Mila Elash (Class of 2026)
Blogger Role: On Campus Art News
Major: Illustration
Minor(s): Graphic Design, Animation
I chose Marywood because of their Illustration program which offers a great balance between traditional and digital art. As a student athlete I also wanted to attend somewhere that offered art and soccer. Marywood not only offers both but encourages and supports their athletes and students academically. This can be seen at Marywood’s Office of Student Success which contains multiple resources to assist students. Another reason I chose Marywood is because the art faculty are experienced and supportive of their students. This attitude is aided by having a smaller number of students in each class (currently a 11:1 Student to Faculty Ratio), allowing for professors to focus on students individually.
I am majoring in Art because it has been my goal to be an artist since fourth grade. This sounds quite early to most people, how could a ten year old possibly know their future career path? In reality, I could never envision myself in any other setting. I enjoy illustrating characters and bringing people’s ideas to life. I took a three year detour into graphic design at a vocational school during high school; and while I cannot see myself pursuing graphic design full time there is a lot of overlap and knowledge to be gained from exploring various mediums. This is why I am minoring in graphic design.
When I’m not in class, you can find me hanging out with my friends around campus. We all enjoy partaking in activities offered by Marywood’s various clubs and organizations. This could range from participating in goat therapy, eagerly awaiting bingo events, or exploring the art galleries on campus. You can also come across me playing for our women’s soccer team on our turf field. I am one of our team’s goalkeepers and I am proud to contribute to a hardworking environment both on and off the field. Go Pacers!
So far, my favorite art class at Marywood was digital design with professor Sue Jenkins. I was able to brush up on my Adobe skills and learn new tools. One of my favorite projects in the class consisted of designing a soda brand, can, and advertisement. Even more, I enjoyed the collaborative effort that took place in class through the form of art critiques. Critiques are a great way to receive feedback from peers and are carried out in most art classes.
The coolest thing I’ve done at Marywood so far was partake in Flapjack Fest. This is a regular event close to the end of each semester that includes free pancakes and activities for students prior to final exams. It was a great chance to socialize with friends before break and relax. My friends and I even got a caricature done during the event!
When I graduate I hope to go into Marywood’s MFA program for illustration. My goal from there is to become a freelance illustrator within the gaming industry. A lot of my art is focused around character concepts and I want to reinforce the usage of diverse characters in any storytelling I engage in.
I’d recommend the Art program at Marywood because even though my academic career here has just started I can already see the opportunity for my growth not only as an artist but as an individual. The artist support not only from faculty but the surrounding community is something I have found to be few and far between. Scranton PA has a monthly art walk event called First Friday Scranton which falls on the first Friday of every month. During this event, artists from the community, including students from Marywood, hold open galleries to exhibit their work and share with visitors. This is a great way to be engaged with the community and display or even sell your art! I am looking forward to showing my work for this event in the future.