2018: A Year of Perspective
Perspective. When things are looking low, look back to what you have achieved - and then aim higher.
2018.
It’s hard to sum up a year full of ups and downs in a simple journal entry.
If I could sum it up in one word, that word would be perspective.
2018 was an exciting year of growth and change. However, it didn’t come easy. Every success and every victory coincided with some form of heartbreak or failure. Early on I became emotionally and creatively drained. I was overworked and mentally taxed. I found myself in a position where I didn’t belong and was challenged in all the wrong ways.
As I attempted to navigate myself out of this rut, I saw several opportunities slip through my fingers. With each failed attempt and/or missed opportunity, I found my rut becoming a deeper and deeper hole. Opportunities I thought were tailor made for me, never came to fruition. I started to question my abilities, my work, my personality, my entire identity as a creative person. I started to question myself.
Then one day I started digging. I started cleaning hard drives, desktops, and even old sketchbooks. As I began to sift through nearly a decade’s worth of work, I realized something.
I have a lot of good work. I have worked for several brands and companies many only dream of working for. As I sifted through drawings and sketches, my spirit became quickly invigorated. While I have certainly done my fair share of sub-par work, seeing my varied capabilities as an artist buried on a hard drive was inspiring.
Inspiration gradually grew into confidence. Confidence grew into perspective. I realized that even when I feel low and defeated - I can look back and see that I have done some really cool shit and worked with some awesome people.
Not long after this perspective set in, I found myself walking into my dream job where I get to the freedom to forge my own path and push my boundaries as a designer. It’s funny how things work out.
2019 is going to be a year full of adventure and excitement and most importantly some really cool work.
All you beer drinkers out there, keep an eye on BBCO as we take the brand to all new places. To all my adventurous friends out there, Compas is coming for you!
Happy New Year!
New Neighbor Ned: Downtown is Pawesome!
A collection of images from the New Neighbor Ned sculpture from the Albany is Pawesome exhibit.
Last spring (2017), I was fortunate enough to be selected from a large pool of local artists to work on an artistic reinterpretation of the iconic Nipper statue in Albany, NY. Originally 10 artists were selected, but due to popular demand the project was expanded to a second wave. Each statue was placed in a unique location throughout Downtown Albany, where it sat and watched over each neighborhood for almost 18 months!
For my sculpture, I decided that the Nipper sculpture was the perfect canvas to continue my screen-print series, New Neighbors. Originally started a singular show as part of the Breathing Lights, the New Neighbors is a series of prints that highlights abandoned buildings and properties throughout the city of Albany. In each print, a family of creatures from all walks of life has moved into the building. The series is a whimsical, fun series intended to highlight the abandonment issue in the city of Albany, while encouraging us all to rethink what these buildings could hold in the future of the city.
Two Pairs of scissors, 2 rolls of tape, too many sheets of newsprint, way too much glue combined with several late nights an all nighter - Ned came together. (P.S. I can’t forget that extra bottle of Murphy’s Floor Cleaner either - sorry Amy!)
I almost always forget to document my work, but for New Neighbor Ned, I made sure to snap a few process pictures a long the way. Ned is comprised of over 20 different screen-prints collaged over his body. Each print originated as a photo that I superimposed the “New Neighbors” characters into. Then each photograph was stylized for screen printing, separated into two colors and printed on newsprint. Each print was wheat-pasted and collaged together on Ned, creating a new neighborhood of friendly faces!
All of the dogs that were a part of Downtown is Pawesome will be auctioned off at the Downtown is Pawesome Auction event in Albany. It should be a really fun event and I am excited to see all the sculptures together in one place! Limited tickets are still available here. Portions of all the auctions/sales go to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society!
