Esme Gonzalez, a third-year honors student and art major, traces her love for art back to fourth grade, when she watched a classmate create an animation. “I was a moth to a flame. I wanted to know everything about art — how, why and what was possible. I got involved in art communities online where seeing others’ work inspired me even more,” Esme says. “I think what I love most about art is the community aspect to it — where everyone builds on each other’s ideas, creating something bigger together. It’s beautiful.”
Since then, Esme says her artwork has evolved from drawing animals and people to her current interest in painting in a more abstract, expressionist style, influenced by her art professors at Oregon State University.
Esme was originally drawn to the Honors College for its “close-knit community and faculty connections,” saying she sees the Honors College as a “place that truly supports students’ success and well-being.”
Esme works as a student graphic designer for the Honors College, creating designs for print, web and social media. This past summer, she began a new project within that role: designing and drawing a chalkboard mural for the SLUG, the HC student learning space.
The idea for the mural came from discussions between Honors College Engagement and Recruitment Coordinator Taylor Maki and Communications Coordinator Kallie Hagel after the chalkboard in the SLUG was erased and cleaned over the summer. “Inviting Esme to tackle this project was a natural choice,” says Kallie.
Esme began the project by sketching rough designs over the summer and ideating with Kallie. With the start of the academic year, Esme began her work on the chalkboard, hosting office hours three days a week and inviting help from fellow HC students.
The mural centers on the theme “The Lifecycle of an HC Beav,” depicting a beaver’s academic journey along a winding river. Beginning with a backpack and books, the beaver progresses through scenes of study and perseverance, surrounded by encouraging messages from the community. At the river’s end, the beaver dons a graduation cap and gown, symbolizing achievement and growth.
“There have been several student additions — beavers, fish and mushrooms. A few students have even stopped by during my office hours,” Esme says. “From the start, I wanted this to be collaborative, so seeing different styles come together has been amazing. It feels like a natural landscape with beavers, slugs and other creatures hanging out in a chill, happy community vibe.”
Esme hopes more students will add to the mural, no matter their skill level. “I think it’s a great way to relax, try something new and stretch your creative muscles,” she says.
Kallie says the “mural is an excellent reflection of Esme’s artistic voice and her commitment to community. It’s not just a piece of art — it’s an invitation for students to engage, collaborate and leave their own mark.”
Katelyn Bye, the HC executive assistant, has enjoyed watching the mural take shape. “Esme is such a talented artist, and everyone who has worked on the mural has just done a great job. I’m looking forward to seeing how it evolves throughout the year.”
Outside of her Honors College graphic design work, Esme curates galleries in the Memorial Union and Student Experience Center, caring for and restoring artwork. She’s also a DJ at OSU’s radio station KBVR.
As Esme’s school and personal work gravitates more towards abstract and expressionist forms of art and painting, Esme is glad to have her graphic design job at the Honors College, which provides her with the opportunity to practice her “representational art skills, where a beaver looks like a beaver.”
As she looks ahead, Esme plans to keep exploring multiple mediums, “from sculpture to printmaking to chalk.” She’s considering an honors thesis on “biases against contemporary art, particularly interactive art.”
While her plans beyond graduation are still unfolding, her passion remains clear. “Art is kind of my favorite thing in the world,” she says. “I think there’s something so beautiful about making something that never existed before.”
By Malea Fulton
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