#final projects

Part of a series of final projects for Ringling College of Art + Design.

First-year Illustration major Saige Libertore was especially impressed with Romantic Gothicism in Arts in Context, especially that expressed in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Christabel.” This demonic tale of seduction told in verse features two female characters, the protagonist Christabel and the mysterious Geraldine. As you can see in Saige’s illustration, Geraldine is figured as the blond haired woman whose reflection shows her to be a snake. She chose an etching style and hoped to convey the drama in most gothic art. It sure seems like a snake about to strike is pretty dramatic! 

Part of my series of final projects at Ringling College of Art + Design.

For her final project in Classical Mythology in Literature, Art, and Music, 3rd-year Illustration major Erin Colleran decided to give Medusa a makeover to emphasize the gorgon as a “warrior baddass.” As Colleran wrote in her pitch, “She was once beautiful, and still is, though she has taken on more snakelike charms.” The outfit as designed above is intended to show her strength through armor. Her mid-section looks like a cross between a Greek gown and reptilian armor. Her main inspiration came from the work of Thierry Mulger. I can imagine this design actually being used in film or animation. 

Part of my series of final projects at Ringling College of Art + Design.

Graduating Motion Design senior Thomas Eyester created what he calls “Roboedipus” – a reconceptualization of Oedipus as a robot made of bronze, copper, unpolished gold, and polished iron. Tommy said he wanted to convey the fundamentally artificial form of Oedipus’s sorrow and suffering as was discussed in Classical Mythology in Literature, Art and Music. Here we see Oedipus’s blinding (top), his descent into Hades (middle), and his blind shame (bottom). Pretty dramatic stuff!

Part of a series of final projects at Ringling College of Art + Design.

Like many students in Classical Mythology in Literature, Art, and Music, 3rd year Illustration student Andrea Espinosa (aka countandi) sought to disrupt the idea of Medusa as an ugly monster. For a series titled “Medusa in Manhattan,” Andi envisioned Medusa as beautiful with a boyfriend named Charlie. Even the heroic myth is flipped: Perseus is a bounty hunter that mercilessly pursues her when “all she wants is some peace and quiet in her life.” I think this project has serious potential. Andi stated, “I got inspired for this due to how villainized Medusa tends to be in most fiction nowadays […] Perseus is the jerk here and it’d be nice for the little weasel to get off her back, especially when she finally found a chance for love and is turning over a new leaf.” Rock on, Andi!

Part of my series of final projects for Ringling College of Art + Design.

Graduating senior in Photography and Digital Imaging Alyxandra Llano decided to convey Persephone’s descent into Hades for her final project in Classical Mythology in Literature, Art and Music. She stated that she was inspired by Stravinsky’s Perséphoneand Rebecca Litchfield’s series Underworld Realm. Her goal was to make Hades’ realm “beautiful yet somber” and to show Persephone’s sense of longing. I think she succeeded.

Part of a series of final projects at Ringling College of Art + Design.

Fourth year Graphic and Interactive Communications student Greg Mako decided to turn the myth of Medusa into a concept for a high-end hair salon for his final project in Classical Mythology in Literature, Art and Music. He stated that he wanted the branding and design to be fun enough that people would want to come visit rather than being terrified of it. My favorite detail here is how the branding works inside his salon.