Our in-studio gallery recently exhibited the works of Mayer/Reed visual communications designer, Sabrina Obeso. The eight monochrome portraits represent her artistic journey into realism and the study of light, shadow, contrast and precision. Her subjects range from cultural icons to horror monsters, each selected for their expressive features.

Trained in fine art, Sabrina is obsessed with details and gravitates toward the challenges of realistic portraiture, a genre she describes as “one of the hardest things to get right, as there’s no room for error.” Working in pencil, charcoal, graphite and ink, she layers media to heighten contrast. Her devotion to working in black and white allows her to isolate and emphasize tonal depth without the distraction of color.

A process of spontaneity and reflection shapes each portrait. Sabrina doesn’t keep a sketchbook or follow a set routine. Inspiration hits when it hits. She begins pieces in bursts of inspiration, allowing the initial form to emerge quickly. Then she steps away, sometimes for days, before returning with fresh eyes. “When I come back to it, I immediately know what it needs and I focus in on the detail.”

In addition to being a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), Mayer/Reed, Inc., is now certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) and the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE).  

One of the perks of Mayer/Reed’s new studio is a gallery wall for exhibiting the creative pursuits of our incredibly talented staff.

The inaugural exhibit featured the art of Rob Wente, senior designer and prolific painter. Rob’s two featured works, both acrylic on canvas, depict abstract narratives that spark the imagination. The paintings, titled Burning and Yearning Down at the Crossroads and The Arrival (on a Larger Scale), are meant to transport the viewer into a world of their own making. As Wente explains, “They fuse unearthly imagery with titles that ask the viewer to draw their own interpretations of the stories within.”

Favorites from the sketchbook studies make it to Instagram and a select few are reinterpreted into larger works. In the full-size paintings, Rob continues to layer ideas, paint and what he calls “easter eggs”—hidden details waiting to be discovered by the viewer. He titles the art to hint at the stories they contain, giving viewers a direction for contemplation without fully revealing a meaning. For Rob, each painting is a journey of discovery for both artist and viewer.