And to start off what we think will be a great way to celebrate the excellence of our growing, award-winning department, we are very proud to present the inaugural recipient in the Student Spotlight- Illustration MFA Candidate Goñi Montes.
1. Where are you from?
Ponce, Puerto Rico
2. Where have you been to school (and if grad student what kind of degree did you receive)?
I obtained a B.A. from University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, better known as Colegio de Mayagüez. I've honestly never been very clear on what exactly that B.A. is.
3. What attracted you to Illustration?
I've always liked creating, but have always lacked an affection towards a life in galleries, museums and (dealing with) curators. I have absolutely nothing against it, I just have no clue what doors to knock on.
4. Who are your biggest influences?
From older days, Alphons Mucha, Egon Schiele & Gustav Klimt
From Puerto Rico, printmaking masters Lorenzo Homar and José Alicea
Contemporary illustrators Sam Weber, Joshua Middleton, Jillian Tamaki & Tomer Hanuka
5. If you weren’t studying illustration at SCAD, what would you likely be doing?
Probably still in Puerto Rico doing scientific and technical illustration.
6. If you could change or re-do one thing about your experience at SCAD, what would it be?
The only thing I regret about my first few quarters in SCAD is my early indisposition towards listening. It took a couple of crashes here and there to find out that I had no clue what I was doing. Once that bridge was crossed, things got smoother and my portfolio grew all thanks to a superior and patient guidance.
7. What do you like to do in your spare time?
It feels like life IS spare time. Lately, there's been a lot of drawing and painting and a lot of nothing much else. When you find something you love working on, it feels like you're never working. However, I've become exceedingly fond of audiobooks. They don't require attention from your motor skills and make up for no time to read. Handheld video games also make train commutes much smoother.
8. What is something that most people don’t know about you?
The belly button of my very long hispanic name is Alberto. I almost finished a B.S. in Industrial Microbiology and under strict advice not to do so, changed to art at the last minute. I also came in a set of two, but someone bought one and now I'm up for bids as an incomplete series.
9. What would your dream job/client be and why?
Any client who does not start a project with the comment "Can you do something like so and so?".
10. Sum up your personal philosophy in 25 words or less.
I genuinely and infuriatingly neither know nor understand a single thing about this world.
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6 comments:
Man I saw this work and flipped! You are one talented individual. Good stuff bro!
What a great idea, guys! Goni was a great pick for the first spotlight, too.
I was wondering, are all these images digital, or are some traditional? I just love the clean lines and coloring.
Sorry this took a while, Briana. You know how finals week is.
Almost everything usually starts off with a pencil sketch which is then inked. most of the textures are also done outside of the computer.
Photoshop comes in for the color after lineworks and textures are done.
In all honesty, every piece has an individual level of traditional vs. digital. Sometimes it's almost all digital, sometimes it's barely.
Hey, I was a student at Colegio too! I was in computer engineering then decided to go for Advertising design. I'm still crashing, mostly for economic reasons. I'm starting at a Technical college soon, then hopefully transfering to a state university in Texas. I want to get a masters from SCAD. Do you have any advice? I honestly feel like my life is just about over....at 20.
btw, great work! Sorry, sometimes we become so self-absorbed we forget about the rest. You made the right choice, kudos to you!
Hey Marie!
Thanks for the kind words.
Now, about your career in arts... I think you're doing the right thing at pacing yourself (and your bank account) for studying art. It sounds like you have a good plan, and believe it or not, that's something not all of us had at your age, I guess I have to say I got in the ride and didn't notice what I was in for until it was almost over. It would be good for you to patiently follow your plan. Don't think life's over at 20. Chances are your art will evolve with every passing year, so nothing ever really settles, and when it does, you're surely already looking some other direction.
About getting a masters at SCAD, I can only speak of my experience. All I have to say is, although expensive, I regret nothing. I have not gotten better guidance in my life than the one I received by the combined efforts of my illustration professors (and some graphic design and sequential art too). I only wish everybody's experience, along with yours, will be the same.
I'd love to see your work. If you ever feel like contacting me, my e-mail's goni@goniart.com... it's on my site.
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