Jarazmin Ibarra
Artist Statement
I am Jarazmin Ibarra, a commuter student who for the past 3 years, never once let the distance of 60+ miles separate me from my love of creating. I best express my artistic vision through a diverse range of digital mediums, primarily Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe XD, and Krita. As for my artistic identity, it is best described as two distinctive facets. On one hand, there is the playful and carefree side of me that enjoys creating illustrations. The younger me was able to develop my love for traditional and digital art. These artworks are not just a personal passion but also a way of sharing my enjoyment of a subject and bringing entertainment to others. On the other, the older me, where my work embraces a more serious and purposeful approach. I channel my creativity into designing flyers, social media posts, and promotional materials that serve as powerful communication tools for my current job. My new purpose is meant to inform, inspire, and connect our audience with valuable resources. While this side of my work may appear distinct from my playful illustrations, I see them as two sides of the same coin.
I'm passionate about bridging these seemingly different worlds by combining my informative knowledge with illustrative graphics. I also find satisfaction in brightening the days of others through my art, and I believe that creativity should be a source of fulfillment for both the creator and the viewer. Through this belief, I know I can find a common ground that will bring people together, spark curiosity, and foster a sense of connection.
To achieve this, I embrace my creative process. Most of my work consists of talking out my ideas to myself or a plushie. Similar to how programmers have their coding duck. It helps confirm the objective or message of my project to myself. This step leads to research and brainstorming for when words are just not enough to explain my train of thought. Then comes my favorite part, mood-boards. I love seeing colors, their relationship with each other, and the emotions they evoke when working together. This step also helps me figure out my typography and color selections. With my trusty tablet, I can sketch on the go, a habit I developed with my limited free time available. Though not a fan of it at first, I now use it as an opportunity to see inspiration in the real world and in action. After finalizing my design, I love hearing other’s thoughts on it, something that I have also learned to enjoy through my work environment. It opens me to new possibilities and forms connections to others.
