Boy with a Violin, Cat as an Audience

Boy with a Violin, 2012, Etching with color pencils

This quite small 6" x 9" etching piece took quite a long while until it came along. I started it as a small, pleasant gift to a friend at the end of last year, 2011. It was meant to be quick, simple, funny and whimsical. I drew it out with a soft ground on the etching plate, which (usually) allows a very soft and pencil drawing feel to the print. It came out way too light, as if I erased the pencil drawings and it still left the trace on the paper. After I redrew, soft feeling I wanted was already gone.

I abandoned the plate for several months, then went back to it in the spring 2012. I put it through several layers of soft and hard ground drawings and aquatint. Then I colored it with color pencils.

So the supposedly light and simple drawing became a bit heavy. I wanted it to be Jean-Jacques Sempé like whimsical (and masterful!) drawing, but it became, well, my drawing. Though I did not like the piece for quite awhile, now I kind of like the cheerfulness of the boy's expression while he is being ready to play in front of his trying to be patient audience cat.

When I was planning this whole series (which I did not continue) of instrumental playing kids, I wanted them to be light and cheerful, mostly practicing not performing. As a little kid, when I was learning to play piano for the first time, it wasn't so much about fun. It was more about practicing and playing correct according to the note. It was, sadly, boring. Needless to say, one has to go through different phases to get better at something, but I still would love it to be something more fun and enjoyable. That's what I want the children in my drawing to have when they play musical instruments.


*more pics at the shop! Click here!

Memoir

© Aram Kim. detail of Memoir, 2012. 

 

Ancient Korean drawings truly fascinate me. I had been exploring since the new year with imitating the soft brush strokes of ancient Korean drawings using soft ground technique of etching. At the end, after printing several small plates copying Korean masters from 19th century, I wanted to draw something that contained my own story. So, this piece came, the last print I pulled before the printshop closed for one month break. 

I thought of what had been important part of my life and integrated several elements including ari (my own first pet ever, a yellow baby chicken I bought from the vendor in front of my old elementary school), books, etching press, family photos and many many more. 

I remembered an old photo I saw from the family album long time ago that a small girl, me, was reaching out for an apple in the tree at the orchard our family visited, probably for pick your own apples event. She (I) was so excited and happy in the photo and her face was full of joy. Simple expectation of picking an apple from a tree by herself brought the girl the greatest delight. 

Starting from the photo, I drew out the memorable elements of my life. Looking back, sometimes, does give you an energy to walk forward.     

Hands

Second and third drawing of Four drawing series of hands, which is included in the project Love... to be shown this Thursday at the Korean Cultural Service, NY, with the music by New York Classical Symphony (see the previous posting for more info on the event!).
Done by soft ground etching and aquatint, colored with color pencils and collage. I made the series specifically for this project, but the idea is growing and this hand series would be the next project I'm going to work on after I finish this show. Sakura from SVA printshop gave me such an inspiring idea on a new project, I can't wait to get it started. That is the most wonderful thing about this SVA printshop. Everyone shares ideas and inspires each other. What an awesome place! :)