While at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, Karina Colorado took two art classes that opened her eyes and changed her entire perspective.
“I completely fell in love, and I was like ‘This is what I’m gonna do,’” Colorado said.
After a year of studying criminal justice at Chaffey College, Colorado decided to let go of all inhibitions and take a leap of faith to follow her passions by studying studio art.
Before Colorado changed to studio art, she had doubts about the lack of financial security she would face in the future and chose to keep art as a hobby instead of focusing on it as a career.
The two classes inspired the criminal justice major to make the switch into an art major.
“I think it was something I was very, very passionate about, and I still am, but it was just this newfound passion I had never experienced before,” Colorado said.
After realizing Chaffey College didn’t have as many art classes as she wanted, the newly declared art student decided to transfer to Long Beach City College.
Now at LBCC, Colorado has taken a variety of art classes, and even has a piece in the annual student art show.
Colorado’s favorite medium is ink, she loves to create quirky ink portraits full of linework and crosshatching.
She says she hopes to convey her subject’s personality through the lines and shading.
The artist raved about LBCC’s art department and was moved by the program.
“All of my art classes here have been so great, but my favorite would be the one I am taking this semester which is intermediate drawing with Stas. I think he is an amazing professor and he really does let us just run with our imagination, our gut, and I really love that he doesn’t have a lot of limitations,” Colorado said.
When talking about Colorado and her artwork, Intermediate Drawing professor Stanislav Orlovski, preferably known as Stas, said, “In the relatively short time that I have known her, Karina has developed a voice in her work that is confident and fearless. I look forward to seeing how her work evolves and hope that she continues to draw on her personal experience to address issues that are relevant to contemporary culture.”
Colorado’s peers in her art classes enjoy her energy in person and the passion she gives on the canvas.
“Karina’s artwork is fun, creative, and honest. Overall, she’s a great artist and an amazing person to be around,” Karolina Juarez said, Colorado’s roommate and fellow art major.
To see Colorado’s expressive portraits, check out her instagram @inkyqueefs.