Mixtape: New Works on Paper is my latest solo show at the Cafe 1923 in Hamtramck. I can’t believe I never before had a show solely of works on paper. I mean, as an artist you usually carry a sketchbook everywhere you go, so working on paper seems like the most natural thing in the world–and it is.
The show is a combination of works on paper that use traditional materials like markers and paint, and mixed-media pieces usually with tape of some kind: gaffer, duck or washi. Tape can be tricky to work with since markers and paint do not always react well to the surface of the tape. After many experiments, my go-to black marker for drawing on tape became the Pilot BeGreen permanent marker. Posca paint markers also work well, and came in second.
Tape is similar to collage, and is a fun way to create patterns for clothes as you can see in this fashion portrait. Some tape can be unforgiving, and once you put it in place you must leave it there or risk tearing the paper.
Happy accidents are always welcome, and the most interesting one happened when I was revisiting one of my koi fish paintings with tape on an old canvas and decided to peel off the tape–the result was a cut-up” koi fish. I hope to do more of these cut-up pieces in the future.
The closing reception is on Friday, August 5th, from 5–7 pm. So grab the kids and the grandparents and come on down to the Cafe 1923 Coffeehouse located at 2287 Holbrook Ave, Hamtramck, MI. Hope to see you!