Art 298 Portfolio Emphasis Spring 2021 Virtual Exhibition

The Art 298: Portfolio Emphasis – Spring 2021 Virtual Exhibition features the work of 13 student artists from the CSN Art & Art History Program. Works featured in this exhibition are included as part of the program's capstone experience and highlight the vast range of offerings within the CSN Art & Art History Program including ceramics, digital media, drawing, metal work, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The Art 298: Portfolio Emphasis – Spring 2021 Virtual Exhibitionfeatures student artists: Frederick Heil, Isabela Jimenez, Matthew Katigbak, Lisa Lewis, Kaitlynne Lopez, Zachary Markowitz, Esmi O’Arte, Hannah Grace Pagtama, Mae Park, Jessica Samaniego, Brittany Smith,Teesa Thompson, and Jose Yerena. Art 298 faculty include Professor Sean Russell, MFA, University of Nevada Las Vegas, and Professor Christopher Tsouras, MA & MFA, University of Wisconsin Madison,

Frederick Heil has studied Drawing I, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Intro Digital Photo I, Art Appreciation, Survey of Art History I, Survey of Art History II, and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where he has been a student since 2019. His academic goals include seeking a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. Speaking of his artwork, Heil says; “My artwork is motivated by an innate desire to construct and create. Often it is introspective in nature, with a heavy emphasis on day-to-day life.” Heil was born in Born in Portland, Oregon and has been creating art for much of his life. During his time in Las Vegas, Heil has focused on entered art competitions, exhibitions and expanding his skills.

Isabela Jimenez has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Ceramics I, Sculpture I, Painting I, Survey of Art History I, and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where she has been a student since 2018. Her academic goals include completing her Associates of the Arts degree at College of Southern Nevada and enrolling at a university to earn her bachelor's degree. Speaking of her artwork, Jimenez says; “Mainly working in charcoal or oil paint, my work is a reflection of the world I created within my mind that develops through personal experiences. Art has helped me process through my hardships and come to a better understanding within myself, I share my story and the way I see the world through my art.” Jimenez has showcased her work in exhibitions around Las Vegas, Nevada and Los Angeles, California. She took part in the Juried Student Exhibition at College of Southern Nevada in 2019 where she won a 2nd place student’s choice award.

Matthew Katigbak has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Sculpture I, Painting I, Survey of Art History II, Survey of Asian Art, and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where he has been a student since 2015. His academic goals include earning a bachelor's degree in Fine Art from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Speaking of his artwork, Katigbak says; “I work in a variety of mediums but primarily work on character design for sequential narratives and portraiture. My passion for creation of thought provoking, beautiful visuals and engaging narratives are what motivate me to work.” Katigbak was born in Toronto, Canada. He will graduate and earn his Associates of Arts Degree in 2021. Katigbak’s goal is to become a full-time artist/illustrator

Lisa Lewis has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Introduction to Printmaking, Sculpture I, Painting I, Survey of Western Art I, Survey of Asian Art and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where she has been a student since 2017. Her academic goals include pursuing her master’s degree and eventually teaching college-level art classes. Speaking of her artwork, Lewis says; “A common theme in my artwork is the effects of global warming on animals. I find it important as an artist to make a great endeavor to represent the cruel truths of the human contribution to endangered wildlife.” Lewis was born in Downey, California, moved to Nevada in 2012, and began attending the College of Southern Nevada in the spring of 2017.

Kaitlynne Lopez has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Ceramic I, Survey of Western Art II, and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where she has been a student since 2018. Her academic goals include pursuing her education in the fine arts field by earning her BFA and MFA. Speaking of her artwork, Lopez says; “I draw and paint the way I wish others could see life, colorfully. The artwork I make is my visual reality, creating the form out of the formless.” Lopez was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the summer of 2000. She has lived in Las Vegas her whole life. After graduating high school in 2018, she continued her education at the College of Southern Nevada.

Zachary Markowitz has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Design Fundamentals II (3D), Survey of Art History I, Survey of Art History II and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where he has been a student since 2019. His academic goals include graduating from the College of Southern Nevada in May 2021 and transferring to the University of Nevada Las Vegas to continue his education and earn his bachelor’s degree. Speaking of his artwork, Markowitz says; “My artwork is meant to create a sense of understanding and balance, to evoke multiple emotions, but leave the viewer with a calm and cohesive feeling. I try to strike a yin versus yang duplexity that yields a greater understanding of oneself and one’s inner struggle to order the world around them.” Markowitz was born on Long Island, New York, and moved to Las Vegas with his family in 2005 where he has lived most of his life. While in high school at Somerset Academy Sky Pointe, Markowitz became interested in art and decided to follow that interest forward into higher education.

Esmi O'Arte has studied Drawing I, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Ceramic I, Art Appreciation, Survey of Art History I, and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where she has been a student since 2018. Her academic goals include earning her associate degree in art this year, then transferring to a university to earn her bachelor and perhaps master’s degree. Speaking of her artwork, O’Arte says; “My artwork is a way to communicate from the soul and reflect the colors from within while the actual artwork is the process and completion of it. My art form is expressionism and surrealism, I have control with traditional drawing and while traditional paint is more spontaneous.” O’Arte was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and graduated from Sierra Vista High School. She has been an artist for most of her life and her goal is to make art her career.

Hannah Pagtama has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Survey of Art History I, Survey of Art History II, Sculpture I and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where she has been a student since 2019. Her academic goals include attending UNLV to earn Bachelor of Arts Degree. Afterwards she plans to apply to Pratt and Parsons School of Design to pursue a Master’s degree. Speaking of her artwork, Pagtama says; “My artwork represents allows me to express the emotions that I cannot explain. Consciously or subconsciously the expressions I place on my art are the same ones I have in that moment of creating them.” Pagtama was born in the Philippines and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2012. She plans to become an artist with a focus in painting.

Mae Park has studied Survey of Western Art II and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where she has been a student since 2021. Her academic goals include attending an art college in the UK to receive my BA in Fine Art and later pursueing an MFA in Fine Art. Speaking of her work, Park says; “My artwork ignites conversations about my own identity and unresolved trauma”. Park is a multidisciplinary artist based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jessica Samaniego has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Sculpture I, Painting I, Survey of Art History I, Survey of Art History II, and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where she has been a student since 2019. Her academic goals include continuing her stody of art at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, where she will pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Speaking of her artwork, Samaniego says; “My artwork consists of a variety of mediums, with an emphasis on oil painting and color pencils.” Samaniego was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and plans to graduate with her Associates of Arts degree at the end of the spring semester.

Brittany Smith has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Sculpture I, Painting I, Digital Imaging I, Survey of Art History II, Survey of Asian Art, and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where she has been a student since 2016. Her academic goals include graduating and continuing to learn and improve her art while finding a place to settle into an art career. Speaking of her artwork, Smith says; “My artwork is something that makes me the happiest and allows me to bring out my imagination.” Smith, a native of California, hopes to help bring smiles to peoples’ faces with art.

Tessa Thompson has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Painting I, Sculpture I, Survey of Art History I, Survey of African, Oceanic, and Native American Art and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where she has been a student since 2018. Her academic goals include graduating CSN with honors in the fall of 2021 and further developing her artistic skills at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Speaking of her artwork, Thompson says; “My artwork is mostly done in graphite, pastels, charcoal, color pencils, acrylic paint, or oil paint. With a keen eye, I have spent countless hours creating many works of still life and portraits to capture the essence of the object/portrait.” Thompson was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and graduated from Valley High School with an Advanced diploma.

Jose Yerena has studied Drawing I, Drawing II, Design Fundamentals I (2D), Life Drawing I, Sculpture I, Painting I, Survey of Art History I, and Portfolio Emphasis at the College of Southern Nevada where he has been a student since 2018. His academic goals include perusing a Bachelor of Arts degree and a further career path in comic books, Illustration, and/or animation. Speaking of his artwork, Yerena says; “My artwork allows me to bring out my creative ideas and imaginations to life in visual form.” Yerena was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and graduated from Southeast Career Technical Academy (SECTA). He expects to graduate at the college of Southern Nevada with an Associate of Arts degree and continue with his art career.