"Black and White" 2022 Show

This show will run July 1-31, 2022. Artists from around the world were called to submit their work. There were 45 accepted works and they came from 18 different states in the USA as well as 3 other countries: Australia, Canada, and China. A variety of styles and mediums were entered, including but not limited to acrylic, charcoal, colored pencil, cut paper, digital, mixed media, pastel, pen, pencil/graphite, photography, printmaking, and scratchboard. Other factors, such as the clarity of the images provided and their ability to be viewed online, also contributed to our decision. “Best of Show”, “First Place”, and “Second Place” winners received a monetary award in addition to special recognition.

We were very happy to donate 10% of all entry fees from this show to Heart to Heart. HHI strengthens communities through improving health access and providing humanitarian development worldwide. For more information about them, please visit their website http://www.hearttoheart.org/. Colors of Humanity Art Gallery, LLC is not affiliated with Heart to Heart. It is our hope that this small act of kindness will blossom and grow to help someone else.

Thank you to all the artists who participated! Your talents and skills gave us a diverse body of work to create this attractive show.

Buyers- Please contact the artists directly for sales. Colors of Humanity Art Gallery does not handle any part of the sale or collect any commission, it is solely between the buyer and artist. You may find a link to the artist’s website or email address below their work.

About myself: I was born at Hanshou County, Cangde City, Hunan Province, China. I have been practicing art for more than 20 years and has earned an MFA from Hunan Normal University. When I was young, I wanted to be an artist because of my sister's influence, she likes painting very much, so I started to learn and began to study professional art classes in the fourth grade of primary school. I have participated in numerous shows including the American Art Awards and the National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society. Best In Show awards won at GOGA Gallery's Open competition and Gallery Ring's People Show are among my accolades. I also participate in various art activities and is a member of the Portrait Society of America. I hope that my artworks can bring beauty and a new visual experience to the viewers.

About the drawing- "Sister in the maze of flowers" The model of this drawing is my dear sister, who also loves art. I was influenced by my sister and began to learn art when I was a child. Since I was deeply influenced by Pre-Raphaelism, so my artwork were inspired by Pre-Raphaelism and also created artworks with modern aesthetics. The background pattern learns from William Morris to express my respect to the master.

Tracy has over 38 years in a design agency setting in Chicago, specializing in package design/creative project management for major consumer product groups until retiring in 2018. Besides showing his internationally award winning, narrative portraits, Tracy spends time teaching Colored Pencil classes at the Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, conducting workshops to art groups across the country, and volunteer work at Project Onward, a studio for artist with mental illnesses.

MY INSPIRATION / Sometimes the beauty of the soul only show in our imperfections.

My inspiration is drawn solely from my subjects and their hidden emotional truths. Each subject is a compelling visual portrayal of the human spirit, determination, and courage. I strive to show the viewer that while at first glance, my subjects show a sense of inner fragility as well as giving them a visual voice. Capturing this inner fragility is what has moved me forward documenting my subjects and their dealing with mental illness, addictions and social stigmas. To be able to capture those emotions, I model my work in black and white colored pencil on drafting film. Working with a limited pallet allows me to concentrate on the composition, form, texture, tonal values and lighting.

My Process

My process Drawing by Subtraction® is a trademarked Black and White colored pencil process, where I strip away colored pencil pigment from the surface of Grafix® Drafting film. Working in the old Master’s technique, Chiaroscuro, I create a sense of opposition and tension between different elements as I create a complete range of tonal values. Eventually adding detail while expanding and readjusting my value structure.

My Subjects

I started documenting subjects that suffer mental illness after responding to a Call for Artist posted by the Department of Mental Health America of Illinois. This was a peer-led, anti-stigma and awareness project featuring 24 stories written by authors with lived mental health experience. The stories and artworks would be part of a series of community conversations being held in venues across Illinois and nationwide, culminating with the full project premiering at of Mental Health America of Illinois 28th annual Gala and Silent auction.

My Piece / Insomnia: Drowning in my Fear -Stained Sheets

The connection between creativity and mental illnesses has been a source of interest towards researchers for many years. Most cases of insomnia are related to poor sleep habits, depression, anxiety, lack of exercise, chronic illness, or certain medications and mental illnesses. Insomnia is also more commonly seen in individuals with psychosocial stress like disrupted family life, divorce, the death of a spouse, and alcohol or substance abuse.

From my subject:

The intersection of creative living and mental wellness is a tricky space. Insomnia is loneliness. Can Someone talk to me? More pills. More drugs. More drinks to wash down. And once again it's only me. I’m alone. I’m awake in the dark, as I drown in fear between these cold sheets.

I am a disabled self-taught award-winning artist and now becoming an inspirational artist. I have had many miracles and I feel that I’m being guided by God in my life and I believes I’m alive to tell my story and share my art with the world and inspire others like me. I feel and believe that this is my purpose here on earth and it has become my life mission. I enjoy to draw and paint realistically. I can work in many mediums but pastels has become the medium of my choice I discovered three years ago. I can also work in oils, acrylics, graphite, gouache and colored pencils. I was born with Elhers Danlos Syndrome, a rare disease that caused my spine to collapse twice. I was diagnosed with this rare disease in 2015. I began my art in 2015 when I was fighting for my life once again and made God a promise if he saved my life once again I would become a self taught artist. I survived I kept my promise and since then I have created over 140 works of art. 86 of them are pastels. I also have learning disabilities and memory problems as well. I have endured over 10 operations since the age of 10. Both back and abdominal. I have two rods and 26 screws holding her spine. Art is my passion and the best therapy for my illness. I loves to draw and paint nature, animals, pets, wildlife, people, animals, kids, landscapes and architectural pieces in mediums such as oils, acrylics, gouache, graphite, charcoal and colored pencils. I was inspired to draw A Mother’s love by looking at the work of a famous artist child prodigy Akiane Kramarik and old masters Madonna and child. It has always been mine and my mother’s favorite art. I wanted to create a version using pastels in a classical style. Due to my many disabilities and my spine collapsing twice I was never able to have children. I’m drawn to depicting children and babies. This piece means so much to me. Sometimes when I see A Mother’s love I imagine myself being a baby and my mom holding me. I’m a true walking miracle and I’m blessed to be creating art and living my passion. You can read my full story https://weinspiremovement.org/mystory/carinaimbrogno?format=amp https://caimbrogno.wixsite.com/mysite

Colors of Humanity Art Gallery

"Black and White" 2022 Show

Best of Show

First Place

Second Place

Honorable Mention

Noteworthy

"Black and White" 2022 Show