Once Creative Visionary Program ended I focused on a fun project, “REIMAGINE” sponsored by Arts Connect in Lexington. It is an exhibition of work by artists who have chosen a local elementary school student’s drawing that has inspired them to create an artwork in their own style and medium. The collaborative originals are auctioned online to raise funds that are shared among the participating public schools for art supplies, the artists and Arts Connect as the program administrator.
Online Auction Opens Monday, 15th September at 9:00 am. The exhibit will open on September 19 at the Downtown Main Library. A print and digital catalogue with photos of both artist and student work, will be available.
The artwork I chose appealed to me because of its strong composition, sensitive lines/marks and its mystery. For these reasons I intended to pay close attention and honor the student’s aesthetic.
student drawing
At first, I was drawn to the sophisticated design, one principle that is important in art making. It compelled me to ask, what is it? Not wanting to mar the design and acknowledge the beautiful sensitive pencil marks I wondered where this treasure map would lead in my imagination. To track the clues, I enlarged the drawing, did a freehand sketch and transferred it to a panel.
print of student drawing and freehand sketch
Keeping the shapes, I focused on envisioning them in color, true to the values perceived in the drawing. The range of which went from barely visible strokes to dense directional marks. The process involved eleven layers of paint.
REIMAGINE Beautiful Mystery, work in progress
REIMAGINE Beautiful Mystery, work in progress
REIMAGINE Beautiful Mystery, work in progress
Seeming incomplete I realized the main component was missing – the outlines. Perhaps because I never outline objects, my gaze filtered that out. I had been insistent to challenge myself with only using acrylic paint. Like this young person I am also a student of sort, yet with acrylic.
REIMAGINE Beautiful Mystery, work in progress
To render the sentiment of this mystery piece what was missing was drawing, in pencil. The closer I looked at the lines, the more I noticed similarities with long-time shapes I use, like helix ribbons. Curvy and curved lines rather than strictly straight. Variety – why are some shapes so bold, some so hesitant?
REIMAGINE Beautiful Mystery
There is tension of flatness and hints of dimensionality. It gives me a feeling of Venice but I don’t want to subject my story line. I want to know more about the student’s story line!
Dear young student, don’t ever stop drawing!