Gabby DeMarchi/The Student
A&E Editor
It is pretty well known that Springfield College is greatly recognized for its science programs. Majors such as athletic training, physical therapy, physician assistant and applied exercise science are all extremely popular on this campus.
It is the lesser-known majors here at SC that really seem to strike the interest of people. Majors such as dance, art therapy and computer graphics are not as widely recognized on campus, but the students that are majoring in these subjects are extremely creative, talented and intelligent members of the SC community.
From Nov. 30 through Dec. 16, Katherine Livingston, a graduate art therapy major, and James Howell, a senior computer graphics major, will have their work displayed at the William Blizzard Art Gallery.
Howell, a conflicted soul who wanted to be involved creatively with computers, ultimately chose to further his studies in computer graphics.
“I’ve always had an interest in art, but I [originally] pursued a major in IT instead,” said Howell. “After awhile, I decided that I wanted something a little more fun and creative. I didn’t want to stray from the computer world either. When you mix art with computers, you get computer graphics.”
Once Howell figured out what he wanted to do with his college career, the Minnechaug Regional High graduate looked for a school close to home that could give him the best education in computer graphics, especially 3-D art.
“I wanted to commute and Springfield College was the closest college with a good computer graphics program,” Howell said. “I’m glad I chose it. I really like the computer graphics department and all my professors.”
After absorbing and learning as much as he could, it was time for the senior to put together everything he had learned into a final project.
“There was one animation I saw a while back that finally made me make the switch from [the] IT major to computer graphics. The animation was three cars racing. I was very impressed by it. After I learned a bit about 3-D modeling, one of the first models I practiced with was a car.”
After Howell continued to learn the art of 3-D animation, he decided for his final project that he would model three 3-D cars, two of which were his own design.
“I had three still shots of the cars to hang on the wall, but I also made a ‘how it’s made’ type of video, which showed the process from sketches to final renders.”
While the project was a challenge for the senior, Howell agrees that he learned a lot throughout the process.
“It was a challenge for me to complete this project with the knowledge I had of 3-D software. I feel there were many things I could have improved on if I had more experience, but I learned a lot during the process, and overall I’m satisfied with the results.”
The final project has also opened Howell’s eyes, and his main goal after college is to now become an environment artist for either video games or movies.
Livingston, another student artist currently being featured at the Blizzard Art Gallery, took a different approach with her final project.
The graduate art therapy major captured a series of images that show her visual cleansing of the past two and a half years.
“I wanted to honor the places, person and gentle spirits that continue to keep me grounded by incorporating them into my tactile fascination with stone,” said Livingston. “The images capture a moment in time.”
Livingston, who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts at Eastern Connecticut State University, will graduate from SC’s Master of Science Clinical Art Therapy program Magna Cum Laude this December.
Both Livingston and Howell have put a great deal of time and commitment into their work, and it has certainly paid off. Make sure to check out their work at the William Blizzard Art Gallery from now until Dec. 16.