Famed Venezuelan Cartoonist and Visual Artist Oscar Olivares came to Limkokwing University to give students an industry talk and conduct a workshop on mixed media digital painting on 12 September 2017.
Themed ‘Awaken the Hero Within’, the programme was aimed at developing students’ technical and artistic talents in mixed media digital painting. It also exposed them to Venezuelan art and provided an opportunity for students to craft their own paintings.
Oscar Olivares mentioned that coming to showcase and hold his workshop in Limkokwing University was amazing, because he had an audience from various parts of the world.
“It has been amazing to see many cultures in one University. To express my ideas at the workshop to so many people from around the world has been interesting. To see how advanced the technology is here as well as how encouraged the students feel to innovate and create for their future to be successful was surely inspiring,” he said.
He declared that the work he had seen from students during the workshop was up to par with industry standards and was of high quality.
“From the artworks I’ve seen in this workshop, Limkokwing University students are ready for the industry. I saw many interesting artworks today, and students fully understood the ten different styles that I taught them.”
At the end of the workshop, students from across faculties excitedly shared that the workshop taught them a new set of skills. For Abdullah Ahmed Mohammed Al Haddad who studies Bachelor of Business in Information Technology, the workshop was yet another incredible opportunity to discover his talents.
“I’m an information technology student, so for me to attend an art workshop and industry talk helped to explore my hidden talents, apart from the field that I’m in.”
Giving advice to students who aspire to excel in the illustration industry Oscar Olivares said, “I always tell students not to settle and always look forward to doing something greater. In this industry, you must always make something new and different. In 10 years, Photoshop and other forms of software are going to be different, so it is important to always evolve as a person and advance your skills with each development.”
Limkokwing University cultivates the breadth of students’ skills through its hands-on approach to learning. Throughout the studies, students engage in workshops and competitions as well as industry talks by professionals, which prepare them for the real world before they graduate.