Undergraduate / I would like to revise my essay for ACCD - The three major artists and designers [4]

I haven't written anything in years, so I'm pretty rusty. Actually, I am extremely rusty. Anyways, I would love some feedback, thank you. - Richard

The question: Who do you believe to be the three major artists and designers who are shaping the discipline you are interested in pursuing or who have influenced you? These should be individuals who have brought relevance to the world or to you in some social, political, emotional, economic, or other meaningful context. Explain why you feel they are important. In what ways do you want your own work to contribute to or make a difference in the world?

Richard Rodriguez

For a long time, I have struggled with anxiety. Moreover, no matter how much I exceed with each task, I would feel weighed down with insecurities. I would pressure myself on learning just about anything to keep my mind occupied from having doubts that could hinder my confidence. Year after year was a nauseating endurance after another. I desperately wanted to change.

One day, while learning from an art tutorial, I stumbled upon Dave Rapoza's biography and I've noticed some similarities between us. We both share a similar childhood history living with a low-income family, action/adventure movies are both genres that have fueled our imaginations, we enjoy 80's pop culture, and for most of our lives we were self-taught artists - he instantly became a real motivator for me. Anytime I find myself struggling with art, if I fail or sense any disappointment, I no longer feel buried under skepticism because I know that somebody like me can make a career in the industry. When you look up to all these prolific artists, you feel small by comparison, all I needed was somebody I can relate to turn it all around for me and that was Dave Rapoza.

For Craig Mullins, many consider him as one of the best in digital illustration and a true pioneer of the medium while working at a master level. At the infancy of digital painting, nobody could simulate physical media as Craig Mullins could. His concepts bring out a certain verisimilitude, natural and precise impressions due to his control of light and clever brush work. He has a way of making his world believable without appearing superficial and restricted. I find that, unlike most digital artists, he is not afraid to express grandiose visuals and become committed to experimenting new techniques and styles. He constantly breaks the mold, rearranging the process and making it all exciting. While his designs are inspiring, Craig Mullins pushes boundaries in digital painting and reinventing the craft of it that, I think, helped contribute on giving digital art a well-respected platform.

Last but not least, Drew Struzan, in my eyes, is the maestro of producing magic purely out of white canvas and paint. His movie posters are modern-day classics many present-day artists will find it hard to rival. The way he depicts movies through his art can have the power to pack audiences straight into theaters. In addition, his posters fetch far more praises than the movies themselves. There is such a high anticipation for Struzan's illustrations that they are not just simple movie posters, but masterpieces to many. Unfortunately, film posters by Drew Struzan and the works from other poster artists faded over the years with film advertisements opting for cheap and quickly produced images. It is an absolute disappointment to see iconic images fade from the public eye when they've brought in so much heart, thrill, and imagination only to be overtaken by unappealing and forgettable movie covers. In any case, the connections between his renderings and audiences are met with a highly admired accomplishment. You will find more life in Struzan's art than within a single movie frame.

For someone who was very timid of the idea of pursuing a career in drawing, this path felt nothing more than a fantasy, a dream job, especially with established artists setting seemingly unreachable standards. Listen, I have always had a knack for drawing since I was a child, but I was afraid of trying to do something. It would be easy for me to withdraw completely. However, it is not within my heart to take that action. Much of the success for Craig Mullins, Drew Struzan and Dave Rapoza were due to their undying dedication to art. Although there are many others that have influenced me to become an artist, these illustrators opened a door for me at what it takes to be an artist. It is through them I have taken pride of my failures and my personal victories. Since then my confidence has shook the very foundation of my insecurities. Doubts no longer hinder my faith on myself; in fact, it fuels me to work even harder. I hope that in my future I can become successful not to bask in its fruits, but to inspire and send every bit of hope into hearts of every artist.