Have you ever found an artist’s work by chance, and then went to go find more of their work? Then, when you keep looking at more and more of their work, each piece just continues to impress you more than the last one? Well, this next student spotlight has definitely had that effect on me. I was first introduced to this student in our shared Introduction to Typography class, and with every critique that has passed, I have become more and more enthralled by their work. I just knew that all of you had to learn about this extraordinary artist! I am pleased and honored to introduce you to…

Elaine Thais Tirado Fernandez

I am majoring in Art because…

It’s always been a defining part of my life. Art has filled my free time, connected me to lifelong friends, and been a way for me to express myself when words spoken aloud couldn’t. When I began to be exposed to fan-made art and animation projects for games like Undertale in middle school, I knew I wanted to take my passion for it more seriously. To be a part of that magic that connected people across the world through one creative thread.

In addition to that, growing up, I’d never seen much representation when it came to people who looked, spoke, or acted like myself. I want to join in on the rising movement to change that. Children deserve to see themselves in what they watch— they deserve to see themselves go on cool adventures, and be the face of the heroes, of the villains. Not just one, the other, or none. It’s why I try to make sure my OCs and the characters I portray reflect the diversity we see in our world. And I want to share that with others. Even when I’m faced with the doubts of not knowing whether I’m making the correct decisions for myself and my future, it’s that fact that brings me back to being glad I chose Illustration as my major. After all, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Art is fun, and I like doing it.

The kinds of things that inspire me are…

Any kind of media I consume. I love seeing intricate works of art and animation (personal favorite of the year being Witch Hat Atelier) and looking into the different artistic choices in them. It doesn’t just have to be the shows or videos I watch, either. It’s also the people around me. To put it very plainly: seeing my friends do cool stuff makes me want to do cool stuff, too. Seeing the lengths those closest to me can to go only reminds me that I, also, can always do more!

My favorite art class so far was…

Painting I with Collier Parker. I’ve enjoyed so many classes that I’ve taken at Marywood already, but that class by far has to have been the most calming (even when the paints refused to cooperate with me). There’s just something inherently therapeutic about letting yourself fall into the routine of just setting up, mixing your pigments, and just painting what you see— especially because most of the time, you don’t have to leave with the worry of having to take a project home. Just coming back to class the next time around and starting the routine all over again. Sometimes, during class, there would be quiet moments where I realize where I am and remember that— yeah, this is why I love making art in the first place. I think that’s really, really special.

When I am not in class…

It’s almost impossible to see me not doing something on my laptop! Whether or not I’m actually doing something productive, well… I plead the fifth. In all seriousness, though, outside of class, I like spending time with my friends, in person and online. I’m a big fan of video games, roleplaying, writing, working on my original characters and stories.

The coolest thing I have done at Marywood so far was…

Being able to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art last semester is definitely up there. Learning about Art History on a slideshow is one thing, but being able to see the works up close is mesmerizing. I also got a pleasant surprise in coming across Taíno art, which is from an indigenous group that inhabited several Caribbean islands, including the Dominican Republic (essentially, my heritage!). If I got the chance, I’d definitely want to go back again and again. The sheer amount of art in it meant that my group was scrambling to see as much as possible, and even then, there was so much we didn’t get to see.

I’ve also started to sell my own stickers, magnets, and gift tags at some of the craft fairs we’ve had here at Marywood. I don’t quite have the branding to call myself a business yet, but it’s in the works! My next stop will hopefully be at the Marywood Holiday Market at the end of this semester. Here are some of my designs:

When I graduate…

I hope to be able to work on children’s storybooks and animations. While the indie animation industry is daunting, I also know some of the most dearest, heartfelt, and imaginative series also come from the freedom of not being constricted by a corporate contract (I think of gorgeous films like Song of the Sea when I say this). I’d also like to consider pursuing a Master’s of Fine Arts program and getting a Certificate for Sequential Storytelling, along with publishing some storybooks of my own.

I would recommend the Art program at Marywood because…

Something I’ve really come to appreciate is that no matter what happens with my professors (though everything has been lovely, fingers crossed), all of them are there because they truly love what they do. It’s clear in the way they teach, too. Being able to learn not only from professionals, but passionate professionals is SO critical for an artist who’s learning to navigate the workforce for the first time. Finding people who will work with you on your level is what will truly get you to progress.

What excites me most about Art is…

Being able to share it with others. Yes, the act of making art, or writing, or any other creative medium is amazing to each and every one of us in this department, but I find that being able to talk about it is always the part I enjoy the most. And I don’t just mean in critiques— talking to a friend about your OCs, telling your parent about a story you made, anything and everything!

What skills, themes, techniques, etc are you focusing on right now in your art?

Recently, for many of my projects, I’ve tried to circle back to themes tied closely to my background whenever possible. By that, I mean elements from St. Thomas, or the Dominican Republic, or Latin American culture in general! At first, it was unintentional, but as the semester progressed, the more I want it to be one of my focuses for this year. After all, if I want to commit to giving children representation in the media they consume, where better to start than representing myself? Also, when it comes to skills, I’ve been trying to familiarize myself more and more with digital art and programs, as I tend to fall back on traditional mediums and sketches a lot.

Are you currently working on any personal projects, and if so, what are they?

Yes! One of the many good things about my 2D Animation class this year is that it’s kickstarted me into the medium (which is always the most difficult part of beginning something new for myself). Earlier in the semester, we had a project where we had to rotoscope one or more clips into a short animation. I chose a pair dancing to “Baile Inolvidable” by Bad Bunny. While the project itself was more of a rough sketch and is long done by now, I plan to work on it as a personal project, as it has to do with original characters of mine and a friend’s. The goal for this one moving forward is to add their features, polish the animation, and add a piece of heartfelt dialogue to the opening of the clip!

How do you balance your time creating art with your time outside of the studio?

Knowing myself and how I work definitely helps. As an artist, only you know where and when you’re the most productive when it comes to your craft. Sometimes, especially when I’ve had a work-heavy day at school, I know I won’t be able to sit down and keep the train going when I get home. In those moments is where I find the opportunities to take a break from creating art, and probably go off to play video games. And if I feel guilty about it— which isn’t uncommon, and is completely normal to feel— I see if I can direct myself toward something I can feel both fun, engaged, and productive about. This is where my friends and my OCs come in VERY handy, as playing while talking about lore or creating character designs on games is still something I consider a creative outlet!

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I am absolutely floored by Elaine and all of her work! Their creativity and expression is just so fascinating. I love how Elaine strives to include so much diversity in her work; it is truly admirable to want to create characters that people from all walks of life and backgrounds can relate and identify with. I thoroughly enjoy that Elaine starts with themself too! Discovering herself and her culture through her own art has genuinely produced some beautiful, heartfelt pieces that will stand the test of time. Elaine’s recollection of painting in Professor Parker’s class is also an absolute delight to read. Sometimes, we all do just need to pick up a brush and start painting again. I know that I feel most myself — perhaps my most artistic — when I let myself get messy with those oil paints. To hear Elaine share such a sentiment brings me so much joy, and perhaps a good deal of fellowship.

Additionally, I simply cannot get over the beautiful pieces Elaine has shown us! The color note painting is a right of passage here at Marywood if you are an art major — or, at least, that’s what it feels like to me. Not only did Elaine complete this right of passage, but she absolutely crushed the assignment. I am just floored by how lovely that color note painting appears. Her other painting, the still-life, is also stunning. Those reflections are just divine, and the color choices meld very well together. Her bug stickers continue to impress me (definitely go to the holiday market and pick one up!! I have one myself and they are even better in person!) I cannot get over how smooth and lively their animation is, and I am still absolutely floored by the ingenuity of her Anatomy of Type project! Using reflections for “As Above,” and “So Below” is unbelievably clever. The use of lineart/stroke for the reflections is a creative way to get the message across while still directing the eye to the right focus points. The drawings of the different insects on this project also work the same way, and add so much visual interest. Overall, I just absolutely am floored by Elaine’s Anatomy of Type project, as well as the rest of their work here.

I hope you have all enjoyed this spotlight on the amazing Elaine Thais Tirado Fernandez! If you are interested in seeing more of their work, you should go to the Zeta Omicron’s annual gallery expo, which will be up for the entirety of November 2026!

Until the next spotlight!

-Rebecca Prowse