Student Artist Bios
Havilah Abrego is young artist, born and raised in Southern California. After being taught by her father, Havilah honed her own painting techniques over the past 10 years, alongside achieving her degree in marine biology and producing music as an indie musician. She initially used her artistic skills to pull herself through her difficult time as a teenager, only to embrace the artist community later on as a commission artist. At the age of 15, she launched her own business as a commission artist, Ocean Crest Art, and is now distributing her paintings worldwide and designing logos for small businesses.
Havilah’s art, however, is not just a hobby; it is a way of life. Through each of her paintings, a profound story is told to those who are willing to listen. Havilah creates with the intentions of inspiring others to open their eyes to the unseen beauty of this world, and to use the gift of creativity to convert our pain into beauty.
Mahendra Amunugama is an Artist, Photographer and Graphic Designer. His art work is mostly focus on social disorder and humanity: namely war and its effect to humanity, political propaganda, Racism and domestic violence.
He is a student in CSU Channel Islands pursuing a degree in Studio Art. He has been involved in many exhibition held by his alma mater. Besides that, he has worked in an Advertising company in Sri Lanka. He was involved art directing for many leading national and international commercial companies. In addition to that he has experience in marketing dealing with various products and services.
Sunshine Bagamaspad is a Southern California based designer with an affinity for digital media. She will be graduating from California State University, Channel Islands, with a BA in Communication Design Technology in Spring 2016 and intends on using her degree to become a multidisciplinary designer in graphic design and motion graphics. She works to consistently intersect her passion and purpose, creating meaningful experiences through the mediums of sights and sounds. Her works have been shown in the CSU Channel Islands Napa Gallery and in the Ventura Museum.sunshine.bagamaspad@gmail.com
Jamie Flores is a graduating senior, earning a degree in Studio art and business management. She loves photography, making YouTube videos, reading and too many other things to list here. She hopes to be working in the film industry after graduation.
Tammy Gilkey is a native of Los Angeles County who has been an artist for the past four years.. She is currently a senior at California State University Channel Islands earning her B.A. in Studio Arts with an emphasis in painting. She is a freelance artist painting landscapes, sea life, and portraits. In addition to her formal education, attends workshops to continue building her skills and body of work. She has a passion for rich, bold and dramatic narratives. She lives in Ventura with her husband and two of her three daughters.http://www.tammygilkey.com
Chad Houser took his first glass blowing class 3 years ago in Harmony, California. Just less than a year later, he set up his own studio in Pismo Beach, California. There he began practicing his skills in flame working. Mostly self taught, he watched other flame workers online and then began attempting those same techniques. He has now been flame working on his own for just under 3 years and has relocated to Camarillo, California to continue his studies in Business at CSU Channel Islands. His artistic style is usually seen through pendants and marbles and has developed over the years involving eyes, rainbows, wording, and more. Chadahouser@gmail.com
Devyn Howell is a graduating senior and will obtain her Bachelor’s degree in Studio Arts with an emphasis in Photography. Her passion is to advocate for the well being of animals through the use of her photography. She would love to work for a magazine company fulfilling her dreams of making a difference.
Tiarah Jibri is a Studio Art major with an emphasis in Time Based Media at CSU Channel Islands. She is a passionate photographer and loves illustration and animation. She is an adventure seeker, Disney lover, lover of life, and dedicated nerd of all things
Brielle Ashton Walker is a painter whose visionary works have been featured in art shows at Cal State Islands University. Walker was born in Fresno, CA but currently resides in the Los Angeles area. Walker dedicated herself to bring together a community of people who experience the unconventional. She believes by bringing these experiences to life, they will unite a community of people searching for something tangible to the visions she’s seen, hoping to provide hope and purpose. Walker’s style paintings are not only a display of vivid colors and powerful imagery, but also provide a bridge among all people of all walks of life.