Students have high ‘Hopes’ for future

Matthew Dombrowski wants to set the record straight: art is not cheap.

"It's a big misconception that art is a cheap medium, 'Oh it's just paint' or ‘Just pick up a pencil and draw.' In fact, there are a lot of expensive materials that go into this," Dombrowski said.

Dombrowski, a UCF graduate, committe advisor and full-time instructor, began a vigorous campaign to spread the word about the J.R. Hopes Scholarship, going from class-to-class to tell as many students as possible.

In all, five UCF art students received the scholarship for the 2011-2012 school year.

The scholarship, which is open to all majors within the art field, gives a helping hand to students who may need some financial assistance.

While Dombrowski is responsible for drawing attention, the man responsible for the scholarship is art enthusiast and senior vice president of marketing for AOL-Time Warner, James R. Hopes.

According to Dombrowski, Hopes originally wanted to go to school to be an artist, but instead went into the business world.

"He always wondered if money wasn't an issue or if he had the time to produce his art could this really happen and could he help other people who are maybe on that fence; like if their financial situation is pressing, or they are a talented artist and just need that extra push or helping hand," Dombrowski said.

Like most scholarships, the students had to meet certain requirements. Students had to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, be a full-time undergraduate student in art, digital media or photography, and maintain a 3.0 overall GPA.

Each submission was judged based on the artist's financial need, focus and talent. This year alone, 110 students applied for the scholarship; a 46 percent increase from last year's 75 applicants. Dombrowski also saw an increase in digital and animation submissions.

Daniel Lukas, a junior emerging media major, was one of the five students that received the scholarship for his work with 3-D animation.

"I've been drawing ever since I could remember," Lukas said.

Drawing influences from comic book and video game characters, Lukas loves to create things that aren't real.

"I was able to create things that weren't possible, like someone flying or having super powers," Lukas said.

To keep with the theme, Lukas submitted a digital painting of a futuristic battle between soldiers. Using Adobe Photoshop and a drawing tablet, Lukas sketched out his idea and began to build upon layers by adding shading and colors.

Programs like Photoshop can take a toll on a college student's bank account. Lukas appreciates the funds the scholarship has provided him to buy the tools he needs to work.

Lukas is busy working on his portfolio and is hoping to land his dream job with Pixar Animation Studios, or even Industrial Light & Magic, a branch of Lucasfilm Ltd. — the production company owned by Star Wars creator, George Lucas.

Another Pixar hopeful, Michael Ryan Reboyro, a sophomore animation major, received his scholarship for his work in 2-D animation. Like Lukas, Reboyro also started drawing at a young age and found inspiration through Walt Disney classics like Pinocchio and Fantasia.

"In all of these films there is an intense passion for what they were trying to achieve. They weren't just making good-looking films, and they weren't just making children's films; they were making films that broke the barrier," Reboyro said.

That kind of passion for traditional animation helped score Reboyro his schloraship and the respect of Hopes, himself. Once Hopes found out that Reboyro had hand-drawn each frame for his animated film, he understood Reboyro's passion for animation.

Reboyro submitted a 2-D animated piece based on the theory that all art is endangered, an idea he first heard about in his art history class freshmen year.

"That theory always stuck with me because of the meaning and significance of it; so I thought I could use that for the piece I was submitting," Reboyro said.

Reboyro used the scholarship money to cover the cost of his books and supplies.

Reboyro is looking forward to a possible career in traditional animation, but is not factoring out working in CGI as well.

"I have no problem working with CGI, but traditional 2-D animation is my passion," Reboyro said.

The three other scholarship winners were Nicole Gayton in the sculpture category, Natasha Kinsley for painting and sculpture and Kwok Yin Mak for digital media.