Artist’s Point: Marajadyn Rodgers

Artist’s Point, featured by the Tiger Hi-Line, is a series of articles exploring the world of art through the insights of young student artists here in Cedar Falls while also learning more about the artists themselves. In this issue we will be featuring senior artist Marajadyn Rodgers and her experiences drawing traditionally as well as her involvement with the craft of sewing.

Rodgers had always used art to portray and express her feelings; however, she feels her style especially conveys her love for Halloween; Rodgers participates in Inktober, a common Halloween drawing challenge, and makes her own costumes each coming spooky season. She very much prefers gothic art styles, referring to the likes of Tim Burton and other gothic artists and incorporating gothic elements into her art. Although she doesn’t plan to go into art for her future career, wanting to keep it as a fun hobby, she still hopes to carry art into her adult life hoping to improve at making clothes as she continues to up-cycle them and make various costumes.

During her freshman and sophomore years she took up some different art classes but quickly realized that she didn’t enjoy it as much as she thought she would. “I found that I don’t like to be told what to do,” Rodgers said.  “I prefer to make what I want when I want without a curriculum.” Rodgers concluded that she is a self-taught artist, a term that is used to describe an artist who doesn’t follow traditional guidelines as they independently experimented with their style and were self-taught. Although she admits she comes from a family of very creative and innovative people like herself, she feels she expresses herself through her art in her own special way, pointing out the importance of self expression and meaning to an artist.

“Art is so unique to the individual unlike so many things. I don’t think there is one thing that makes an art piece good, but I do think it must have meaning. On the contrary, not having meaning is something in itself. Art is supposed to make you think or feel, so I guess that is the criteria,” Rodgers said.

When discussing the growing presence of AI and its impact, Rodgers again makes a mention of the importance of human expression. She also argues that AI is not only stealing jobs from artists but also continuing to make people less appreciative about the hard work that artists put into their creations.

“Art has always been a way for people to protest or express their feelings. I don’t think AI has taken that part away. I do think the world of art is changing because of AI, though. It takes away from human work and creativity,” Rodgers said. “I think my biggest problem with AI is its effect on art-related jobs. Becoming an artist has never been an ideal career, often looked down upon, but companies are now finding it more profitable to ‘hire’ AI opposed to real artists.”