Tyler Beauchesne-Headley
I’ve always seen things differently than my peers and have had the natural ability to think divergently. Understanding that in just about anything we do, there will always be multiple techniques and strategies beyond the assumed or taught perspectives; on almost every occasion there will be alternative paths to get to the same destination and the paths taken can be indicative to the final result. For example in kindergarten when the teacher wanted all the kids in my class to draw a person; she demonstrated by drawing the classic stick figure as the base and continued from there. As you can imagine, my classmates began to replicate this model. Classic stick figures filled the pages around me; but I couldn't do it. I kept thinking to myself, that's not what people look like. It only made sense to draw my figures, based on my own observations. My "person" actually had limbs - and 5 fingers with thickness to them; full outfits, and every other detail I'd pick up by simply looking at the world around me. I quickly became known as the kid who could draw.
I was raised by a single mother in a small public housing neighborhood in Massachusetts. Though drawing was a daily habit for fun, as I grew up, I began putting more and more time into sports- and specifically football. The kid who could draw was soon the prospective NFL player. While I often dreamt this myself- quietly- getting an athletic/academic scholarship presented the chance to go to college. The sport of American football helped me receive some of the best educational opportunities anyone could ask for at prep schools such as Cushing Academy and Lawrence Academy where they would hone in on skills such as critical thinking and conceptualization. I consistently worked hard in the classroom and on the field, eventually landing me a spot at Sacred Heart University- the catch; I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do yet. I knew to work hard, do my absolute best, at what was put in front of me; but what did I want to do? I hadn’t really ever had a moment to think about that. I signed up for some art electives, to ease the stress of Division one ball, not knowing this was my first step in answering that question. It was sophomore year in a design foundations course that my professor Jack De Graffenried pulled me aside after seeing my final five value scale pen and marker piece "Born in the Dark". He told me that I should really consider pursuing a concentration in Illustration because “you can do a lot of things that other students can't do”. He persuaded me to go for a double concentration in Graphic Design & Illustration as he felt that it would make me more dynamic going into the work field. So, I did- and I never looked back. In Jack’s illustration courses I would go on to have four different pieces make Society of Illustrators NY and LA throughout my years at Sacred Heart.
I love art and simply can’t get away from it, even if I tried. I know in the right position and with the proper resources I would be able to make a huge impact on my community and world through creative expression. With my abilities I strive to be a difference maker for anything I'm a part of, and I’m always looking forward to doing something that has never been done before- creation.