Artist of the Week: Reilly Kenney

What do you like about graphic design?

“Honestly what I like about it is that it projects information you announce to people in a different and creative way. I think it’s really cool when people see my posters in the halls or ask me to do something cool to their information. It also has made me develop future plans that go around graphic design and help build a portfolio for future careers and college choices. 

How much time do you dedicate to your art?

“It depends on which one, the longest time I’ve spend on a project is probably around 12-13 hours total because I have to work on it for so long if I’m making it for someone else and they want me to change things in the art. sometimes I have to restart if they don’t like it. It takes a process to have the person like it the way it is to call it complete.”

What other art forms are you involved in in your life?

“One of my absolute favorite art forms is music. It has taught me so many life skills and helped me encourage myself to work with a team, like a choir, to produce amazing outcomes. That’s what I also learned in graphic design, is that not one person can just make an outstanding piece. Sometimes I asked friends who also have an eye for design to see what I can add or change to make my projects better. “

What are some things you create your art for?

“Mostly the digital art has mostly been for posters and schools projects for certain events. Most of my projects are for the Theater Department of East when there’s a show or performance coming up. I’ve more recently been doing album covers to people. 

How do you come up with your ideas?

“Sometimes I have the idea I want to do at the top of my head, but then other times it’s a little bit harder so I usually go to Pinterest and look around for stuff that I like. I also have a full folder I dedicate to inspiration for graphic design separately. But most of my ideas is by looking at other art and seeing what I can do with it and twisting it to be a design that looks like my work.”

Have you done any other art besides graphic design?

“Not as recently but in the past I’ve done other art before, but most of the time I spend on art is more graphic design than anything else. When we were still in school I was doing more physical art to enhance my abilities, but I mostly use my time to work on my graphic designs than anything else .”

What has been your favorite project to work on?

“My absolute favorite piece is my friend, Aggie’s album cover for her new single. The recording label didn’t use it but it was really cool to see what I came up with from her lyrics and her personality. It’s fun to do projects that other people are getting so your art spreads around the community. So the cover was definitely a fun thing to do for one of my best friends and to help build my graphic design skills into like actual job-like scenario.” 

Are you going to pursue your art in any way?

“In a way I am going to pursue my art. I have a lot of my past work in a portfolio I’m building towards architecture school. I’m going to have to be using art in that field so It’s really going to help strengthen my application for the future.”