Edinboro University Art Department Murals
This was a project done through the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network in collaboration with fellow designers Audrey MacPherson, Hannah Smith, and Alyssa McLaurin. They are both based on quotes by former students of Edinboro University and will be displayed in the entrance of the University's primary art building, Doucette Hall.
The process work shown is just a tiny fraction of the amount of iterations and concepts that the design team came up with to finalize these murals. Below are the rationales for each design.
Put It All On The Line
"If you really want it, put it all on the line and make it happen."
-Jordan Koch
The initial concept for this mural was to literally put it all on the line by designing fully with line work in the beginning stages. With work and countless iterations, keeping in mind the importance of designing type as image, the design quickly developed into the line-based final design seen above. It subtly reflects a topographic map in a way which became a symbol for how students come from all over Pennsylvania and beyond to Edinboro's campus so that they can develop and refine their art and design skills. This mural also needed to serve as a directional device for students, parents, and alumni to locate the art office within Doucette Hall. For that reason, the design incorporates type and arrows to lead up the stairs where the art office can be found. This quote was specifically chosen to lead to the art office to inspire incoming students to "put it all on the line" when registering to join Edinboro's art department. Finally, the colors used in this design are warm as to balance out the cool colors from the neighboring mural (seen below). The color is also used to assist viewers in being able to pick out the words from the quote.
Make & Make & Make
"Make and make and make. Hold on to the dearest thing and throw everything else away. Make and make and make. Hold on to the strongest thing and throw everything else away. Make and make and make. Hold on to the smartest thing and throw the rest away. Make and make and make. Hold on to the most powerful thing and throw the rest away."
-Gratia Brown
The concept behind the design for this mural was ultimately the power of making. The design plays with the idea of geometric shapes creating a variety of "makes" or "making objects," to emphasize that you can make something out of nothing. The intent was to deconstruct the letters of the word "MAKE" into simple geometric shapes and to show that in a variety of scales for contrast. This design also reflects a blueprint in a subtle way to reference the planning and hard work that gets put into every art and design project born in Edinboro's art department. The blueprint aspect is also emphasized using the cool, blue color palette. Finally, the grid was planned to match the underlying grid created by the cinderblocks of the wall in order to embrace the designated environment.
Mission Work - Belize School Murals
During the summer of 2018, I had the opportunity to go on a missions trip to Belize. Originally, I was meant to work with the rest of my group mixing concrete and helping to repair a school. When we got to the school in Las Flores and they found out I was an artist, they asked me to paint a mural for them on the side of the building - how could I say no!
A student from Pathlight International painted the beautiful school emblem in the center. My contributions included the flowers on both sides of the emblem as well as the Belize flag on the front of the building.
This is easily my favorite, most rewarding project that I've ever gotten to work on.
