Brianna Pensak (Class of 2022)
Blogger Role: Photography
Major: Photography
Minor: Undeclared
I chose Marywood because of how I felt the moment I stepped onto campus when I went to visit. I walked into the Liberal Arts Center and looked up at the top of the rotunda I knew I made the right choice to visit Marywood University. As my tour of campus continued I could picture myself attending classes and creating art through out campus.
I am majoring in Art because I couldn’t see myself working in any other field. It took me a while to make this decision because not many people supported it but, in the end, I knew that it was the best field for me to be working in. I started taking pictures when I was a little girl, but I never expected to make a living off of it until I started playing around with my Mom’s Nikon Camera. After that I started to think about the photographs I was taking instead of just taking photographs without a second guess. I got my own camera and never looked back, I started to apply to colleges that had art degrees, I ended choosing Marywood University to further my education, and I started to take photographs as Brianna, the photographer knowing that’s what I would become after continuing my education.
When I’m not in class, I can be found on my family’s farm, both on my Mom and Dad’s side of the family, walking around and taking pictures of the various animals and nature that are out and about on the farm the same time I am. Farming is a big part of who I am, so it’s what I take a lot of photographs of because I’m always there. When I’m not in class or on the farm I can be found hanging out with my friends, editing photographs, or reading a good book with a cup of coffee and a warm blanket when its cold and raining out.
My Favorite Classes so far have been my studio classes. I have enjoyed every studio class that I have taken so far, as they have helped me become a better artist, but two classes stick out for me. One class is Advanced Black and White Photography, in this class I got to work with a 4×5 film camera. I learned a lot as I never worked with film before, all my photographs were digital. I learned how to develop the film, then develop the photograph in the darkroom throughout the semester. The other class that stuck out for me was Computer Graphics 1. In this class we were taught the basics of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. I was once again a student who hadn’t worked with these programs before so I learned a lot.
The coolest thing I’ve done so far was having one of my photographs in the Art Department’s Foundation Year Exhibition. I never had my work hung in an exhibition before, just around my high school hallways. By having my work hung in the exhibit I gained more confidence as an artist, because my work was special enough to be hung and viewed by the Marywood University Community.
When I graduate I hope to find work as a studio photographer. I am open to the idea of working with other studio photographers, but eventually I want to open my own photography studio. I am no rush to open my own studio, I want to be able to learn from fellow photographers in person. Everyone is different and I think it would be beneficial to see how others work, so I am able to see what works for them and what will work for me through trial and error.
I’d recommend the Art program and Marywood because its formed me into the artist I am today. As a student you are pushed to become the best artist that you could possibly be in all fields. As an art student you have certain art classes that you have to take before you dive into art classes that are solely your major. This helped me become a well rounded artist because I was pushed to do my very best when I didn’t believe in myself. I was pushed to my limit in my drawing classes because I never drew, I only took photographs so I struggled greatly. My professor didn’t let me struggle though, he was there to help me become the artist that he knew I could be. Every professor in the art department wants you to succeed as an artist, they believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself.
