LCC Seniors Showcase Artwork in Visual Arts Exhibition April 26

Lenoir Community College visual arts students Nigel Williams of Kinston and Chandon Williams of Snow Hill share more in common than their names and a visual arts degree. They both are graduating within a few months of each other, and both are pursuing their dream of creating amazing art.

Their work will be presented in a Visual Arts Exhibition sponsored by the LCC Foundation on April 26 in the Briley Auditorium in the Waller Building with a reception at 5 p.m followed by both artists presenting their work at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Visual Arts students’ work will also be on display in the Waller Gallery.

Nigel Williams, 19, is graduating this May. “I am an animator and cartoonist. I have been drawing since I was an elementary school student and decided to make animation my dream career in 2014,” he said. “Since then, I found ways to improve and create things that make others happy, which is my mission. I will be presenting an animated motion picture that is my passion project, “Radical.” I hope the works you see will give you inspiration to create something.” 

A self-taught animator/cartoonist, Nigel said he has been working hard to improve since 2014. He has been accepted and plans to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ Filmmakers School in August to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Animation with a double major in Screenwriting or Directing.

“What inspired me throughout the years is watching cartoons and animated feature films on television. I was always curious about the production processes to make these motion pictures, and then decided to replicate those procedures in my own works,” he said. “I attended Lenoir Community College to introduce myself to the college lifestyle. I wasn’t ready to move away from home just yet and decided to take things slow and steady so I wouldn’t get ahead of myself. Throughout these two years, I was able to make good connections with my professors and academic advisor, as well as maintaining a GPA above 3.0.” 

Nigel’s primary mediums are digital paint, traditional drawing paper, and graphite pencils. “I can also create using paint and canvas. The reason why I create the works and cartoons is so that I can tell a story that can help move people emotionally,” he said. “I tell stories with life lessons that not only apply to myself, but also others who can relate. As a potential filmmaker, I feel like if I’m able to connect with my viewers with my stories my role will be fulfilled.” 

Chandon Williams of Snow Hill attended Greene Central High School where he took art classes and learned more about painting, drawing, and the fundamentals of the artist process. “My next step was college. I did not want to go straight into a university because I felt it was not the right time, so community college was the next best thing to dip my toes in to just get the feel of what college was all about,” he said. “This brought me to LCC in hopes of finding what I really want to do with my life and learn new things that I normally don’t do on a day-to-day basis,” he said.  

“Before LCC came into the picture, I decided to create YouTube videos. I usually just talk about my favorite shows, and video games. I have lots of followers, and it is very cool that people take the time out of their day to watch me,” he said. “It is a career I really have a passion for, and hopefully this will be a source of income for me one day soon. I plan on going to a university for film and video production to further my knowledge of the subject.” 

Graduating in December, Chandon said he makes the art he does because starting with nothing but lines then coming out with a full on detailed final product is amazing to him and satisfying. “Just the thought of doing all of that with my own hands is surprising,” he said. “Then I can share it with the people around me and make them smile and acknowledge the hard work I put into each and every one,” he said.

“I believe my artwork best represents me and what I love to do. The goals I have as an artist are to improve with each piece I do. So, when I am alone at night making the art I love, I feel like I don’t have a care in the world.” 

Chandon’s artwork is heavily influenced by Japanese animation, or anime. “Growing up watching anime made me fall in love with it all- the characters, the stories, and worlds. I also want to develop new designs and ways I can create more of my own characters,” he said. “Watching some of my favorite anime inspired me to begin drawing some of my favorite characters that I have come to like very much. This made me want to create and draw my own designs and characters. I even ended up drawing myself as an animated character.  

His primary mediums are mechanical pencils, sketch book paper, special markers, and ink to go back over drawings after they are finished to his liking. “I want people to look at my artwork and smile when they see it and just acknowledge the hours of work put into it. That is really the only thing I ask for as an artist.”