impressions - printmaking exhibit at TDS

I have been learning printmaking at The Drawing Studio for a few months now. Printmaking is something I've wanted to learn for a long long time, but I didn't have access to a print lab till recently. Now that I had access, I signed up real quick. In the non-toxic intaglio class taught by Jennifer Clarke and Thomas Lindell (and a couple of sessions by Rebecca Bushner) I tried my hand at hard ground and soft ground etching, solarplate, image-on and cyanotype. In the intaglio open lab, I have been learning from Jennifer Clarke the art of making a mezzotint (a more detailed post on mezzotints coming up soon). And in a lino-cut work group I have been learning to make linoleum prints with Lynn Fleischman. 

It's been fascinating to learn processes so different from painting. Printmaking requires a different way of thinking - in terms of stages and processes, in negative and positive. The processes require one to be methodical and disciplined. The tools are many and different; the ferric chloride for etching, the copper plates, the UV light boxes, the 'rocker', the brayers, the 'blankets', the inks, the floor wax, the soy sauce (I'm not kidding) and the press with it's big wheel and heavy roller are just some of the things that make up a print lab. But more importantly, what makes a printlab is the community of printmakers. There is a wonderful energy in the lab, all the printmakers doing their thing and solving printmaking problems together. I've had a great time learning from them all, seeing the work they do. I will post more about the print lab soon - there's just so much to say! In the meantime, here are are two prints - both in a printmaking exhibition at The Drawing Studio that opens May 4th (6-8pm). The first print titled 'First Light' is a mezzotint. The second called  'Desert Song' was made with a solarplate. The show aims to educate the public about printmaking and will also include demonstrations. The exhibition features fantastic works by very talented artists, and includes a wide array of printmaking techniques. Here is the link to more information about the exhibition.

first light, A/P mezzotint, 5x6" ©2013 priya vadhyar

desert song, A/P mezzotint, 4x5" ©2013 priya vadhyar

inner city in juried show

My painting Inner City has been accepted for a juried show titled 'Sanctuary through Partnership: A Collaboration Featuring Flight', which has been organised in association with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Tucson Jewish Community Center, the Tucson Museum of Art and The Drawing Studio.

As the IRC mentions on its website: The group show is the result of a year long conversation about the meaning of sanctuary for the world's most vulnerable. The theme stems from the IRC's Flight exhibit, a special portfolio of works by twelve 20th century masters like Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró and Robert Motherwell, representing their interpretation of the struggle of those who flee from their homes in search of freedom. The collection was organised by Varian Fry, an IRC representative in France during World War II, who rescued over 2000 writers, artists, intellectuals and other refugees who were being targeted by the Nazis.*

The exhibition will be held at the Tucson Jewish Community Center Fine Art Gallery, starting March 15th until April 16th, and will be placed alongside the Flight exhibit. The opening is on March 17th. Also part of the schedule is a panel discussion with artists and Jeffrey Cornish, Executive Director of the IRC on March 24th.

inner city, acrylic on canvas, 30x40" ©2013 priya vadhyar

*source: The International Rescue Committee

abstraction and the virtue of letting go

inner city, acrylics on canvas, 30x40" ©2013 priya vadhyar

For the last few months I have been taking classes at The Drawing Studio. The one that began late in October was called Xtreme Painting: Looking for Dragon Smoke, an abstracts-in-acrylics class taught by Josh Goldberg. Taught against the backdrop of Eastern philosophy, Xtreme Painting looks at the act of painting and the expression of a non-representational language.

On the first day of class, Josh asked us to stand in front of our fresh canvases without a plan and empty of thought. As we began, he asked us to be spontaneous, and let go of the idea of control. Over the weeks, we were encouraged to be unattached and non-judgmental. We were to look at the marks objectively and act according to what the painting required. Looking critically at the composition, the colour and the direction of brush strokes, while keeping the painting fresh were just some of the lessons we learned with each session. We were to be alert to accidents/ opportunities that arise, and look for clues that might suggest the next move. Over the next eight weeks, we learned to trust ourselves, see our work and let our inner abstraction find expression.

What was interesting was learning to be completely present in the act of painting without the distractions of the ego, judgement and past/future considerations. Complete involvement in any process can be a tough hill to climb if we are too eager to reach. And yet that's exactly what's required for true expression.

To learn more about this way of painting I'm now taking the second part of this class (Xtreme Painting: Riding the Dragon). Inner City is one of the paintings I've completed.

home from the gala exhibition - david andrés etching

The Drawing Studio (TDS) gala on Friday night was such fun. There was music and wine and hors d'oeuvres, people mingled, sat around the many tables in the studios, looked at the gala exhibition and made their lists. And then when numbers were being called out, people waited eagerly and then hurriedly (but politely) made their way hoping to get the artwork that spoke to them the most. By the end of the evening, everywhere were happy faces, holding the artwork they chose.

And I was one of them. The Drawing Studio generously gave me a ticket to the event (as a volunteer) and therefore the opportunity to take home an artwork. When my number was called, I went to the piece that I wanted the most - a print by David Andrés. The artwork is a solar polymer etching of a star fish titled 'Estrella Maris - Bahia San Pedro Mexico'. And here is the image of this beautiful piece full of texture and mystery - the star of the sea.

estrella maris - bahia san pedro mexico, solar polymer etching, 8x10", 2008 david andrés

(detail) estrella maris - bahia san pedro mexico, solar polymer etching, 8x10", 2008 david andrés

My artworks in the gala (see earlier post) found happy homes too. 'In the Moonlight' was selected by TDS faculty Sherry Bryant and 'On a Grey Note' was the choice of Lori Ryder, who is an artist and also the Director of Volunteers and Membership at TDS. I am glad that these two lovely ladies have my work. Thank you Sherry and Lori!

exhibition - the drawing studio gala 2013

2013 is off to a wonderful start. I'm exhibiting my work at The Drawing Studio, as part of their annual fundraiser gala titled 'The Paper Ball'. The theme of the exhibition is works on or of paper, and is a collection of 200 artworks each donated by artists mostly from the Tucson area. By selling 200 tickets to the event, The Drawing Studio will raise funds that will go towards its educational programs for the youth and the elderly and also adult scholarships.

Each ticket holder will receive a number and during the course of the evening, numbers will be drawn  randomly. When one's number is called, the ticket holder can choose one of the artworks exhibited for themselves. So each ticket holder will leave with an artwork at the end of the evening. Great concept, isn't it?

And I am one of the artists contributing to the gala. I have two paintings in the show - one is an ink painting on watercolour paper, and the second is a watersoluble graphite 'painting' on watercolour paper. For both paintings I have used molding paste on the paper to create a layer of textures and peaks.

My paintings and the rest of the exhibition is on display now and the gala event is on Friday 25th January. The event will include a silent auction of artworks by renowned Tucson artists that will also raise funds for The Drawing Studio's educational programs.

If you are interested in attending the event at The Drawing Studio, you will find information here on their website.

'in the moonlight', ink on watercolour paper, 15x21" ©2012 priya vadhyar

'on a grey note', water-soluble graphite on watercolour paper, 16x20" ©2012 priya vadhyar