Hello! My name is Avi. I’m a Graphic Designer, and currently studying at Syracuse University to earn a degree in Design Studies.
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always loved art. Every weekend my older brother and I would pull out a box of Play-Doh, clean off the kitchen table, and invent creatures together. In school, I drew comic strips featuring me and my friends. Over the summer, I would attend the art camps run by the nearby community college (I eventually attended all of the ones they offered). As I got older, my art supplies of choice were canvases, brushes, and acrylic paint. By middle school, I had developed my own cartoon drawing style.
When I started 9th grade, I experienced a difficult transition- new people, harder classwork, and longer school days. I made myself at home in the Fabrications Lab, the brand new fully-stocked art room and workshop at my high school. The Fab Lab had pottery, painting, woodworking, and even a laser cutter and a 3D printer. The art teacher welcomed me, gave me access to the materials and machinery, and taught me advanced art techniques. I went there every day and even helped the teacher work on side projects.
A few months later, the world shut down thanks to the Covid pandemic. My school moved online and I was on Zoom all day, every day, but I felt very isolated at home. There was no escaping to the Fab Lab anymore, no chatting with the art teacher, and no more throwing clay on the pottery wheel. Scrolling Instagram late one night, I saw videos of strangers drawing their iPads. I wondered if there was a way to make art with my computer. Dozens of art apps appeared within seconds after a quick internet search.
With just a few clicks, I could draw anything – it was like having my own art studio with a limitless supply of materials. Over the next couple of months, I found myself drawing online during every free minute. My inspiration and creativity came back, I felt happier while drawing on the computer, and soon enough, I started to share my drawings with friends. I felt less alone, but it wasn’t enough. I taught myself how to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and kept drawing. When in-person school started again the following year, I took digital art classes to practice and get better. In 12th grade, I was a teacher aide for the new digital art teacher we got that year.
Now that I’m studying graphic design and digital art in college, I’m learning more about art than ever. I hope to pursue a career in graphic design after graduation, and I am currently trying to earn experience in the Design field during the summer.