Kathryn Westfall (Class of 2021)
Blogger Role: On Campus Art News
Major: Graphic Design
Minor(s): Art History and Business
I chose Marywood because of the small and welcoming campus. I like that I can reach out to professors and they know who I am on a more personal level. I also liked that all the professors have had a job or has a job doing what they are teaching. I think that it helps prepare students for the professional world. On a more aesthetic level, the campus is overall beautiful. During my open house visit when I was doing my college search, I enjoyed all the trees and the outdoor spaces where students can hang out in the warm weather. The buildings are also super nice and fairly new, especially the Learning Commons, even the older buildings are nice. My favorite building on campus is the Insalaco Center for Studio Arts, you can find any type of art class in there with tons of equipment and all the professors are always willing to help. The other part of Marywood that I absolutely love is the rotunda in the Liberal Arts Center. The rotunda is probably the prettiest spot on campus, especially during the winter holidays.
I am majoring in Art because I simply love it. I love how relaxing it can be, but I also enjoy having my boundaries pushed to see what I can do that I’ve never done before. I also like the emotion that can come from artwork and seeing people’s reactions to something I’ve created. I like the satisfaction that comes from knowing that other people like my art, and knowing it resonated with them.
When I’m not in class, I’m usually with my roommates. We like going on adventures, even if the adventure is just to the grocery store. I like going on long drives, with the music blasting, I also like being outside doing pretty much anything, going to the lake, going on hiking trails, ice skating in the winter or swimming in the summer. I also enjoy just lying in bed and watching tv shows. At the moment I’m re-watching How I Met Your Mother for the second time.
So far, my favorite art class at Marywood was 3D Design with Nikki Moser. It was my favorite because I had never taken an art class that focused on 3D artwork, using different materials such as wood, plaster and paper. I liked the variety of materials that we got to use, I also liked that we didn’t have to perfectly construct everything, it focused on making non-representational pieces. Using all the different tools was also great, I was originally scared to do the wood projects because of the machinery we had to use, but those projects turned out to be my favorite.
The coolest thing I’ve done at Marywood so far was the Art Dept bus trips to art museums in New York City and Philadelphia. These trips were great, we got to spend the whole day in New York City and Philadelphia, and we didn’t have to stay at the museums. We got to walk around and explore when we were done in the museums. I liked that because it gave me a chance to really experience the cities and see what else they had to offer. The other great thing about these trips is that there is at least one every semester.
When I graduate, I want to get my master’s degree in Graphic Design to further my knowledge in the field. After that, I haven’t decided exactly where I want to be job wise. I know I most likely want to be in a position where I can focus on branding and creating logos for a number of companies or small businesses. I also want to explore the option of working for non-profit organizations.
I’d recommend the Art program at Marywood because it’s a great place to develop skills and learn new ones. There are so many different types of art classes, using a wide variety of materials and tools. If there’s a specific art material or style students are looking to use or learn, chances are there is a class for it. All the professors are always willing to help and make sure students are learning what they want and doing what they want to be doing. They’re able to critique student’s art work in a way that allows personal style to flourish but also make sure that students are being successful because that is the overall goal.
I’d recommend the Art program at Marywood because it’s a great place to develop skills and learn new ones. There are so many different types of art classes, using a wide variety of materials and tools. If there’s a specific art material or style students are looking to use or learn, chances are there is a class for it. All the professors are always willing to help and make sure students are learning what they want and doing what they want to be doing. They’re able to critique student’s art work in a way that allows personal style to flourish but also make sure that students are being successful because that is the overall goal.