ABIGAIL ("ABI") LEWIS Abi Lewis spreads out four pieces across a table, the accumulated work of a long-term assignment that began with twenty to twenty-five small sketches brought together in a series making use of the elements that developed from them. Her collage is a mixture of pen, pencil, Mod Podge and more, with muted coffee tones (“I made them with real coffee. Coffee is important for me; I’m a huge coffee drinker,” says Abi) and touches of blue and pink interspersed. “I usually like subtle tones, not really bright,” she says.
Annika Virden, Organized, 2013, Watercolor, graphite, ink, 24” x 18”
of a castle. Half-Rest presents a vividly colored abstract view of a park bench that began with layers of color around the edge and built inward to the bench itself. Organized features a collection of objects taken from her key ring. “It’s kind of a play on the whole idea of still life,” she says. While Virden isn’t yet sure of her career path, she plans on staying in the area and studying at someplace like Belmont or Lipscomb. “I’m interested in nursing and physical therapy,” she says. “I’m not sure yet how my art will play into that.” Perhaps she has a brilliant future in medical illustration. Time will tell.
Lewis hopes the portfolio she has worked to put together will get her into UT Chattanooga with its solid arts and photography programs. After interning with photographer Kristin Sweeting, she has developed her skills and hopes to work as a photographer herself. “Really, I just hope for a job that lets me be creative and work with a whole lot of people,” Abi Lewis, Building Yourself (“Castleness”), 2013, Pen and ink, 15” x 11” says Lewis. “I’m not sure I want to be stuck in an office.” She has also built herself a small personal business custom painting guitar cases, and now instruments, and she hopes that takes off further.
Abi Lewis, Nashville Bubble, 2013, Graphite, 8.5” x 22”
NashvilleArts.com
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