Rowan University senior Emily Klassen has gained recognition from the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). Finding the poster of AIGA Philly, Emily Klassen decided to submit her two favorite pieces. Both pieces were given Honorable Mention for AIGA Philly’s Locally Sourced Issue 3. 

“I was incredibly surprised that only three artists from Rowan were accepted, as I hadn’t realized how far the range of work acceptance spanned the mid-Atlantic region. I feel incredibly lucky in the timing of the open call with the recent work I’ve felt proud of,” Klassen said. 

Klassen started off experimenting with all types of art, such as drawings, finger painting, stitching, hand-sewing plushies, and many more, until she realized she wanted to make art a career path. She has been interested in art for over two decades. In looking for art career paths, Klassen looked into children’s book illustration and editorial illustration. 

“My professional focus has started to shift towards editorial illustration, but I’ve been fortunate enough to get to illustrate several children’s books and continue my portrait business in school. Regardless of what specific professional branch I end up pursuing after school, I know that my love for making art is love that can’t burn out,” said Klassen. 

Klassen has found her art is inspired by the real things surrounding her. She enjoys capturing the textures, weight, and personality of realism on paper. Not only by the things that surround her but a specific artist, Edward Hopper has inspired her art and how the art makes someone feel. 

“However, if I were to pick an artist, lately I’ve been very interested in the paintings of Edward Hopper. Without being very detailed, his work flattens people and places them into just the right light-capturing planes; it really feels as though you’re there, standing alone, in that location as you look at his work. While I have a long history of being an artist, my time as a painter has been much more brief, and I hope to study his techniques and color palettes more to use in my own future paintings,” said Klassen.

Despite her great achievements, as an artist and a student at a university, Klassen faces adversity in trying to balance her professional and school work with completing long-term projects. 

“I’ve experienced the consequences of my own poor scheduling in my work, and how it prevents me from creating my best work or presenting my best self to my client, which can be very frustrating for everyone involved. While this is something I’m still working towards balancing better, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my workflow after my first big initial failure, and I feel very grateful to have that experience under my belt while still being a student,” said Klassen. 

As an artist, it can be hard to blend the ability of “art for me” and “art for school.” Klassen has now figured out how to do the things she loves by still following the requirements of an assignment. Art comes with lots of challenges and stressful times where managing jobs can be difficult.

“I’ve also been busy managing several portrait and illustration jobs and their respective timelines, which is always a bit stressful. Outside of schoolwork or commissions, though, art is a lot less formal for me. Maybe it’s a doodle on scrap paper or a color test on my iPad, but usually nothing I’m thinking too hard about. It’s often very short-term, and just a quick visual of something on my mind at the time. I hope to make more long-term ‘passion projects’ once I’ve graduated when my flexible school assignments disappear and my daily routine splits into free time and less personal work,” said Klassen. 

Even though being a successful artist, Klassen explains how she spends more time completing her projects than letting others know about her work. Klassen struggles with trying to promote herself and expand her circle. Having great advice from the Rowan University art department, she is starting to get out of her bubble to get her work out there. Klassen looks forward to connecting with new people and becoming proactive during her last year at Rowan University. 

“I really appreciate all of the advice from the art department’s faculty that actively work in their artistic fields outside of the classroom, but I struggle with feeling like my self-promotions are reaching new people outside of my typical client cycle.  I’m really looking forward to connecting with new people involved with the AIGA publication at its launch event, as I think it’ll be an incredible opportunity to expand my circle and meet other artists and like-minded people that I wouldn’t have otherwise known to reach out to on my own. I’ll definitely be making an effort this year to try and get my work out there in similar opportunities, and not shy away from those open doors,” Klassen said. 

Being in the art world for over a decade, Klassen has experienced all the ups and downs of the art industry. Now she is continuing her last year here at Rowan University and is staying mindful of her responsibilities and drawing silly designs to let off steam with all the stress that comes with doing the things you love. Her advice for other artists out there is to let others see your work and have the ability to take criticism. Being a part of the professional art industry is all about gaining and maintaining relationships to expand your web. 

“My biggest advice to any artist specifically hoping to grow in their skill or their audience is simply to share it, to allow your work and yourself as an artist to take criticism, and to keep getting back up. It’s terribly corny, but you’re not going to find work if you don’t let anyone see what you create. Make what feels true to you, but allow others with more experience to give you that information that you don’t know yet, as it will take your skills to new heights and give you what you need to survive in the field. It’s scary, and not everyone is going to understand your specific vision.  Still, you won’t find the people that do if you aren’t out there looking for them, so just keep looking and growing,” said Klassen.

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