_Jelena Senicic – Public Portrait – @JelenaSenchy

Web : http://www.jelenasenicic.com
Twitter : @JelenaSenchy

I’m Jelena Senicic and I’m from Belgrade, Serbia. I’m graphic designer by day and illustrator/photographer by night. Graphic design pays my rent, and other staff (photography, typography, calligraphy and illustration) feeds my soul.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a fashion designer, after that photographer for National Geographic and after that truck driver. But when the time came for me to go to high school, I decided to go in art & design high school and be a graphic designer. In 2000. I finished Academy of applied arts in Belgrade so I got my first advertising job few days later. At the same time I begin my studies for a Master degree in Calligraphy and lettering and I finished it in 2004. Since than I worked in many agencies, BTL, ALT, publishing houses, freelance… I also came back to teach in my old high school. Last ten years in my life were very interesting.

Now, I’m working as an AD in one of those agencies, have my own projects like “Dizajnersi” or “Belgrade in my pocket”, live with my cat and Vili, ride my bicycle whenever I get time. Always taking pictures with everything – my phone, my Fuji, my Nikon. It is very important to shoot all the time. Black and white mostly.

I had my third exhibition last month and it was cool. It was 10th anniversary of my work; there was a lot of friends, mom & dad, TV… everybody but the cat. Cat stayed at home.

I can not say that I’m only one thing like “ok, I’m graphic designer”. I’m not. I like to mix everything. Like to draw over a photo, put some letters on it, get my hands black with ink on pastels. It’s nice to mix anything you can think of it. But photography is a special. It makes my mind clear. I don’t know what I will do for a next ten years, but I like to try something new. Somewhere new. Maybe some other country, some other people and cities. Who knows…

_Lisa Marek – Public Portrait – @fatcatartstudio

Website: www.fatcatartstudio.com
Flickr: fatcatphotobuzz
Twitter: @fatcatartstudio

I love design, typography  and all things beautiful – especially in nature. My earliest memories of designing were as a kid, sitting on my grandparents porch redesigning the Sears Catalog. My lifelong dreams include managing a magazine as creative director and shooting photography for National Geographic. (more…)

_Jalixa Ramirez – Public Portrait – @DiamonteDesigns

Website : http://coroflot.com/diamontedesigns
Twitter : @DiamonteDesigns

Coming from a broken home in South New Jersey & facing many obstacles as a young girl, I began to develop my relationship with art and it then became my obsession. I spent most of my time preparing myself for my IDEAL career as a graphic designer and one day opening my own business.

After moving to Fort Lauderdale, I graduated with a BA’s degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in 2006. I always new I would be someone more than just a girl who liked to draw/ paint and that passion and desire turned into my journey on building my business (named after my late mother) “Diamonte” Designs. I consider myself to be a woman who never takes no for an answer and is always looking for an opportunity in every situation.

_Trudy Hamilton – Public Portrait – @thetrudz

Website: Tru Shots Photography
Twitter: @thetrudz

I have always loved art. My first true experience with art was not in photography but in fact painting. Even in childhood years, I realized the freedom, the expression and and the storytelling possible with art.

I ventured into photography in adolescence and reconnected with it in my twenties. I  combine the external environment with a person’s internal environment, or their personality to create images. To me, many of my images are juxtapositions between a revealed self and a hidden self; both are relevant, both are true.

Some people think that photographers are painters or models on the inside, hiding and afraid. Not so. Though there is some of me that is revealed and some that is hidden, I still see myself for who I am and I am not afraid. For me, a portrait like this one of me does reveal me. There is more to me than just my face. There is my story. And a camera and photography is a part of that story. Expressing that story and others’ stories is my passion. I believe that the only way to truly be free is to explore that which you are passionate about and to excite passion in others. Thus, as a photographer, I am free.]

Trudy