In this warm and endearing talk Sam Rodriguez (BFA Illustration ‘06) shares his sometimes twisting path from a self described stubborn CCA student invested in graffiti to an experimental and mature illustrator whose work you will find across the globe on murals and shoes, in video games, magazines and beyond. “What could be seen as detours,” he tells us, “I now use them, the experiences carry into practice so long as you see the lessons.”
Throughout the talk he has a stream of vibrant and captivating images of his work, mostly involving portraits with gorgeous, often marginally legible lettering, and references to an abundance of sources from community heritage, to pop culture, street art, and video games. He credits a love of his uncle’s record collection as an early influence and in numerous pieces we see parts of his family, the face of his daughter, the expression of his wife. “I had so many influences, it took me a long time to be able to bring it all together.”
There is a generosity of spirit that comes through in the work and in how he talks about it. He is “grateful to school [CCA] for having to try so many things, and for the critical thinking,” and he remembers the camaraderie creating an environment where he could be experimental. It was in school where he got to know Jasper Wong (BFA Illustration ‘06), who later invited him to do a large piece for Wong’s international festival POW! WOW!
Adaptation, curiosity, and growth are themes in his work. In a friendly tone he walks us through gorgeous imagery with humility and humor. He talks about going back and forth between digital and analog, commissioned and personal work. He remembers the uncertainty he faced at graduation, with his family growing and media and publishing making huge shifts, but in his robust and joyful work he seems to have made this an advantage. “The field is always changing, just like us,” he says with a smile.
Authored by Saraleah Fordyce
10 сен 2024
