Vocational Speakers
Jonathan Shaw
Jonathan Shaw expertly crafts his artwork through the use of raw materials in his wildlife art and brush strokes in his biblical art that the viewer feels the connection to the piece. The labor of the artist is displayed through the collage of materials, highlighting the human craftsmanship behind the piece.
Jonathan adds a whimsical element that deviates from traditional biblical art I have seen through his use of patterns and color. The implied texture paired with the less saturated color palette in his biblical art was visually appealing to me. I found my eyes traveling around the painting and wanting to inspect all the detailed patterns. I got to see figures from the bible depicted in a new way, that as an artist, I really got to enjoy.
His wildlife art was also very fascinating to me. His collection of material that most people would consider trash to repurpose for his art amplifies the work's roots in nature. I would have assumed that the collage of different materials would clash with each other visually, but it worked well to create a cohesive depiction of the wildlife subject by adding more visual interest.
Piecing together the collage that makes up the wildlife animals requires a good eye for how different textures and colors fit side by side. Knowing the principles of art and elements of art are important for creating a well-unified product. Balancing elements and considering color palette also have to be utilized for Jonanthan's type of work.
I really liked the tree analogy for his vocational journey that he gave. I found it very fitting, since his wildlife and biblical art both have ties to nature and creation. When talking about finding the "soil you flourish in", he said, "weeds grow fast, but are short-lived, while an oak tree takes longer to grow, but they grow stronger". Reflecting on my own life, I can be very impatient and often tend to the "weeds" instead of waiting for the "oak trees".
Acknowledging the journey will take time and won't be an easy road really stood out to me. I have often avoided thinking or planning too much about my future (but plenty of time worrying) because I know how unpredictable it is. I figured that I can get my degree first and then focus on finding a job. Hearing that he went through a series of day jobs before becoming a freelance artist was reaffirming to me that the journey takes time and doesn't always go as planned. Despite not having a career in art right after college, he was still able to do art on the side. I often forget that even if I don't get a job that involves art, it will still be my hobby and I don't have to give it up.
However, I don't really see myself going into freelance art as a sole career. I prefer being given more direction with my art through assignments, so I see myself being content with working for a company as a designer. Additionally, with the emergence of AI, jobs for artists are going to be more limited when anyone can create their own art instantly. So, by going a more designed centered route through a VisCom major, I hope to get a more secure job that still allows me to utilize my creativity.
If I were to go down the path of a freelance artist, or any career in art, I will have to practice drawing more consistently in order to improve my skills. I haven't taken any physical art classes (mostly digital art focused ones) the last few years, so getting back into drawing with pencil and paper has been a challenge. I still have a lot of foundational skills I need to learn in order to succeed in a career based around design. Although, I am still trying to figure out where my strengths lie and what I enjoy specifically in the art field so I can steer myself in that direction.
As someone who has trouble meeting deadlines while also being satisfied with my work, I was curious about how Jonathan handles these troubles as a professional artist. His response to my question had to do with remembering to "work with integrity" and recognize that imperfections show personality.
Just like the journey toward a vocation, the path may not be perfectly straight or easy. Letting your faith or other moral principles guide you along this path will lead you to the place you are meant to be — in vocation and life.
Hailey Thomson
Hailey Thomson graduated from SPU in 2013 with a major in Visual Communication and Minor in Art History and is currently an apparel designer at Brooks Running. Outside of work, she makes her own art in the form of painting and digitized doodles.
The t-shirt designs she helped create for Brooks were really impressive to me. It got me thinking about the clothing I wear, and how much work designers have to put in to create an appealing design. While many parts of the collaborative process sounded fun, according to Hailey, there is a lot of tedious work. She said that one day she spent the whole time just measuring where the design will be placed. Because she didn't get to use her creativity, she was able to work on her own art at home to get her creativity flowing.
I really was interested in hearing her talk about the process of creating a clothing line for events. Hailey even mentioned that at the company, she is encouraged to get up from her computer. This included getting to go on an "Inspiration Trip" to New Mexico for her second major project at Brooks. Being able to travel as part of your job is a perk I would love to have. Another thing she said that stood out to me was the difference between her work at a small design company compared to her job at Brooks. She mentioned that her job at the design company allowed her to do more hands-on work, and she felt "more like a worker" compared to being an intern at the Seattle Museum. At Brooks, because their apparel sector was relatively new, her team got to be part of establishing the process.
In addition to using your strengths in your work, recognizing where your abilities aren't the strongest is OK. Using herself as an example, she explained that she is not as strong of an illustrator, so when the company she works for requires a certain style of illustration, she has to accept she can't do everything. At this point, she utilizes freelance artists in order to assist with delivering the product needed. Hearing someone who works in the design field admit to needing to ask for help was really humbling. I feel inspired to begin to let go of always trying to push myself to impossible standards
Hailey's job requires knowledge of the use of space, color palettes, and various other design skills. Aside from design, her job includes a lot of research and thinking about what customers want and need. Also, her team designs lines of clothing, meaning she has to think about keeping a cohesive aesthetic across each item. On top of all that, their work has to be approved by the company, requiring the ability to adapt. Working in a team requires good communication and collaboration skills to create a product.
In regard to interacting with theoretical ideas in her work, Hailey's answer was centered around the importance of turning to others for feedback. Because Hailey isn't immersed in running culture, in her work on athletic clothing she asked people who were runners, "what would you like to see on a running t-shirt?" to guide her next steps. She also learned skills specific to clothing design from co-workers who majored in Fashion Design.
I was really surprised how closely her field aligned with my interests. Hailey ended up in a design related career working for a bigger company and does her own art on the side. It is inspiring to see someone who graduated from the same university I am attending with the same major who ended up in an art related career that she is passionate for. Apparel design was a career I hadn't thought about as a possible vocation until learning more about it from Hailey's presentation. A job in apparel design is definitely something I can consider.
If I wanted to try and pursue a similar route as Hailey, I would have to build a good art portfolio before I graduate. Through the VisCom major, I should be able to gain a wide variety of design related skills that I can showcase in interviews. Finding an internship would help me with networking. Hailey got her job at Brooks by reaching out to the company on LinkedIn, so increasing my presence on the platform will be beneficial.
Listening to Hailey speak about her vocation has helped me expand my knowledge on the types of design related vocations in the job field. Though I know the journey to a fulfilling career may be filled with trial and error, recognizing weaknesses as well as my strengths, connecting with others, and applying practical skills I learn will lead me toward opportunities in my future.