Last Friday I had the opportunity to show some work at KreateHub Nashville, a shared gallery and studio space oozing with a large variety of works by talented folks over here. As part of the juried monthly art show put on by the Odd Wall Collective, the goal was to showcase art by up and coming artists. All manner of paintings, mixed media pieces, drawings, and more made an appearance to describe this month’s theme: home.
Where the Heart Is
Looking through my collection of originals, I noticed a trend: recreations of old master works. This characterizes some of my oldest memories around art where I would go to various museums with my family growing up. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area meant that we were spoiled with an amazing selection of places to visit: the Legion of Honor, the de Young, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and others. I love sketching and attempting to mimic the works I see to test my observation skills while also finding a way to take a part of the museum home with me.
I selected the three works seen above:
The Three Shades: Adorning the top of Auguste Rodin’s the Gates of Hell, a depiction from Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, I saw these first in person in the form of a large bronze cast. In a funny way, my drawing is a recreation of a recreation. The way the Legion of Honor lit this work was great and allowed for the practice of both shadows and anatomy.
The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer: I remember seeing various art by Degas and while I associate his art with paintings, this sculpture also deserves a spot among his best work. I originally made this drawing as a reference element for an upcoming comic book project as it is one of my character’s favorite pieces of art.
Man Beside Wheelbarrow: Dorothea Lange might be one of the best photographers who ever picked up a camera and the clarity of her originals is superb. The scene for this one takes place in Oakland, California and I felt an immediate sense of nostalgia once I saw it on the walls of the Frist Art Museum here in Nashville. The Great Depression was of course a challenging time in American history and I believe this image really captures that somber mood.
Strength in Numbers
Meeting and reconnecting with other artists is what keeps me coming back to the various art groups here in Nashville. Making the work is often a solitary experience so gathering together, even for a short period of time, helps in keeping up the connections we have forged. I would recommend visiting Kreate Hub Nashville to see more.
Wrapping Up
While I don’t often sell originals online (with exception of commissions), I will be featuring these again during my next in-person event. You can also get prints of the three works and others from my collection. Stay tuned for more details!
Keep telling stories,
Jeremy