Sonia Fernandez recently graduated from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. During her time at UCR, she served as graphic artist for Asian Community Times Newspaper with works such as "Sweet and Sour," "Unmasked," and "Blind Date." She also maintained a comic series titled, "The Young and the Dateless" for the UCR Highlander, UCR's official weekly newspaper. At the same time, three of her works were featured in the Mosaic Art and Literature Journal. Sonia completed her degree by featuring her "Stylish Kids in the Riot" exhibit for the "Androgyny Series" in the 2007 UCR Senior Thesis Exhibition held in the UCR Sweeney Gallery, downtown Riverside.

Born in the Quezon City, Philippines, Sonia moved to the United States in March of 1992 along with her family. Soon after, she came across works by Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano and soon developed a love for art. Her passion for art became apparent in high school, when she took several art courses, including drawing and painting, ceramic, jewelry,and stained glass. Sonia quickly became the most decorated artist in school, winning awards such as Best of Show in the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival. Although she mostly focused on realism while in high school, she later expanded her focus on modern and contemporary art.

Sonia also designed billiard and poker T-shirts for Big Daddy Slick in 2005. She currently lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Recognitions

• Highlander Staff Award for Best Graphic, University of California Riverside, 2004

• Best of Show, Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, 2002

• Honorable Mention in an Artistic Discovery, Annual Congressional Art Competition, 2002

• Achievement Award in the Field of Fine Art, Bank of America, 2002

• Achievement Award in Excellence in Fine Art, Canyon Springs High School, 2002

• 1st Place 2D Art, Canyon Springs Student Art Exhibition, 2002

• 1st Place 3D Art, Canyon Springs Student Art Exhibition, 2002

• 1st Place Visual Art, Moreno Valley PTA Council Reflections, 2001-2002

• Best of Show, Canyon Springs Student Art Exhibition, 2001

• Best Drawing in Color, 39th Annual The Press-Enterprise County High School Art Show, 2001

• 1st Place Visual Art, Moreno Valley PTA Council Reflections, 2000-2001

Publications

• Asian Community Times Newspaper in University of California Riverside, 2004-2007

• Highlander Newspaper in University of California Riverside, 2004-2007

• Big Daddy Slick Poker and Billiard T-shirt Designs, 2005

• Mosaic Art and Literary Journal, University of California Riverside, 2003