative medium would you love to pursue?

LV: Currently I use pencil and paper, acrylics, watercolor. I would love to try wood carving.

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JCAM: What is the first artwork you ever sold?

LV: The first artwork I ever sold was to a security guard lady who worked for the Fayetteville Arts Council. It was an acrylic painting of crumpled up, old wrapping paper.

JCAM: Do you make a living from your art?

LV: Currently no I do not make a living from my artwork. My original dream when I was around 5 did involve having a kind of small gallery business. I still want to do this!

JCAM: What success strategies could you share with other artists?

LV: You have to talk to people about your work. Don’t force it in a conversation but bring it up if it is relevant. Many people will be amazed that you are an artist.

JCAM: What are your goals for the future, for both work and life?

LV: My goals for the future involve traveling to Europe to explore their mythological cultures and see other things that gave me great inspiration as a child. These include Stonehenge and the paintings of Van Gogh in various museums. I also want to be an art teacher.

JCAM: What interesting project are you working on at the moment?

LV: Currently I am working on a commission for an up and coming rap artist. He asked me to make the image for his first album cover.

JCAM: Do you have a favorite – or influential – living artist? Who or what inspires you?

LV: Through my artist journey from 6th grade all the way to current day I have had many artists who have inspired me, including my private art teacher and artists such as Thomas Kinkade, Van Gogh, and Hayao Miyazaki. Besides artists, the one thing that has inspired me most throughout the years is Nature. From animals to plants and insects, the visual beauty of the natural environment, and an understanding of how complex life is in Nature inspires me.

JCAM: What work of art do you wish you owned and why?

LV: Honestly, I see no point in owning artwork. If I owned a famous piece, I would just have it hanging on the wall collecting dust. In the modern day of technology where almost any image can be pulled up in seconds owning an original artwork from medieval times while valuable in terms of money has no value to me as a person.

JCAM: Where do you find ideas for your creative work?

LV: Most of the time ideas come to me like they fall into my lap other ideas I get from looking at images from my life. Not photo graphics but more the art, doodles, and failed sketches from my journey being an artist.

JCAM: What does being creative mean to you?

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LV: Being creative is like being a god and creating something out of seemingly nothingness. There is a rush of joy and the quickness of time while creating work, giving you the artist the feeling of making something.

JCAM: What is the best advice you ever had about how to be more creative?

LV: Don’t try to force a creative idea. Because while you are focused on forcing it, no ideas will come you. You have to treat creative ideas similarly to how you would put a puzzle together. Start with the question of what is inspiring you to make artwork at this moment?

Contact information: levon_vinson@outlook.com Instagram: levon_Artist

Levon Vinson “God’s Death” Acrylic on Canvas

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Levon Vinson “Prince” / Acrylic on Canvas

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Levon Vinson “The Kingdom” / Acrylic on Canvas

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Levon Vinson “God’s Death” / Acrylic on Canvas

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Maggie Flowers JCAM: What is your professional name? Where were you born and does that place still influence you?

MF: My name is Maggie Flowers.

JCAM: Where were you born and does that place still influence you?

MF: I was born in Pinehurst, North Carolina and I currently live near there in Seven Lakes. While I was born in Pinehurst, I grew up in the contiguous townships of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen. These towns feature an active art community. For example, if you were to walk through the streets of Downtown Southern Pines in 2020, you would be greeted by a series of life size horse sculptures, each painted by a local artist. Needless to say, I’ve never had to look very far for inspiring artwork. It’s been very special to me to see the art produced by other artists in the place I’ve always called home.

JCAM: Where do you live now and how does that place influence you?

MF: Do you have family, friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making and how do they make a difference in your life?

My family has always been my biggest support system in everything I do, including my art. Both my cousin and my half-sister are also artists and they have always inspired and encouraged me in my art journey. My half-sister currently lives and works in Asheville, North Carolina, making art for commissions as well as local galleries.

It’s been incredibly influential for me to have someone to look up to who is passionate about the work they create and has found a way to make it a large part of their life.

JCAM: When and how did you start making art?

MF: I started making art about a year ago during my Junior year of college after changing my major.

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JCAM: Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do?

MF: I spent my first two years of college as a psychology major with no real aspirations, and it wasn’t until I moved to Raleigh and attended NC State for my sophomore year that I found what I was truly passionate about. I spent most of that year in Raleigh alone in my apartment, watching animated movies to pass the time. That was how I first found my love for animation, but it wasn’t until I transferred back to UNC Pembroke that I found my love for making art.

JCAM: Why do you make art now?

MF: I make art now both as a student and as an individual. Most of my work has been the result of assignments and projects, but I also use art as a way to better understand and accept certain aspects of my life, such as my experiences having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). As someone who was diagnosed with OCD at a young age, my interactions with the world have always been considered clinically atypical.

From washing my hands dozens of times in a row, to being unable to be comfortable in my own home, I’ve spent most of my life grappling with the unwanted thoughts in my head. I use art as an outlet to help me express these experiences.

JCAM: How has your work changed or developed over time?

MF: One thing I’ve noticed about being an art student is that my work is constantly evolving and changing as I continue learning and growing. Even the work I made just a semester ago is drastically different from the work I’m making now, not only in terms of technical ability, but also in terms of subject matter as I discover more about who I am as an artist.

JCAM: What element(s) of art making do you enjoy the most and why?

MF: I enjoy almost every aspect of working with clay, but my favorite part is adding color once the structure and details are complete. Sometimes this means waiting until after the work is fired in the kiln and then painting it with acrylics, and other times it means painting on underglazes while the clay is still in its greenware (unfired) stage.

JCAM: What is your most important artist tool(s) and why?

MF: I would say my most important tools are my sculpting tools, such as a needle, shaper, and loop tools. I use hand-building techniques to create my ceramic sculptures and these tools are essential for carving and adding detail to the clay.

JCAM: What new creative medium would you love to pursue?

MF: I have always been interested in animation. I have dabbled a bit in traditional 2D animation, but lately I have found a love for stop motion. Stop motion is a type of

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animation that involves physical puppets of characters and surrounding elements, and photographing them as they are manipulated to simulate movement. I am interested in both the creation of clay puppets and the process of bringing them to life.

JCAM: What are your goals for the future, for both work and life?

MF: One of my biggest goals for the future is to continue making work that I am passionate about, regardless of whether it is my full time job or just a hobby. I do have a goal to make a living working as an independent artist, but above all else I want to preserve the passion that I currently have for making art.

JCAM: What or who inspires you?

MF: Where I live there is an abundance of nature. Including woods that house diverse animals, such as deer, foxes, and rabbits, and lakes that are home to fish, turtles, egrets and herons. I enjoy taking walks around my community and finding inspiration along the way. The vibrant colors of the leaves changing in the fall, the graceful deer grazing on grass, the stark tree branches in the winter. I always take notes and photographs of visuals that I find to be impactful so that I can reference them for my work.

JCAM: Do you have a favorite – or influential – living artist?

MF: One of the most influential artists to me is a ceramic artist named Erika Sanada.

Her ceramic creatures are fascinating, beautiful, and often a little unsettling. She captures candid emotion through the use of dramatic composition and thematic elements.

JCAM: What work of art do you wish you owned and why?

MF: There is a ceramic sculpture by Erika Sanada from 2015 titled Fighting Spirit that I have a print of hanging on my wall. But I definitely wish I owned the original sculpture. It features one of her iconic dog forms standing defensively with antlers protruding from its head. To me, this piece encapsulates everything I love about Sanada’s work, it is the perfect combination of strength and fragility.

JCAM: Where do you find ideas for your creative work?

MF: I find ideas for my work in everyday life. I draw most of my ideas from my life dealing with OCD. Living with OCD means learning to coexist with the constant anxieties that surround my day to day life. I often draw from the feelings that accompany this when creating work. These feelings are reflected in the imagery I use in my work, such as twisting vines and things being turned upside down or inside out.

Contact Information: maggieflowers2000@gmail.com

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Maggie Flowers “Dreaming” / Ceramic, Acrylic Paint

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Maggie Flowers “Floating Upside Down” / Ceramic, Acrylic Paint

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Maggie Flowers “Growing Up” / Ceramic, Acrylic Paint

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Maggie Flowers “Acceptance” (View A / View B) / Ceramic, Underglazes

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Rachel Kearney JCAM: What is your professional name?

RK: My name is Rachel Kearney.

JCAM: Do you have family,

friends, or fellow artists who support you in your work, life and art making and how do they make a difference in your life?

RK: My family and my friends have always been a very good source of support for me. My boyfriend, Lucas, is definitely my greatest supporter since we create the skateboards as a team.

JCAM: When and how did you start making art?

RK: I have loved art ever since I was little, but I began taking it seriously as a career in high school. I became very interested in digital art and now designing skateboards, specifically longboards, which are longer versions of skateboards. It is hard to imagine myself in a career that is not in a creative field.

JCAM: Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating was something you absolutely had to do?

RK: I was drawing a character on my computer in high school and ended up spending the whole day just working on it. I went to bed at about 3 AM once had I finished it, because I just did not want to stop drawing. Now, when I am making work, once I have a good flow going, it is almost like I have a creative high and never want to leave that moment.

JCAM: Why do you make art now?

RK: I make art because it is a career I want to pursue, but also just because I love it. I want to work hard so that I can continue doing what I love. With the skateboards that I create, I love the idea of riding around on my artwork. I think it is very cool to have art as functional objects.

JCAM: How has your work changed or developed over time?

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RK: My art has changed a lot, across different media and stylistically. Going into college, I used to focus primarily on digital art, but over time I learned the importance of experimenting in different art forms. Thanks to breaking out of my comfort zone, I have found a passion in designing longboards and have grown as an artist in the process.

JCAM: What element(s) of art making do you enjoy the most and why?

RK: I love the process of making art because I learn something new every time. I always try to experiment with something new when I am creating, whether it is a new style or a new tool.

JCAM: What is your most important artist tool(s) and why?

RK: I would say the pyrography pen is my most important tool. I use it to burn lines into my longboards and it came with a pretty steep learning curve at first. I had to learn how to hold it so I would not burn myself (which I still do) and invest in a fan so I could keep the smoke from getting in my eyes. One important thing that it taught me, however, was patience. When burning wood, the slower you go, the bolder your lines will be. I have always been about doing things fast and efficiently, but pyrography has taught me that sometimes your best work takes time.

JCAM: How do you know when a work is finished?

RK: I would say that a work is finished when I feel like I have crossed off everything in my mental checklist. I usually start with the sketch, line art, coloring, and add any other details that I feel are needed.

JCAM: What are the art making tools you use now?

RK: For digital art I mostly use my iPad, Apple Pencil, and the app Procreate. For my skateboards, I use a pyrography pen, acrylic paint, and about three coats of polyurethane gloss to seal everything in and make it shiny.

JCAM: What new creative medium would you love to pursue?

RK: I would love to make a full skateboard out of epoxy resin because it would be completely transparent. It would be cool to see the ground underneath my feet when I am riding on it. I would add gold flakes and add images too.

JCAM: What are your goals for the future, for both work and life?

RK: After I graduate, I hope to find a job in a creative field, though I am also considering graduate school. Currently, I am starting up an Etsy shop to sell my skateboards and other wood burned objects. I dream of making a living with my art and am already working toward that.

JCAM: What interesting project are you working on at the moment?

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RK: Right now, I am working with my boyfriend to make skateboards by hand out of plywood. In the past we bought pre-made, blank longboards and skateboards that I would paint and burn. This is a difficult process and so far, we have gotten one to curve and now we just need to shape it.

JCAM: Where do you find ideas for your creative work?

RK: Most of the time my ideas come to me out of the blue. I tend to get my best ideas when I am driving long distances and have time to fall into my own thoughts. I believe this is because I am alone and have no distractions. I always learn from viewing other artist’s work as well because I enjoy seeing how others depict different imagery.

JCAM: What does being creative mean to you?

RK: Being creative is basically who I am. I do not remember a time where being creative was not apart of my identity, since I have loved making art since I was young. If I could not make art, I would not be the same person.

Contact Info: RachelMKearney@outlook.com

Rachel Kearney “Jackalope Longboard” Pyrography, Sharpie and Acrylic paint on Maple Longboard

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Rachel Kearney “Colorful Fish Longboard” Pyrography, Sharpie and Acrylic paint on Maple Longboard

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