As a contemporary artist, I create based on visuals concepts of the imagination and real life. Including abstract techniques in my portraits and other pieces, allows room for the audience to connect to each body of work and identify themselves somewhere in the storyline. Uniquely I chose to opt out of outlining as done in my previous works, and focused on using bold color choices. My art represents my story, but I know it’s a story many know well.
In my Mother and Son series, I hope to reflect the honesty and beauty of motherhood, the ugly too. It’s far from perfect for any parent. No matter what walk of life you come from, this series is personal, it’s transgenerational, it’s ours. Mother and Son is a reminder that I’m not alone in this everchanging journey and makes light of precious fleeting moments along the way.
Tiana Traffas is currently creating a series titled Arcana Ma. Arcana meaning secrets or mysteries, Ma as in mother or motherhood: mysteries of motherhood. This ever unfolding body of work explores the taboos and experiences of motherhood through archetype, personal experience, mythology and symbolism from the ancient goddess cultures to modern-day mamas. It also includes work that views the other phases of womanhood, maiden to crone, and the life-death-rebirth cycle through the len of motherhood. Arcana Ma only exists because of her daughter's birth. The artist's initiation into motherhood cracked her wide open into a psychedelic and potent transformation, leaving her reborn on an emotional and spiritual level. The act of birth and the continuous trip of motherhood is the inspiration for this series.
In my new series, Mother Tongue, I am exploring the emotions associated with Motherhood. Pulling imagery from personal domestic spaces I am creating a multidimensional metaphor reflecting on the moments one has when mothering another human being. This series is a space in which I explore feelings of loss, weight, clumsiness and a joy that can only come from selflessness. Each painting in the series represents a consecutive moment in a timeline from conception to present day. They are about making new spaces where there is no room, facing death while creating life, losing yourself through transformation, they are about fear and the unknown. Mother Tongue is the journey of giving yourself entirely to another person.
June Jewell is a fine & graphic artist residing in Purcellville. She is currently a stay-at-home-mama to her two & a half year old son, Calvin & newborn, Daisy & loves every minute of it. June is sometimes able to work on her paintings at night when the little tater tots are off dreaming of stomping in puddles & eating cheese or whatever it is babies dream about. June loves painting quirky animals & nature subjects, abstract works, & recently took up painting human portraits. To June, painting is cathartic & mandatory.