Artist Megan Uhaze submited “Isolation Contemplation 2020,” a mixed media composition on paper, that has been featured in the Trenton City Museum’s online exhibition “The Art of Sheltering in Place.” The following statement accompanied her work.
As an artist, this quarantine experience has been interesting for me. As a professional artist and painter my main medium is paint from the automotive and industrial industry on hard board. I spray, airbrush, and hand paint my pieces in layers to create a detailed yet graphic and sharp image. These paints can be toxic and not the best to inhale so I take precautions regularly.
I was excited to find out this past November that I was pregnant and my husband and I are expecting our first child this July. This news had already sent me into a different mode as I can no longer do my regular work as the materials are to toxic while pregnant, then my life was changed again as an artist when me and my husband quarantined ourselves in our home like so many others.
This experience has made me experiment, work outside the box, try new materials, explore new paths and it has been one I have truly enjoyed. Not only am I working primarily at home and not in my studio, but I am having to be inventive, and work with materials that are safer for me and baby.
I’ve been creating and exploring works on paper, with pen and ink, acrylic, watercolor and other mediums. I’ve been pushing myself to explore new subject matter particularly the human form which is something I don’t portray often. I’m still able to use vibrant color and a graphic style which is a common theme in my paintings. I think this time of isolation has given me the opportunity to just create and to not worry about the outcome, its liberating.
Besides working for myself as a painter, I am also a fulltime artist for the Seward Johnson Atelier in Hamilton. Working from home for my company at the moment has offered its share of fun opportunities as well. I gave a process lecture on the creation of sculpture over Zoom to 88 docents and volunteers from the Grounds For Sculpture. This quarantine has forced art companies as well as artists to push boundaries and be creative in new ways, I’m excited to see what new methods from this time we carry into the future.
Submit artwork to dan@princetoninfo.com.
