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[keeghancummings]

For my final project, I chose to incorporate two of my favorite lessons from the semester: Futurism and Impressionism.

Before I began, I brainstormed ideas related to the future of energy transformation and efficiency, which relates to the lesson on Futurism. In one of my other classes, we discussed fusion energy extensively. While it is still far from being a widespread, usable source of power, there have been some exciting developments. Just a few months ago, China reportedly ran a fusion reactor for about 17 minutes, surpassing the U.S., which had previously only sustained one for under two minutes. This current event inspired the fusion reactor design featured in my artwork, connecting directly to the theme of Futurism.

The second lesson I incorporated was Impressionism. I particularly enjoyed exploring how to depict motion in my work. To emphasize movement in the dotted areas, I used a broken Q-tip to drag lines through the paint. I applied this same technique at the core of the fusion reactor, creating the longer red lines you see in the piece. I also tried to show movement with those longer red lines by having them seem like they loop around the center of the reactor. I also wanted to experiment with complementary colors, so I included red and green, yellow and purple, and blue and orange pairings throughout the composition. I have really enjoyed this class, and it has been a long time since I picked up a paintbrush, and this was the first time I created something outside of the typical classroom time constraints.

China’s “Artificial Sun” Breaks Record

Good news for nuclear fusion: China’s Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak recently beat its own record, containing H-mode plasma f

[keeghancummings]

For my Puppetry homework, I created a puppet named Steve using a recycled water bottle and various other reused materials. Steve’s cowboy hat is made from a paper towel roll, and inside his body is a chocolate bar wrapper, which adds both a pink color theme and some visual depth. I drew his face with a Sharpie and gave him arms made from clean Q-tips (don’t worry—they were unused!). To highlight his facial features, I wrapped pink confetti around his lower half. Finally, I used some old party string to suspend Steve and make him mobile. Steve has an outgoing personality and loves to socialize with friends, as shown by his bold and playful outfit—especially his signature cowboy hat.

[connermckenna]

For my puppet, I used an old Celsius can for the body. I then punctured holes in it with a pencil to use for the arms and legs. For the arms, I broke a pencil in half and inserted each half, and for the legs, I used 2 mechanical pencils. For the head, I found an old, torn-up stuffed animal and took the head. I used thumbtacks to keep it in place. I made it mobile by attaching a sweatshirt string under each arm and a key lanyard on the back, and taped those to a folder to keep it stable and able to move. Its name is Jackson because it loves to be in action and move around, hence the Wii Sports music.

[keeghancummings]

For my Surrealism Project, I decided to make some shoes/flip flops from a depleted cereal box! I thought of this idea as I was taking out the garbage for my family and saw the perfectly in tacked cereal box in the recyclables. I had my little brother, Pierce, model for me. Forgive his appearance, he had just gotten home from work!

[keeghancummings]

For my Futurism Assignment I decided to take a look at the BMW I Vision Dee. The BMW i Vision Dee is a futuristic concept car that pushes the boundaries of what we expect from vehicle design and interaction. One of its most exciting features is its ability to change colors—up to 32 different shades—including the wheels, allowing drivers to match the car to their outfit or mood. But it’s not just about looks. The car also has a digital interface that displays facial expressions through its front grille and headlights, making it feel more like a smart companion than just a mode of transportation. This innovation points toward a future where cars are highly personalized, emotionally responsive, and deeply integrated into our digital lives. LINK: https://parametric-architecture.com/bmw-i-vision-dee-can-even-change-color-to-match-your-outfit/

[keeghancummings]

This is my Cubism assignment!

[keeghancummings]

For this project, I chose to draw my friend Carter. He has a really unique personality—he’s outgoing and energetic, but also has a calm, thoughtful side. He’s the kind of person who brings a fun, light-hearted energy into the room, while also being someone you can have a deep conversation with. This is represented in his various roles in SGA, BonaBuddies, Student Teaching, and many others.

I used orange to represent his creative spirit and upbeat personality. Blue and light blue show his calmness and steady presence—he has a way of making people feel at ease. I added pink to reflect his kindness and sense of humor, and purple to show the deeper, more introspective part of him that not everyone sees right away.

I also experimented with markers for this project, which helped me lean into bold colors and expressive lines—perfect for capturing Carter’s energetic aura in a Fauvist style. Instead of focusing on realism, I let the colors tell the story of who he is.

[keeghancummings]

For my Impressionist assignment, I chose the iconic David Ortiz walk-off home run in the 2004 ALCS MLB game that kept the Red Sox alive against the Yankees. This was a crucial moment for the Red Sox and remains one of the most famous moments in the team’s history. I selected this moment because I am an avid baseball fan, and the Red Sox are my favorite team. This particular moment stood out to me because, even in extra innings, David Ortiz persevered for his team—something I believe carries a great message for life.

[keeghancummings]

For my midterm project, I chose the infamous Break the Internet photo featuring Kim Kardashian. The photo captures her popping a champagne bottle over her head, with the champagne arching perfectly into a glass balanced on—well, her clearly distorted behind. To be honest, I’m not very engaged with influencers or social media. So one night, I asked my friends what came to mind when I described the project’s outline. One of them immediately mentioned this photo, and I realized I had seen it before, and so I decided to run with it!

What struck me most—intellectually rather than emotionally—was the seemingly physics-defying nature of the image. The champagne flows in a perfect arc without spilling on her, and balancing a glass like that seems, to put it mildly, improbable. On an emotional level, I suppose I found it amusing. I believe Kim Kardashian plays a significant role in shaping young adults' perceptions—particularly young women—about body image and social behavior. This photo reinforces not only physical ideals but also economic aspirations. She is dressed in a sleek, presumably expensive gown, adorned with pearls that symbolize wealth, and indulging in a drink often associated with affluence.

Looking ahead, I think photo editing will continue to evolve, especially with the rise of generative AI. I’ve noticed an increase in AI-powered editing tools that allow users to "enhance" their appearance with just a single photo upload—no manual adjustment required. The accessibility and sophistication of these tools will likely further shape societal beauty standards in ways we have yet to fully understand.

[keeghancummings]

I chose Tyler's and AJ's work as inspiration for my own. In both of their pieces, I noticed they used red and green as complementary colors, along with thick lines to convey these colors effectively. I also observed a conceptual connection between the two artworks. Both Tyler and AJ incorporated male faces into their designs and created their own pants as part of their outfits.

This inspired my work, as I incorporated horizontal lines similar to those in AJ's artwork, along with more vertical and irregular lines reminiscent of Tyler's style. Like their pieces, my lines were red and green, reflecting the influence of these two artists. Additionally, I chose a male model for my design, as I was inspired by their use of male figures in their work.

[katelynrokitka]

I used purple and yellow as my complimentary color combination background. The outfit that I created uses a flower bed for a skirt, quilt for the top, crayons for the shoes, and a kangaroo as the person wearing my outfit. I believe that the flowers and quilt embody the color scheme of yellow and purple since they are very spring time colors. The kangaroo represents nature found when spring arises.

[caitlynclements30]

Here is my final piece for Assignment 2. The complementary color combination I chose was blue-orange. The background is definitely more on the orderly side vs chaos.

My fashion design outfit was taken from a National geographic magazine. There was an article on butterflies that inspired a lot of the outfit. All of the orange on the outfit came from cutouts of flowers in the magazine. The magazine also had an article titled "by nature's design" which seemed fitting for the assignment.

[keeghancummings]

Fashion Outfit

For my Formal Elements assignment, I initially decided to experiment with yellow and purple—complementary colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Wanting to try a different art medium, I picked up some paint supplies from the store and had fun exploring with them. It had been a while since I last painted, and I found the process surprisingly therapeutic. I created a chaotic look by drawing random lines, dots, and splatters.

For my actual outfit, I was limited to using only feminine clothing from my magazines, so I embraced the challenge. The outfit includes a furry tan hat, a tan sweater with a diamond pattern around the neckline, black skinny jeans, and black boots. I also added a brown purse. The duct tape in the bottom right corner caught my attention, reminding me of how I sometimes throw together an outfit without much thought—almost like "duct taping" it together in the morning. In the top left corner, I included an image of a dog holding socks in its mouth, a playful nod to my own dogs, who love pulling the same prank on me at home.

[keeghancummings]

Album Cover Art

My artwork is inspired by Kanye West’s album Graduation, my favorite song from Kanye West’s Graduation album is I Wonder. I took inspiration from this album due to my upcoming graduation in May.

My artwork reflects the emotional journey of a graduating college student. The central figure, a dull-shaded sheep, symbolizes a recent graduate grappling with anxiety, sadness, and nervousness as they step into the so-called “real world”. These feelings are demonstrated by the, once again, dull grey color of the sheep. I reinterpreted Kanye’s theme of a college dropout into the perspective of a college graduate facing the uncertainty of what comes next. The question mark beside the sheep emphasizes this feeling of doubt, while the bottom right corner—filled with chaotic shapes and patterns—represents college, and the overwhelming nature of the college experience. The sheep is being launched from college, which is what it may seem like for a college graduate who is mentally unprepared for the life after college.

At the top of my piece, a house serves as a personal symbol of St. Bonaventure, with the cross tying into its religious foundation. Floating above it, graduation caps signify students leaving their college environment and being launched into the next chapter of their lives. I also reinterpreted this cover art by adding messages in the cloud. The clouds scattered across the sky offer words of encouragement, with phrases like “spark joy!” “show love!” and “make their day!” These messages serve as guiding principles, offering the uncertain graduate—represented by the sheep—some wisdom to carry into the future.

[keeghancummingsblog]

Hello! My name is Keeghan Cummings, and I am a senior finance major at St. Bonaventure University. In addition to my coursework, I actively participate in several campus organizations, including Students in Money Management (SIMM), NvestNus, and BonaResponds. I also serve as a teaching assistant for a business math course.

I am originally from Pittsford, a town just outside of Rochester, New York. I have three brothers, one of whom graduated from St. Bonaventure last spring. In my free time, I enjoy to hang out with my friends and girlfriend, golfing, watching baseball, and catching up on financial news!