By Cinara Marquis
Whether it’s for a birthday, a holiday or just a random act, making gifts has always been Angelic Fajardo Feliciano’s favorite way to give.
“You’ve never really lived unless you’ve pulled an all-nighter the day before making a gift,” Fajardo Feliciano said.
It means more to Fajardo Feliciano when a gift is made by hand. She also finds it cheaper and more enjoyable as compared to buying one.
Fajardo Feliciano’s art has always been greatly influenced by her family. The gifts that she makes have allowed her to explore her creativity and find inspiration in everything.
“It’s an artist’s eye thing, where if you see something, it hits you and you get inspired. When there’s something about a scene, or the way light is hitting a certain object, the color, it could be anything really,” Fajardo Feliciano said.
Making many gifts has allowed her to hone her art skills, too.
“I’ve always had a knack for art. I was self-taught as a kid and always drawing little doodles in my sketchbook,” Fajardo Feliciano said.
Fajardo Feliciano explained that she loves everything about art, especially charcoal and watercolor, because of the freedom they give her.
“I love that I can do whatever I want with it,” Fajardo Feliciano said. “I love how expressive you can get with charcoal. And I like building up layers with watercolor to see what colors you get. It looks fancy and I like that.”
Portraiture has always attracted Fajardo Feliciano, so she mainly creates works depicting human faces and bodies, which is reflected in her gifts. She also enjoys the still lifes she does in art class.
Fajardo Feliciano was a bachelor of fine arts student before the program was closed. Now she is a senior in the bachelor of arts program.
Due to the arts department at SUNY Plattsburgh being understaffed, the BFA program was put on pause late in 2023. The BFA differs from the BA program in that students pick a concentration in an art medium and build their expertise in that particular area.
While the BA concentrations require four classes in a certain discipline, the BFA requires seven. It is this rigorous coursework that attracted Fajardo Feliciano to the program.
“I’m upset about it,” she said. “I came here from Puerto Rico specifically for the BFA.”
Despite the program’s pause, Fajardo Feliciano still finds another space for creativity. The Plattsburgh Association of the Visual Arts, a SUNY Plattsburgh club for art experts and beginners alike, has allowed her to be more involved in art.
Through PAVA, she gives the gifts of art and inspiration to her peers by helping organize events and manage the club. She is currently the secretary of PAVA and is excited about the club as well as her upcoming graduation.
Visit the Bachelor of Arts gallery at the Myers Art Museum to see Angelic Fajardo Feliciano’s and others’ exhibition.
Find out more about the Plattsburgh Association of the Visual Arts at https://rb.gy/pyte04.
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