Hi I'm TJ
I'm a Central American Xican@, Communication Designer & Multi-Media Artist, born & raised in Berkeley CA.
Education
California state university Northridge
Art Major, working on a BA degree, with a Communication Design Concentration & Central American studies emphasis in my general ed.
2016-2021
Arts & Humanities Academy (AHA)
Visual & Performing arts academy at Berkeley High School, the curriculum is based on a modern renaissance artist interdisciplinary practice with emphasis on studio art. I worked mainly digitally whenever possible or in the darkroom, and when in studio loved to sculpt.
2012-2016
The Oxbow School
A one semester intensive interdisciplinary art program based in Napa California. I attended during the spring of my junior year of high school in 2015. I did not complete the program, as I had to withdrew halfway through the program for medical reasons.
2015
MY WORK
Case Studies
I've taken my studio art background and used it as the main inspiration for my personal design style. Which like in my studio practice, varies based on the medium I've used. Not defined by a single style my work is adaptive and changes depending on the programs used for a project or for its elements.
Other Art
I've taken my studio art background and used it as the main inspiration for my personal design style. Which like in my studio practice, varies based on the medium I've used. Not defined by a single style my work is adaptive and changes depending on the programs used for a project or for its elements.
I use my studio work as stock imagery whenever possible. Often I use studio work as a starting point for designs. Either using my own photography, hand mixing paints to get custom colors, constructing visual elements for designs or, even to finish digital designs using analog methods.
How I Started
I got my start working with my local communities. During high school I worked with the Berkeley YMCA teen center, and then with U.C. Berkeley Chicano Latin@ Student development, to develop resource guides for high school students. As well as teaching photoshop courses to other teens while with the YMCA, and working on any digital art necessary for CLSD events.
I also helped lead and was part of many fan run street teams for pop-punk musicians most notably groups like The Relapse Symphony whose fan bases grew over 100 times in size while I was leading their promotion.
Growing their audience from 200 to 20,000 fans just in my street team promoting them, which was enough to get them onto the vans warped tour.
I currently still do some work with musicians but have mainly shifted my focused onto University course work the last few years.