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Crystal Perez

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Reading
  • Painting and Studio Art
  • Drawing And Illustration
  • Cooking
  • Baking
  • Music
  • Art
  • Band
  • Animation
  • Comics
  • Photography and Photo Editing
  • Coffee
  • Television
  • Movies And Film
  • Crafting
  • Art History
  • History
  • Comedy
  • Beach
  • Travel And Tourism
  • Clarinet
  • Exploring Nature And Being Outside
  • Singing
  • Guitar
  • Songwriting
  • Acting And Theater
  • Costume Design
  • Game Design and Development
  • Sewing
  • Embroidery And Cross Stitching
  • Scrapbooking
  • Anatomy
  • 3D Modeling
  • Baseball
  • Cinematography
  • Collaging
  • Environmental Science and Sustainability
  • Ethics
  • Food And Eating
  • Gaming
  • Human Rights
  • Jewelry Making
  • Learning
  • Legos
  • Makeup and Beauty
  • Manga
  • Marine Biology
  • Math
  • Music Composition
  • Music Production
  • Pilates
  • Poetry
  • Self Care
  • Shopping And Thrifting
  • Social Justice
  • Spending Time With Friends and Family
  • Football
  • Sports
  • Teaching
  • Stargazing
  • Sustainability
  • Upcycling and Recycling
  • Voice Acting
  • Walking
  • YouTube
  • digital art
  • Percussion
  • Fashion
  • Cleaning
  • Anime
  • Babysitting And Childcare
  • Board Games And Puzzles
  • Concerts
  • Cosmetology
  • Cosplay
  • Education
  • Hair Styling
  • Karaoke
  • Orchestra
  • Origami
  • Paintball
  • Piano
  • Sleeping
  • Spirituality
  • Theater
  • Tutoring
  • Trivia
  • True Crime
  • Video Editing and Production
  • Welding
  • Writing
  • Screenwriting
  • Yearbook
  • Astrology
  • Boxing
  • Ceramics And Pottery
  • Drums
  • Animals
  • Nails
  • Printmaking
  • Martial Arts
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • Fitness
  • Gardening
  • Journaling
  • Mental Health
  • Minecraft
  • Tattooing

Reading

  • Realistic Fiction
  • Comics
  • Art
  • Food and Drink
  • Adventure
  • How-To
  • Romance
  • Fantasy
  • Webcomics
  • Recipe
  • Crafts
  • Health
  • Design
  • Action
  • Cookbooks
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Historical
  • History
  • Spirituality

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

Hello, I’m Crystal Perez, an artist from Houston, Texas. I’m an animation graduate from California College of the Arts working in various pre-production roles such as background art, character design, and storyboarding. Since childhood, my interest in creative practice has spanned disciplines, but I have always been passionate about storytelling. I was the most talkative kid in class, sharing stories with my friends then running home to tell more stories to my family. I spent many hours sitting on the floor watching beloved cartoons including Teen Titans and Gravity Falls which solidified my interest in animation. My work is often inspired by my experiences, which I turn into exaggerated, comedic narratives. I create work geared towards younger audiences, but it’s intended for all to enjoy. I want my work to inspire young artists the way my favorites did when I was young. I love being a part of a team and collaborating with other motivated and enthusiastic artists. I believe in hard work and perseverance through adversity, that great artists make the best with what they have. I’m a problem-solver at heart and constantly improve my skills by learning new technologies, softwares, and techniques. My overall style is vibrant, lighthearted, and colorful, conveying the feeling of wonder and joy.

Education

California College of the Arts

Bachelor's degree program

2021 – 2025

Majors:
  • Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

Stratford High School

High School

2017 – 2021

Miscellaneous

Majors of interest:
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects

Career

  • Sales Associate

    Retail · Hallmark

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Tool Center and Model Shop Monitor

    Furniture · California College of the Arts

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2025

  • Cashier/Barista

    Food & Beverages · Starbucks

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2020

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Animation
Dream career goals:
Animator, Character/Environment Artist, Storyboard Artist/Revisionist
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
Bold Art Matters Scholarship
Sueños y Pensamiento is an oil on canvas painting created by Maria Izquierdo in 1947. This painting is one of my favorite pieces of art because it is a terrific example of the Surrealist art movement - my favorite genre of art. Sueños y Pensamiento was inspired by Izquierdo's nightmares and utilizes symbolism and Surrealism's defining characteristic of dream analysis. In 1945, Izquierdo learned that Rivera canceled her commissioned fresco for the Mexico City Hall. Rivera argued that this type of work was beyond her capabilities due to her lack of experience in muralism. She received significant criticism after detesting Rivera and a decrease in support, which led to many difficulties in her artistic career. During this stressful time in her life, Izquierdo started having intense nightmares. She used those nightmares to paint what is now Sueños y Pensamiento. Surrealism is my favorite art genre and one of my biggest inspirations. Similar to Izquierdo, I experience vivid dreams and stress nightmares almost every night. I record the ones I remember as pieces of writing, small thumbnails in my sketchbook, quick paintings, or as verbal stories and text messages to my friends and family. I have not been able to create a finished piece of my own for the fear that viewers would not be able to understand the message I am trying to convey. After seeing the honest depictions in Sueños y Pensamiento, I am more motivated to create what I see in my dreams the way Izquierdo saw hers. Sueños y Pensamiento is one of my favorite art pieces as it is a wonderful example of Surrealism. The artist takes inspiration from her dreams, an element in my life I heavily relate to. After studying this painting, I finally felt the push I needed to create my Surrealist pieces.
Crystal Perez Student Profile | Bold.org