Creative Process

What I learned about the creative process...

This project and its creation was a laborious feat. It has tested my abilities in time management and reiteration. In all honesty, I found myself struggling with this project from the very beginning. However, it was with the help of others within the Arts Scholar program and determination, that I created pieces I’m proud to call my art. 

I thought that simply having a plan would’ve been enough to drive me along a well-paced schedule to complete this project but, as a full-time student, not everything goes as planned. I found myself prioritizing other work above the capstone, which resulted in me falling behind compared to my peers. With the help of strategies that were discussed in class, like the Pomodoro technique and time boxing, I advanced and caught pace to where I needed to be. 

My original artistic vision for my capstone was completely different from what you see completed.  This was supposed to be three large mixed-media collages of different individuals encompassing their experiences as second-generation Americans. I had strong feelings about the initial idea but lacked visual and mental images. Though having myself set on the medium and techniques, I had to “Kill My Darlings.” I had to find within my idea what had a “purpose” in connection to the goals of my project. 

Through the struggle and difficulties, I grew not only in project management skills but also in self-management and determination. With all the new things I learned and experienced, they helped me reach the final works of three typography portraits of second-generation Americans that reveal insight into their lives, expanding on their core ideas of “self” identity, heritage & tradition, and values & beliefs.