Editor’s Note: This is the sixth installment of The Penn’s Arts on Campus column.
“Art is my form of meditation,” said Kayla Check (senior, graphic design/illustration), the focus of this week’s Arts on Campus highlight.
As her major suggests, her specialty is graphic design, but she is not restricted by one medium.
“I feel my art form is an amalgamation of many different styles,” said Check.
One medium outside of graphic design that she loves is oil painting.
“I absolutely love to paint portraits in oil paint. I adore graphic design, but painting is just one way for me to unleash my creativity onto a psychical canvas,” said Check. “It is something I do to wind down after a long day, whether it’s a commission or personal project.”
In college, sometimes people struggle with knowing what career path to take. Because of her love for art, Check knows what direction she’s headed.
“I don’t think I’ve ever got sick of creating, it’s the one thing I always look forward to,” said Check. “Even being in school and potentially working with this medium the rest of my life I know I will forever love being an artist.”
Check’s artistic process follows a formula. She begins with a sketch that then becomes a more detailed drawing and eventually builds up from there.
“I usually have about 10 ‘preliminary’ drawings and pick the one that I connect to the most,” said Check.
As is the case with many artists, Check has a favorite piece that she’s created.
“My favorite artwork is titled “By the Sea” which features a cat with a human body standing on a ship in the middle of the sea. The cat being fitted with a bright orange life vest compliments the blue sea behind,” said Check. “It is by far my favorite piece I’ve ever done, due to the more “surreal” nature of it. I have used this painting in a few of my graphic design projects [and] works as I just can’t get enough of it.”
When thinking of graphic design people often think of mediums such as advertising. The perception with advertising is that it lacks the same creativity as other art forms but Check always makes sure to sneak some of her own personal style into her designs.
“I absolutely love the surreal and macabre, especially things that look real enough yet aren’t,” said Check. “Even with graphic design I can sneak in some of that style within. It is my way of expressing my own style.”
Expression of her personal style is one way that Check processes the stress and emotion of everyday, college life. For many people, their major serves as a source of stress but for Check art is both her major and her outlet.
“Art is my happy place. When I create everything else is on pause, whether it is a painting, digital work, or a random project I picked up,” said Check. “It is my own personal space that I can go to release emotions or thoughts.”
Check’s graphic design specialties lie in advertising related projects, which aligns with her minor in marketing. Her portfolio contains several advertising pieces in the style of LEGO and The North Face advertisements, and she hopes to go into advertising design after her time at IUP.
“My main goal is to get into a position as an art director at some point in my life,” said Check.
Check’s art can be found on Instagram, @kaychck, and her full portfolio of recent work can be found on her website kaychck.com.