Design Statement
All of my design ideas begin on paper. Nothing has been able to replace the tangible outcome of a well-developed idea on paper. Only then, when I feel that the ideas and concepts are strong enough to spend time further developing, I’ll place the sketches onto a digital artboard. When it comes to choosing colors, I take into consideration what message the design problem might be trying to convey. Through my design work, I am able to explore different trends and ways of designing. For example, in my Gen Z Vote infographic I focused on creating a dynamic and youthful color palette, emphasizing the subject matter. While in my initial cap project for The Joy Luck Club, I restricted the color choices to traditional ones often found on Mah Jong pieces. When the problem allows for it, I will add my digital illustrative art as I find it to be a way to personalize the design.
Artist Statement
My artwork has become a space to share my experiences as a first-generation Mexican American and explore the two cultures. I primarily work with printmaking and drawing, placing my identity and narratives at the center of my work. What my family and I have lived through has also become the group identity of many other immigrant families. To encourage an active dialogue about social issues affecting the community, my art shares the stories of family, immigration, and Mexican culture. I also wish to pay homage to my Mexican heritage using pre-Colombian art and influences of Mexican printmakers like Jose Guadalupe Posada and Leopoldo Mendez, who believed printmaking should be used for social change. I understand that art has the potential to bring light to the stories of people who have been left unheard and unseen, reduced to statistics and political debates. My artmaking is driven by our experiences that go beyond borders and cultures.