Bryce Parr –
Renson Hoffman is a fourth year student in the B.F.A. Studio Art program with a concentration on printmaking. He transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Stout from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh after his first year.
What sparked your interest in art?
I’ve been an artsy kinda dude for as long as I can remember. At a young age I’d always find myself at my grandma’s house drawing pictures for her. When high school came around, I strayed away from my passion for art as I focused my attention on other subjects. Then I started college and had no idea what I was doing. 4 years later and I still have no idea what I’m doing, but at least I’m studying what I love, which is art. But why do I love art so much one might ask? It’s always been an escape for me, whether it’d be escaping all the negatives life has to offer, or to just simply take a break from reality.
What styles or mediums do you prefer?
I used to just draw all the time. The occasional digital art project is always fun too. I used to absolutely despise painting. But a few months ago, I started binge watching Bob Ross so now I surprisingly find myself painting most of the time. I also love screen printing. But I’ve only recently [been] into that.
Do you take influence from any artists or designers in particular?
Not really. I do enjoy the work from artists Sam Spratt and Simon Stålenhag. But when creating art, I simply take influence from anything I come across. Oh, and of course Bob Ross when it comes to, not only painting, but being a better person as well.
Are there any projects that stood out during your career at Stout?
There hasn’t been too many. College has kind of been a bumpy ride for me, but I really enjoyed my final typography 1 project which I’ll be sharing. It’s called “ENDOR” as in “the forest moon of Endor” in Star Wars. It was the first project that I revisited drawing and I actually enjoyed what I was producing instead of still lifes, which I really don’t enjoy.
What are your plans after graduation?
As stated earlier, I really don’t know what I’m doing, but for future reference I just want to be doing something that I enjoy. Whether it [is] something with art or not, being happy is my main priority. Because life is short, so why spend most of your time being Mr. Grumpy Gills?
