Photographer and Graphic Designer Regina Hogan
My name is Regina Hogan. I am a photographer, graphic designer, and teacher.
Currently, photography is my preferred art form. Going out to explore the world around me through my lens is a great way for me to escape from my fast-paced lifestyle for a bit. Photography allows me to capture the beauty that other people may not stop to see for themselves. When it comes to subjects, I try to engage with as many different photo genres as possible, but I typically photograph landscapes and cityscapes. I also channel my graphic design background into digital illustration and commercial art. With digital illustration, I like to pair quotes, words, and phrases with digitally illustrated botanicals, leaves, flowers, and other elements; I also digitally illustrate cards.
My career began in the commercial art industry, but fine art always played a role in my work. For as long as I can remember, art has been a part of my life. From a young age, my mother and father encouraged my artistic pursuits—I think they realized that I had a natural talent for it, even as early as elementary school. Then in high school, I chose to enter a graphic communications program to learn more about graphic design, photography, and commercial art while also still taking fine art courses in drawing and painting. The marriage of commercial art and fine art emerged in my youth and has come to fruition in my art career today.
When I was a student, my inspiration often came from a teacher. My teachers and mentors in high school and college always encouraged me—they saw things in my work before I ever did, which gave me confidence. Fast forward to today, I now get to be that bit of inspiration and encouragement to my own students as a graphic communications teacher. Today, many things bring me inspiration, including my students, local artists, and the changing seasons and landscapes that Rhode Island has to offer. My students allow me to experience multiple perspectives through their creative eyes—this inspires me to approach my own work with consideration for different perspectives. I find inspiration in other photographers and fine artists as well. Finding inspiration through other art forms like painting and resin art also allows me the creative freedom to really experiment and play with unique approaches to marrying commercial art with fine art. The inspiration for my work really comes from everywhere, which makes for an exciting and ever changing creative process.
The biggest obstacle to my art is time, or the lack thereof. Being a working mother of 3 young children leaves me with very little time to be creative. But even with my busy schedule I make time to be creative and plan my creative time around my work and family. Because of this, I have to schedule my creative work in advance. I take notes anytime creativity strikes. When an idea or inspiration comes to me, I write it down and save it for when I find the time to create. This is in some ways an unusual creative process, but I would rather have it this way than not have it at all. Creating is a part of who I am and it is something I must do. When I go a long time without a creative outlet, I find that it affects me negatively. Once I started to notice that, I realized how much I needed art in my life, no matter how hectic it may be to fit it in.
I did not go into my creative career thinking I had an ultimate goal, other than to bring more joy to my life. Over time, I experienced moments with strangers where they shared with me how they connected with my work—whether it be a memory, a reminder, or even just a mood or a feeling. It was these moments that made me realize my ultimate goal was making human connections.
One of my most cherished memories of these connections came unexpectedly from someone who bought one of my photographs. When we met, she shared with me why she was drawn to my photograph. The photograph was of a sunrise at the Temple to Music at Roger Williams Park; that day, the sunrise was phenomenal, bursting with so much color in the sky. She told me she was a pediatric oncologist and that she formed a special bond with one patient, with whom she would visit the Temple to Music with. Before the patient sadly passed away, he told her that he would visit her through sunrises and sunsets. My photograph captured not only the Temple to Music and the beautiful sunrise, but also a tree that the oncologist planted nearby in the patient’s honor. This story touched me so deeply and further proved to me that it is these human connections made through my art that are my ultimate goals.
I set that same intent for my students too. Not only does it make creative work more successful, but more meaningful as well. My encouragement to anyone who is interested in learning a new art form is to challenge yourself to inhabit a place of no judgement or obstacles to see what you have the potential to create. Creativity can blossom from unexpected situations, and you might just surprise yourself with what you can create both literally and figuratively.
Create something everyday!
Regina Teresa Hogan