Felipe M. Calderon III
Q & A
What have you been doing since graduating from FSU?
Since graduating Florida State, I continued pursuing life as a visual artist creating digital paintings of today’s music icons. By keeping on this path, I was able to expand my clientele and influence to international levels, reaching my goal of being an international selling artist, which is something that has always seen as the dream of mine. As I continued developing independently, I began collaborating with friend and FSU Alumni, Danny Doya. During my time working with Danny, we collaborated and assisted each other in various projects such as painting murals, videography, and promotional materials. Since leaving Florida State, we have worked on dozens of occasions that has resulted in the a rapid exposure of our talents to the South Florida market.
Following my visual artist route, I revisited my initial passion what got me into the Art world, Multi-Media. Since re-engaging, I have joined BoardroomPR as their Multi-Media Specialist and now, their Multi-Media Manager.
Since my time at BoardroomPR, I have worked with a variety of clients including law firms, healthcare companies, nonprofits, hospitality companies, financial services firms, and commercial and residential real estate companies. Currently, I am running the creative direction of video production, graphic design and website management. From designing ads and marketing pieces to producing, shooting and editing video, I have provided high-quality, artistic and engaging content that has influenced the markets. Often refining my skills and craft of design by marrying digital media practices and contemporary painting techniques to display beautiful, intriguing styles to express design.
What did you learn at FSU to get you there?
During my time at FSU, I have learned a variety of lessons and skills that have helped me succeed, even though I was hesitant at first from my consensus. Such as, your first idea is, at times, not your best idea. Use it as a foundation to move thoughts forward. By using this ideology for my pieces and client advertising, it has propelled my skills and thought processes to higher ground.
What advice would you give to art students?
Fail.
Failure has been one of the best learning tools I have endured in school and life. The more you embrace your failure and learn from it you’ll be able to see yourself grow and become more knowledgeable in this field or any. You will look at your assignments, thoughts and work ethics differently and begin to construct into something spectacular. Your ideas won’t see their potential by playing it safe and not breaking the rules. Most successful people in life have failed the most times. If you try to go through life or school, especially in our field, without failing at anything then you’re not really living a life at all. Taking risks and falling down flat on our faces is part of life; it makes us into who we are.Right now, you are in a safe place, safer than most in other situations. If you take a step back, you’ll realize that you are surrounded by some of the most knowledgeable instructors that promote it because they want to see you grow.