By Kailey Kairo
Congratulations to our Artist of the Issue, Veronica Brinkley! Veronica is a junior majoring in communication studies and minoring in studio art. She is one of the leaders of the University’s Collaborative Art Club, or CAC, and has a wide range of artistic interests. Keep an eye out for Veronica’s future work, and check out the CAC next semester for a new dose of artistic inspiration!
Q: What’s your favorite artistic medium? Why does this form of art speak to you more than others?
A: I tend to make stuff based on my gut feeling at that moment and I have a lot of phases of being into different mediums. Right now I’m really into all types of sculpture and I recently taught myself how to crochet. I also recently took the digital design class we have on campus and have been practicing my Photoshop and Illustrator skills. I like to find ways to combine my many interests within art through mixed media projects.
Q: Who or what inspires you to create?
A: Mixed media is my favorite art medium and Neo-expressionism is one of my favorite styles. I love chaotic, layered, and textured art. I get most of my inspiration from artists I follow on Instagram like @moonlumps, @debweiersart, @specters_art, and @woz_art. I also love artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Quentin Blake, and Sue Williams. Going to the art museum is one of my favorite activities in the world and I try to go to the art museum in every place I go. I always find tons of new artists I love by looking into people who I find at museums.
Q: As one of the leaders of the Collaborative Art Club, how has collaboration impacted your relationship with the arts?
A: I love being a leader of the Collaborative Art Club (CAC) because I get to incorporate my art style into a broader piece. I love how it all comes together as a whole but if you look up close you can tell all the individual hands that created it. CAC has also made me worry less about planning ahead in my art, and made me more open to just doing whatever my hand decides.
Q: What’s been your favorite memory as an artist so far?
A: My favorite memory as an artist is making a giant lighter for the art show last semester. It was a really fun project to make and show others. I now keep it in my living room for all to see. It’s a really rewarding experience to have your art on display and have others appreciate it.
Q: What should we look forward to seeing from you in the future? Are there any artistic projects or long-term goals that you’re hoping to complete in the near future?
A: I hope to do a lot more art this summer while I have some time off from school. I tend to start big projects and not finish them so I hope to try and finish some of my old projects this summer. Beyond that, I want to combine my knowledge from my Communications degree with that from my experience as an artist and work in a field where I can put my creative skills to use. I currently volunteer for an activist group called Standing Together where I do a lot of digital art and comms work and I hope to do more work like that in the future.