William Vangbo

I’m William Vangbo and I’m currently majoring in Computer Science. I enjoy drawing, painting, and reading. I derive joy from engaging with and discussing art in all of the various forms it can take, from literature, to movies, to visual pieces. Most of my visual work is shaped and inspired by the natural world. I come from Longmont, Colorado.

Artist Statement:

The first piece paints a path between two flowering bushes. The process of making this piece involved digitally integrating several different textures, many of which came from unexpected places. The vertical bars in the final piece come from a modified photo of torn cardboard. Continuously adding texture throughout the digital painting process allowed the bushes to feel alive. Just as plants grow on top of each other, blocking each other from view, in nature, here the textures and color weave through one another.

The second piece depicts a small snapshot of a forest being lit up by sunlight. Many of my favorite pieces of art, across different mediums, have explored humanity’s relationship to nature by depicting a contrast between the natural and the human. This piece shows a natural environment standing on its own. The forest floor is highlighted, as if to draw attention to something that should stand there, but there is nothing there for us to project onto. There are only objects we consider inanimate.