Gallery Up Interviews Dominique Verechia

Check out this Q & A with Space 157 member Dominique Verechia from Gallery Up.

Portrait Group Profile: Matt Andrews

For two years, Friday Arts Project has been hosting a weekly portrait drawing session in Old Town Rock Hill. In addition to Space 157 studio members, a regular group of local artists have joined us for our Monday night ritual. Matt Andrews, a Winthrop University student, produces brilliant pieces week after week. Here are some of his 2-hour portraits and thoughts.

F.A.P. Matt, tell us about yourself

M.A. I'm a senior at Winthrop University studying illustration. My ultimate career goal is to become a concept artist for the video game industry. I've always loved the idea of using my artistic ability to entertain someone, and video games, when done correctly, can be incredibly beautiful, innovative, and artistic collaborative efforts of mass entertainment. I have been developing a style that is realistic enough to be believable, but imaginative enough to be worthy of the "concept artist" title.

F.A.P. What is the drawing group experience like for you?

M.A. The drawing group experience initially was very different from what I'm used to. Typically, drawing and illustration is something I've done for hours and hours alone in room or studio. I could spend 30+ hours on a project without talking to or seeing another human being. The drawing group, however, is a social, relatively quick session that allows me to get out and still do what I love doing: drawing. It promotes speed of workflow and socializing/meeting new people.

F.A.P. Tell us a bit about your process

M.A. Though I spent most of my life drawing on paper, I have, in the past few years, been focusing on digital painting as my primary technique. I am both a computer geek and an artist, so the digital medium is the perfect fit for me. I fell in love with the idea of digital painting in high school and never looked back. Not that I've abandoned traditional media or anything, I just love the speed, convenience, and experimental qualities of working digitally. The program I use primarily, after setting up my laptop and tablet, is a little piece of Japanese software called Easy Paint Tool SAI. It's basically a streamlined, highly intuitive version of Photoshop made specifically for painting and drawing as opposed to photo alteration.

I approach the portraits in software the same way I would start an oil painting. I prime the "canvas" with a base color that often coincides with what the model is wearing or complements their skin tones. I then just start blocking in colors and match shapes and proportions as I go. Even though I'm a draftsman at heart, I don't start with a sketch at all. I just jump right in with colors and it's a lot of fun.

M.A. Since I started going to the Monday portrait nights, I've gotten faster and more confident with my work. It has helped me improve and is a fun way to get out while honing my skills further.

Elonzo plays Space 157

Some glimpses of the Elonzo concert at Space 157 on Feb. 19:

Guestbook

Opening Act: The Perfect Melancholies

Merch

Elonzo

Happy crowd

Impromptu Portrait Session afterwards

Photographs by Aaron Rich

A New Row of Seeds

Recent works by Dominique Verechia


Work in progress by Michael Gentry (photo by Cameron Bunce)

"I'm stalling.
I'm polishing up a few things and I need some more time
there's new round of seeds in dirt already
if it looks cold and dreary,
you're looking in the wrong places"

-Cameron Bunce

----

Things are going steady at Space 157. The studio has gained a new member, and is more whole for it. Monday night portraits sessions are growing. Friday Morning Reader's Guild has started Art & Fear.

Soon: Elonzo concert at our space, International Arts Movement Encounter in New York City, planting.

Muse Fest

Celebrate and revel in all things art at the first-ever Muse Fest, November 11-13, 2010. This festival will take place in & outside of various art spaces and eateries in Old Town Rock Hill, SC.

Among the many other activities, Space 157 will be hosting its Grand Opening. Thursday, Friday & Saturday we will be open from 6-9 pm. Come enjoy some refreshment and celebration with us!

Jeremy Casella House Show

Friday Arts Project is proud to bring singer/songwriter Jeremy Casella back to Old Town Rock Hill for a second year in a row. This year's concert will be a house show.

Jeremy's most recent offering, RCVRY, has been called "A Masterwork" by Derek Webb. Christianity Today Magazine says "5 out of 5 stars...captivating, a hauntingly beautiful album to say the least."

We are excited to be able to act as patrons, providing a small opportunity for an excellent artist to share his work with us. As artists ourselves, we understand the importance of people being willing to support our work. Here are a few thoughts from another musician, Andrew Peterson, on this important issue:

"Go to the websites of your favorite artists and see if they’re coming to a town near you. They’ll be glad you showed up, I guarantee it. Most of the time the tickets are about what you’d pay for a movie, only in this case your money won’t be lining Jerry Bruckheimer’s silken pockets–it’ll go to diapers or the new transmission or the mixing engineer for the new album...Most of us who play music pay the bills by touring. CD sales are helpful, but touring is where the rubber meets the road. We need you to come to the shows. We like to play our songs for other members of the human race. We like meeting you. We love the crackle of spiritual electricity when our songs and your stories intersect. Bring your friends. Concerts–event bad ones–are usually more memorable than movies. Plus, it pays the mortgage."

concert info:

The Crotts Home

616 Cedar Street Rock Hill, SC 29730

Friday, October 22 - 7 PM

Admission $8, Refreshments available

contact Stephen - scrotts86@gmail.com for more info or to reserve tickets

Hope to see you there!

Space 157

On August 26 we had our first open studio at Space 157 as well as a group show next door at the Loading Dock Gallery. Here are some glimpses:


Work in progress by Christopher Doehling


Jon & Jess area


The Illustration Department


Carlee & Jessie


Some professors came too.


Mike Gentry's space


Nicki Verechia's space

Mike brought the best wine.


Tunes.


Our Group Exhibition at the Loading Dock Gallery

images © Jay Grant