Our forty-ninth post of the series, Artists in the Time of Coronavirus includes Lynn Palewicz, Maria Sammartino, Sean Frank, Adi Kaushal, Deven Shah, and Siphiwe Fokazi. Thank you for sharing with us and the Philly art community!

We have gotten over 300 submissions, and we are so grateful to all participants. The time has come to close our inbox to submissions. So if you want to participate, send your statement (250 words max) and 2 photos to support@theartblog.org before July 29, 2020, at 11:59 PM. More details here. Stay safe and stay positive, and come back in the days to come for more “Artists in the Time of Coronavirus.” We have a wonderful community and are so proud of being able to share everyone’s art.

Lynn Palewicz

Black and white drawing of a woman's head on a white cloth in a nature setting at night — Lynn Palewicz, “Untitled (image of woman and bear in woods)” charcoal on paper, 26” x 35” Courtesy Lynn Palewicz

Black and white drawing of leaves and water and fireflies at night. — Lynn Palewicz, “Untitled (image of night lit foliage)” charcoal on paper, 38” x 22” Courtesy Lynn Palewicz.

I was on sabbatical when the quarantine began. I went from a home-studio full of quiet and solitude to a bustling home life filled with homeschooling and the family’s zoom work-meetings. It was March. The air was cool (even with a face mask) and the outdoors called to me with promises of escape and voicelessness. Walking in nature allowed me a brief retreat to an inner world and inspired my drawings with new life and direction.

Lynn Palewicz
www.lynnpalewicz.com

Maria Sammartino

Abstract painting with red and gold — Maria Sammartino, “Red Riot.” Courtesy Maria Sammartino.

Abstract textured painting featuring blue and brown tones in vertical designs. — Maria Sammartino, “Causing a Commotion.” Courtesy Maria Sammartino.

I have always been drawn to abstract expressionism, and my work reflects that’s who I am as an artist. Ever since I started painting this has been my journey, and
I have continued this path.

Before I paint on the canvas, I paint in my mind. Sometimes it can take days or even a week or more for me to have a vision of what I want to put down on my canvas. This is my process and how I approach my art, but there are times I have no idea of what is going to happen, and I allow myself to surrender to the canvas.

I am currently working on a new body of work. I have been painting for years, and I have amassed a collection of work that reflects who I am as an abstract expressionist and an artist.

Sean Frank

Marker drawing of a silhouetted person looking at a landscape. — Sean Frank, “Looking Out.” Courtesy Sean Frank.

Marker drawing of vertical textured strips of color. — Sean Frank, “Cascades.” Courtesy Sean Frank.

My name is Sean. I am 36 years old and live in the North East United States. I have always enjoyed writing, recording music, making videos and drawing. It has been a while since I recorded a song and I was starting to get anxious during quarantine. I decided I would combine all of my artistic interests and create something new. I was able to record the song using equipment in my home. The visual part was harder until I realized I could use my existing artwork and photographs. Utilizing video editing and effects software, I was able to add animations and transitions that worked with my lyrics. This process taught me that creativity can always offer an escape. I also appreciated how I was forced to be resourceful and use what I had already created to make something new.

My Blog (Art Section): https://digitaldreams.typepad.com/digital-dreams/art/
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sean.jerz/?hl=en

Adi Kaushal

marker drawing of a seaside and a lighthouse in an oval shape with palm tree leaves at the top. — Adi Kaushal, “Corona Vacation” alcohol markers on paper, 9×12. Courtesy Adi Kaushal.

Deven Shah

Marker drawing of a covid virus cell with small images of words and objects inside. — Artwork by Deven Shah. Courtesy Deven Shah.

I have created a coronavirus “doodle” that is composed of everything I processed coronavirus as. Here are some things that I would like to share with you that is in my “doodle”. The toilet paper is for when everyone was going crazy about it, the scared cloud and question mark is because everyone is scared right now and in the unknown, and lastly the heart is for our love which is holding us together during this difficult time. Thank you! =)

http://devenshah.wordpress.com

Siphiwe Fokazi

Brown portrait drawing of a figure on black paper. — Siphiwe Fokazi, “grinding 1” Courtesy Siphiwe Fokazi.

Siphiwe Fokazi, “grinding 2” Courtesy Siphiwe Fokazi.

My work, Is basically a journey of self-discovery, the physical me that is in search of meaningful life, having nothing but what I already know and have. This is a fight to get a reasonable understanding between my true self and soil I am planted in and arguments between my inner self that can-do things naturally verses what is deemed acceptable by our societal value systems.

Besides theoretical debates on good art verses bad art, self-taught verses academics, the idea of my own identity weighs much of my attention. As self-taught artist, I thought it will be of importance I tell my story the way I like it. My quest is in finding the essence of a person’s identity outside all society value systems. I believe that a person’s identity can easily be confused to what we see, which sets a tone of conclusion whilst what we see is already in past. Our beliefs and emotions cannot be seen and yet the form big part in a person’s identity. If believes and emotions can change at any point in time, why do we conclude on a person identity based on what we see.

This question, is what my work is exploring.

Artists in the time of Coronavirus, an ongoing virtual exhibition, Part 49

By Artblog July 15, 2020

We proudly present part 49 of our open call, non-juried, online exhibition entitled "Artists in the time of Coronavirus!" A huge thank you to our 300+ participants! The deadline to submit is July 29, 2020 at midnight. More details in the post.