Community News

“I’m thankful everyday I’m doing something that I really like.” For most of us, that’s the ultimate career goal. For Drew of The Bridge Tattoo Studio, he found his perfect career, one which merged his interests in drawing and 3D art, with the help of a friend.

Growing up, Drew was surrounded by art. His father was an avid painter and illustrator. Drew loved to draw and make things too; he would paint murals in his bedroom and make mobiles. However, in high school, his focus shifted away from art and towards debate and science. Going into North Central College, he planned on going into a science-related field. After his first year and discovering what this career path entailed, he switched majors. Drew tried philosophy for a year before a friend encouraged him to take a few art classes.

From that point on, Drew was hooked and switched majors one last time. While studying art, Drew received encouragement from one of his professors to sculpt and loved it. He enjoyed working with stone and plaster, exploring their initial shape, and developing it down into a refined, abstract shape. After graduating in 1996 with a degree in art and art history, Drew didn’t have any job prospects.

The same friend who had urged him to take art classes in college, urged him to join him as a tattoo artist. In a move that shocked his family, Drew decided to give it a try. At the time, getting into tattooing was difficult; there were no easily available resources and professional grade equipment was hard to get ahold of. The only way in was to be taken in by an established tattoo artist or shop. When he started, Drew worked in a busy street shop. While this forced him to work in various styles, Drew appreciated that he was exposed to all those styles and that provided him variety in his work.

Today, Drew has his own private studio here at Mellwood. Clients typically contact him online, either through his site or Instagram. He discusses their project with them, meets with them, and then either creates a design or takes artwork from the client for a custom tattoo. While he does a wide range of tattoos, he enjoys intricate black and gray realism the most, often featuring natural subjects.

If you would like to see more of his work or book an appointment, check out Drew’s site at thebridgetattoo.com. You can also find him on Instagram at @drew_on_the_bridge.

For Sara Noori, it all started with a lime green crayon. The simple act of picking up it to color was the beginning of Sara’s lifelong pursuit of art.

Growing up, Sara spent much of their time coloring and building with LEGOs; the two activities were their happy places. Throughout their schooling, Sara signed up for as many art-related extracurriculars as possible. While attending Ballard High School, they knew they wanted to pursue art as a career. Luckily, Sara had a supportive and encouraging art teacher who helped them get into AP art classes to further their goal.

After graduating from Ballard, Sara went into UofL’s 2D Studies program. They volunteered at the Speed Art Museum and interned with the education departments of both the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Upon receiving their degree from UofL in 2010, Sara worked at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s Family Day program and as a visual arts teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

Earlier in their art career, Sara focused on maximalism, painting still lifes containing objects and patterns with strong connections to family and heritage. When they first visited the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, they saw an installment by Olafur Eliasson, which was more experimental and immersive and focused on color theory. This installation left a lasting impression on Sara, as they embraced more 3D installation work, memory-based pieces, and abstract expressionism, all using mixed media.

In addition to their paintings and installations, Sara also creates designs for garments, typically denim jackets. They screen print symbolic elements, such as orchids, braided hair, chains, and barbed wire, and further embellishes the graphics with layers hand-painted designs. If you would like to see more of their studio or classroom work, check out their site at saranoori.com. You can also find more of their garment designs at foremotherstudio.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram at @ForemotherStudio.

In addition to their paintings and installations, Sara also creates designs for garments, typically denim jackets. They screen print symbolic elements, such as orchids, braided hair, chains, and barbed wire, and further embellishes the graphics with layers hand-painted designs. If you would like to see more of their studio or classroom work, check out their site at saranoori.com. You can also find more of their garment designs at foremotherstudio.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram at @ForemotherStudio.

We’re all told we should find what we’re most passionate about and follow it. Some of us spend years searching. A lucky few find it very early on. For Justice Levine, she found her passion for drawing as a child and pursued it ever since.

Growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Justice was immersed in the arts. Her dad is a musician, and her mom is an avid arts and crafts enthusiast, having taught Justice embroidery, sewing, and ceramics. She also had a grandfather, an architect prior to his retirement, and grandmother who enjoyed drawing in their free time. When she started drawing, her parents and grandparents were very encouraging. In elementary school, she participated in an afterschool art program which curated shows in local coffee shops featuring the students’ work. Justice continued to pursue art after her family moved to northern California in middle school. During high school, her freshman and sophomore years were spent in an arts and drama program, and she took AP art classes her junior and senior years. For college, Justice returned to New Mexico to attend the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, where she focused on her greatest passion: drawing. Following college, she moved with her boyfriend to Louisville.

Illustration is Justice’s primary artistic outlet. For her, the process of making her drawings as realistic as possible brings the most joy. Justice’s illustrations tend towards magical realism, which straddles Surrealism and Photorealism, combining and juxtaposing elements in odd and fantastical configurations. The end result being realistic depictions of things which could only exist in the imagination. While a few of her illustrations use colored pencil, Justice’s primary drawing implements are ball-point pens. She appreciates their functional similarity to pencils while possessing a permanence and smudge resistance pencils lack. During COVID, she started doing some embroidery work, making handbags and wall art on the side. Using plastic canvases usually used for cross stitching, her embroidery work diverges from the magical realism of her illustrations, often exploring pixelated shape and color instead of line and detail.

If you would like to see more of her work, be sure to check out her Instagram at @lilillustartor. You can also purchase some of her work through her Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/Lilillustrator.

Illustration is Justice’s primary artistic outlet. For her, the process of making her drawings as realistic as possible brings the most joy. Justice’s illustrations tend towards magical realism, which straddles Surrealism and Photorealism, combining and juxtaposing elements in odd and fantastical configurations. The end result being realistic depictions of things which could only exist in the imagination. While a few of her illustrations use colored pencil, Justice’s primary drawing implements are ball-point pens. She appreciates their functional similarity to pencils while possessing a permanence and smudge resistance pencils lack. During COVID, she started doing some embroidery work, making handbags and wall art on the side. Using plastic canvases usually used for cross stitching, her embroidery work diverges from the magical realism of her illustrations, often exploring pixelated shape and color instead of line and detail.

If you would like to see more of her work, be sure to check out her Instagram at @lilillustartor. You can also purchase some of her work through her Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/Lilillustrator.

If you follow Louisville Visual Arts, you may have seen Shawn Wade’s takeover of LVA’s social media for their #TakeoverTuesday last week. But did you know Shawn’s also a recent addition to the Mellwood artist community?

Growing up, Shawn was surrounded by artists, with several women in their family actively engaged in making art; it was only natural they would be artistically inclined as well. At a young age, drawing and sketching were among their favorite activities. As they got older, Shawn sketched and painted portraits, often of celebrities. As a kid, Shawn didn’t have access to traditional art supplies and would work with whatever they could get ahold of, including some unconventional media like dirt, gravel, charcoal briquettes, and makeup and beauty supplies. Once they were old enough to start working, Shawn was able to buy their own supplies. Shawn usually uses acrylics and paints on any surface they can. Paper, walls, and thrift store clothing are but a few of the canvases for their creations.

In 2015, Shawn’s father passed away following health complications. This loss highlighted how unexpected and brief life can be, further cementing the importance of leading a fulfilling life. For Shawn, that meant making art and helping others. Starting out, Shawn used art to help people cope with loss; they painted portraits of people who passed away to give to surviving family members. As they grew in their art, Shawn got involved with IDEAS xLab, having worked with the Our Emotional Wellbeing program and contributed to the “Belonging Through Creative Arts” activity book.

For Shawn, art is storytelling. Often, Shawn starts with a sketch to get the details of the story down before painting anything. Shawn takes what they see online, in the media, and in life and incorporates it into their art. Shawn regularly tries to highlight the light in the darkness and bring hope and inspiration to those in need of it. To see more of Shawn’s work, be sure to check out their Facebook page at Artistry of a Dreamer or on Instagram at @artistry_of_a_dreamer.

In 2015, Shawn’s father passed away following health complications. This loss highlighted how unexpected and brief life can be, further cementing the importance of leading a fulfilling life. For Shawn, that meant making art and helping others. Starting out, Shawn used art to help people cope with loss; they painted portraits of people who passed away to give to surviving family members. As they grew in their art, Shawn got involved with IDEAS xLab, having worked with the Our Emotional Wellbeing program and contributed to the “Belonging Through Creative Arts” activity book.

For Shawn, art is storytelling. Often, Shawn starts with a sketch to get the details of the story down before painting anything. Shawn takes what they see online, in the media, and in life and incorporates it into their art. Shawn regularly tries to highlight the light in the darkness and bring hope and inspiration to those in need of it. To see more of Shawn’s work, be sure to check out their Facebook page at Artistry of a Dreamer or on Instagram at @artistry_of_a_dreamer.

Perhaps you’ve stopped by our gallery recently or saw us promoting the current show, “Nature vs Man Made,” which features work by a father and son pair of photographers, Anil and Aravind Vinayakan. While Anil’s a healthcare professional by trade, he’s a lifelong artist at heart; not only as a photographer, but as a painter with a studio here at Mellwood too.

Growing up, Anil loved drawing. He also had a desire to do photography, but unfortunately couldn’t convince his parents to get him a camera. It wasn’t until he got older that Anil started painting. Heading into med school, however, his life got busier and he largely put his art on hold; only producing medical illustrations. A year after performing plastic surgery in India, Anil finally persuaded his parents to get him a camera; he needed it to document his work. And while he did use the camera for that purpose, he also took photos of landscapes when he didn’t have time to paint.

It wasn’t until he left India and started teaching at UofL that Anil reconnected with painting. He took advantage of his proximity to the Speed Art Museum to view the art on display there. He reviewed art books from UofL’s library and even took some classes through their Lifelong Learning program. He moved into a studio here at Mellwood in 2008 to better focus on his painting. With encouragement from friends and colleagues, Anil started showing and selling his photographs and paintings.

Whether it’s painting or photography, nature, to varying degrees, is a constant subject and source of inspiration. With regards to his paintings, Anil started with oils and acrylics. His greatest inspiration was John Singer Sargent. During the spring of 2020, the pandemic gave Anil the opportunity to study watercolor painting. He admires the watercolor paintings of Joseph Zbukvic, Andy Evansen, Thomas Schaller, Keiko Tanabe, Jerry Smith, among others. In viewing his paintings, one views serene landscapes through the hazy lens of memory or a dream.

“Nature vs Man Made” will be on display in our Pigment Gallery until June 18th. Be sure to catch his next gallery show at the KORE Gallery on July 10th. To see more of his paintings, check out his KORE Gallery artist profile at koreartgallery.com/anil-vinayakan.

Our teenage years are a tumultuous time as we figure out who we are. For many teens, how they dress is part of establishing and expressing their own identity. In that regard, Austin Kopp was no different. However, what set him apart from his peers was his desire to do so through his own creations.

Fascinated by the unique, organic patterns found on some of his mom’s bleach-stained vintage t-shirts, Austin decided to make his own. Buying packs of t-shirts and a gallon of bleach, he set to work. Initially, Austin did this for himself. But as some of his classmates took notice, he started taking requests.

After graduating from high school, Austin went on to UofL for graphic design. Two years into the program, it wasn’t where his heart was and he left. Austin was able to take some of what he learned there and apply it to his real passion, designing clothes. Moving away from bleach staining, he uses what he learned to design graphics for his own line of t-shirts and hoodies.

Austin’s creative journey took a new turn after receiving an old sewing machine from his grandmother. He began buying old clothes from thrift stores to experiment with, taking them apart piece by piece, making some tweaks, and reassembles them. The results yield patterns he can then use to make duplicates using materials of his choosing. As he designs more wholly original concepts, many of the qualities found in his deconstructed/reconstructed thrift store garments are incorporated. Patch-work pieces, rough cuts, frayed edges, and worn materials find their way into this work.

Currently in art school, Austin’s main goal is to define and refine his style as a designer. Focusing on a “casual luxury” styling bridging the gap between streetwear and high-end fashion, Austion looks to designers such as Reese Cooper, Rhuigi Villaseñor, Vivian Westwood, Beth Simmons, and Virgil Abloh.

If you want to see more of Austin’s work, make a purchase, or inquire about a commission, check out his site at austinkopp.com. You can also find him on Instagram at @austin.kopp_ or Twitter at Austin_Kopp.

Currently in art school, Austin’s main goal is to define and refine his style as a designer. Focusing on a “casual luxury” styling bridging the gap between streetwear and high-end fashion, Austion looks to designers such as Reese Cooper, Rhuigi Villaseñor, Vivian Westwood, Beth Simmons, and Virgil Abloh.

If you want to see more of Austin’s work, make a purchase, or inquire about a commission, check out his site at austinkopp.com. You can also find him on Instagram at @austin.kopp_ or Twitter at Austin_Kopp.

For many college students, the path to graduation is a winding one. This is a time for discovering new interests and developing new skills. In leaving, the road college students find themselves on often differs from the one they initially planned. This is where aspiring artist/designer Ireland Dollar finds herself.

There was never a point in Ireland’s life where art didn’t interest her. As a kid, she always enjoyed drawing. As she got older, Ireland took up painting and experimented with different mediums; she particularly enjoyed doing acrylic pours. It wasn’t until she started attending Hanover College that she took her first art class.

Going into college, she planned on becoming a doctor and began work on a psychology major. Then she took her first art course, photography, and was hooked. It was something she not only enjoyed, but excelled at. Hungry for more, she followed up photography with printmaking and graphic design. As graduation draws near, she sees printmaking and graphic design as ways to combine her psychology major with her passion for art.

Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of artists and styles, including Salvador Dali’s surrealism, Andy Warhol’s use of layers and colors, Nan Goldin’s beautification of the ugly, and Robert Beatty’s trippy album artwork, Ireland finds her own work gravitating towards neo-psychedelic designs. Her prints, whether it’s wall art or shirt designs, regularly combine sharp, jagged lines with vibrant colors.

If you would like to see more of Ireland’s work, or if you would like to commission a design, check out her website dollarireland.wixsite.com/dismaltrip. You can also find her on Instagram.

Going into college, she planned on becoming a doctor and began work on a psychology major. Then she took her first art course, photography, and was hooked. It was something she not only enjoyed, but excelled at. Hungry for more, she followed up photography with printmaking and graphic design. As graduation draws near, she sees printmaking and graphic design as ways to combine her psychology major with her passion for art.

Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of artists and styles, including Salvador Dali’s surrealism, Andy Warhol’s use of layers and colors, Nan Goldin’s beautification of the ugly, and Robert Beatty’s trippy album artwork, Ireland finds her own work gravitating towards neo-psychedelic designs. Her prints, whether it’s wall art or shirt designs, regularly combine sharp, jagged lines with vibrant colors.

If you would like to see more of Ireland’s work, or if you would like to commission a design, check out her website dollarireland.wixsite.com/dismaltrip. You can also find her on Instagram.