Vibe & Vision

My art & design process
10.25.2024

Currency of the World Typography

For this art piece, I wanted to create preparatory work for another bigger project. I decided to focus on a subject that is both ubiquitous and universally recognizable: the typography of global currencies, particularly the denominations of 1s and 100s.

My goal was to craft visually striking collages by arranging these digits in a way that evokes conversation. This approach invites viewers to see the numbers as more than symbols of value, but as elements engaged in a dialogue, sparking reflections on the pervasive nature of currency in our lives.
10.25.2024

Mixing Color

I set out to explore how color can convey emotion and reflect aspects of personal identity. My approach was to capture selfies incorporating my favorite colors and see how these shades influenced the emotional tone of the images.

I focused on yellow, green, and blue… three colors that resonate deeply with different parts of my identity. Yellow, for me, symbolizes energy, warmth, and optimism. It’s the color that often reminds me of sunlight and moments of spontaneous joy. I wanted to evoke a sense of happiness and vibrant life in the selfies that featured yellow tones, using lighting and composition that highlighted its luminous and cheerful nature.
10.25.2024

COLOR

Metallics have always intrigued me due to their dynamic nature… how they shift and change with the angle of light and the surrounding environment. For this project, I wanted to highlight the reflective and lustrous qualities of metallic objects and see how they interacted with the vibrant hue of yellow. My goal was to observe how the shiny, hard surfaces of metals could enhance or contrast with the warm, energetic properties of the color yellow.

The process of mixing color with metallic textures taught me about the interplay between light, color, and surface. Metallic objects don’t just reflect light; they transform it, casting subtle shades and glimmers that shift the way a color is perceived. This dynamic quality brought an interactive component to my project, as the photos and objects would subtly change based on how light hit them and the angles from which they were viewed.

This project was a step further in my journey of using color to represent aspects of myself and evoke specific emotions. Through the reflective and versatile nature of metallics, I found a new way to showcase the liveliness of yellow while adding layers of complexity and intrigue. The blend of metallic shine and bright color became a metaphor for resilience and radiance… a reminder that even within strong, polished exteriors, there is warmth and vibrancy waiting to be seen.For my color project I wanted to pair metallic objects and investigate their color and shine.
10.12.2024

Brewed Identity

In ‘Brewed Identity’ by Sergio Aleman, the spout of the orange ceramic tea kettle serves as a transformative channel, where domestic ritual meets self-expression.

As the hair pours out of the spout, the viewer is invited to consider how identity is crafted, steeped in private moments, and carefully measured before it is released to the world.

The spout as fastener reminds us that our outward personas are shaped by the environments we inhabit and the forces that govern what we choose to reveal.
10.12.2024

Chalice of Innocence

IIn ‘Chalice of Innocence’ by Sergio Aleman, the goblet, both a vessel and a barrier, serves as a protective yet fragile enclosure for the rabbit, a symbol of innocence. The translucent blue glass amplifies the emotional tension of containing something pure and vulnerable.

Like innocence observed from a distance, the fastener holds the rabbit in a suspended state of preservation, yet invites contemplation of whether this protective act also diminishes its natural freedom.
10.12.2024

The Flamingo Hotel

The Flamingo Hotel by Sergio Aleman overlays a vibrant, tropical flamingo onto the rigid façade of an old New York City hotel, creating a surreal contrast between nature and architecture.

The flamingo, a symbol of elegance and exotic beauty, stands out against the structured, stoic backdrop, suggesting a moment of freedom and grace amidst the city’s unyielding concrete jungle.

This collision of organic and industrial invites viewers to explore the tensions between urban life and nature, individuality and uniformity. The work asks: what happens when grace and flamboyance intrude upon the stark world of brick and steel? Can beauty flourish in unexpected places, or does the city swallow it whole?
10.04.2024

Barely Wealthy

Barely Wealthy by Sergio Aleman presents a striking contrast between human vulnerability and the overwhelming importance placed on material wealth.

The nude male, exposed and unguarded, holds an oversized penny… an exaggerated symbol of currency. This disproportionate scale invites reflection on how society often equates value with money, stripping away deeper aspects of identity in favor of financial worth.

The work challenges the viewer to question the true measure of a person: is it found in naked humanity or in the objects we cling to for validation? As the figure is laid bare, so too are our cultural obsessions with wealth and value.
10.04.2024

Grumpy

For my latest blog post, I’m introducing “Grumpy," my first abstract wire sculpture… though it’s actually the second wire sculpture I’ve created. The name "Grumpy” came from a random draw, and I was instantly struck by the playful challenge of bringing that emotion to life.

My conceptualization was inspired by crabs… after all, what’s grumpier than being a little crabby?
I sculpted an abstracted form of a crab, but there’s more to this work than meets the eye. I imagine “Grumpy” not as just a small model, but as a towering 6 to 8-foot structure that invites audiences to interact with it.

With its spindly legs and cloud-like silhouette, the sculpture is designed to evoke both the irritable nature of a crab and the whimsical feel of a floating, slightly moody entity. Stay tuned as I continue to explore the potential of this wire creation in a larger, more immersive form!
09.27.2024

Gucci Sunglasses Representation

In my first foray into wire sculpture, I created a representational piece, Gucci glasses, crafted from heavy gauged metal. The challenge of working with this material was intense; it was tough to bend and shape, but that difficulty became a lesson in dexterity and precision. Through this piece, I learned how to manage the wire’s resistance and guide it into a recognizable form.

This project wasn’t just about sculpting an accessory… it was about discovering the limits of control and the finesse needed to bring an idea to life in wire. While it may seem straightforward, this piece marked the beginning of my journey into wire sculpture, paving the way for more ambitious, abstract works to come!
09.20.2024

Color Collage Studies

My recent color collage project was an exploration of Albers' Color Theory, and it was an incredibly enlightening and fun experience. Working with the concept of "3 as 4 and 4 as 3," I delved deep into the subtle art of color mixing, experimenting with how colors interact and influence each other.

Through this project, I gained a deeper understanding of how even small shifts in color can drastically alter perception and composition. It was fascinating to see how theory translates into practical, visual impact. This collage wasn’t just an academic exercise… it was a hands-on journey through the vibrancy and complexity of color itself!
09.18.2024

A Walk Through Wild Green

The meadow sprawls, green upon green, like a living breath beneath my white boots, the sunlight dripping in golden pools through gaps in the clouds, streaming down to catch the shine of dew on blades of grass, shimmering jewels scattered among the stems.

Here, wildflowers peek, purple and yellow, delicate heads pushing through the tangle of emerald, fighting space with the unruly weeds, and everything looks the same, but different, a wildness captured, but never tamed. My feet sink softly, a rhythm broken by each step. Crunch, sigh, hush…
A breeze ripples, stirring the high grasses, whispering secrets between buttercups, and I watch the shadows stretch long, pulled by the clouds that lumber lazily across the sky. Time stutters, stops, and the meadow keeps breathing, this sea of greens, under a sun that slips and dips behind a downy drift.

The white of my boots flashes against Earth's pulse, striking a contrast that feels alive, as if I were dancing with the meadow's soul. The colors swirl, blend, bleed, and the sunlight falls again, blushing warm on the meadow, where all things bright and green will grow.
09.18.2024

Observation Reveals Layers of Contrast

One time I was in this small café, called ChiroJava, its a place where you can get coffee and see the chiropractor, one of those places where everything feels cozy and the lighting is all dim and moody, you know?

Like golden-brown lamps throwing out this warm glow. I’m sitting there, staring at this painting on the wall & it had this deep blue sky, but somehow, in that café light, it looked more purple.
I swear, it was like the blue had given up on being blue and decided it was purple for the night. But when I walked closer, my phone’s cold white flashlight hit it, and bam! It was blue again, crystal clear, like it was never anything else. It threw me off so much I just kept squinting at it.
And it wasn’t just the light, it was my mood too. I was feeling all nostalgic, lost in my own head, and the colors just felt softer, warmer, more…alive, I guess? Like my brain was playing tricks on me. Even the coffee cup I was holding, a plain ol’ white mug, suddenly looked like it had this peachy tone in the glow.

But if I looked at it too hard, I lost the warmth, like the moment had passed and it was just a white cup again. I could feel Albers’ whole “color is relative” thing sinking in, nothing’s what it seems when your mind, the lighting, and your whole vibe are shifting gears. Everything felt fluid, colors dancing between perceptions without any solid footing.
09.18.2024

Discovering the Art of Seeing.

It’s my third week at Texas State’s BFA Communication Design program, & I’m loving it! The environment is chill, my professors are great, and my peers are insanely talented.

This week, I explored Claude Drawings by using my iPhone’s black screen as a mirror for a self-portrait. The reflection felt raw and slightly distorted, creating a unique, abstract perspective.
We’ve also been learning gestural and contour drawing, which challenge you to capture motion and form with energy and precision.

So far, art school is pushing me to see the world differently, and I can’t wait to learn more and grow as a designer.
12.16.2024

First Blog Post

It’s my second week of classes at Texas State University, and as part of the curriculum, we’re required to start a blog. No big deal... I’ve always wanted to dive into blogging. I’ll be curating inspiration and sharing my design process, and I’m stoked to finally showcase what I create and what fuels my creativity.