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Process, artwork, and current inspirations from the artists of MAKE STUDIO. We save our faves.

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Heaven is on the rise

October 30, 2015

The piece is a calm and peaceful place. It is like heaven, the sky is like day and night. I worked on this piece for two weeks to get it finished. It is going to be a card. It is from my imagination, this place I created is like heaven.

I painted the sky gray because it reminds me of winter. White, purple and pink in the skylines. The rising sun is gray, white and orange.

The water is a lake, it sits on the far right. What surrounds the lake is rocks, bushes and a tree that sits by itself.

I was inspired to do this piece because I love nature.

by Chuck Fischer
A Day in Little Italy with Kareem Samuels

October 17, 2015

Two weeks ago, I was there in Little Italy at Downtown Baltimore City for the event called, The 2015 Madonnari Arts Festival. I was there at Little Italy with Carolyn (a staff member at Make Studio). I was doing chalk art & I made a chalk work of a man with red hat & some clothes: blue shirt & red trousers, including the mustache as a Super Mario Brother from the video game & I was impressed.

Since I was finished with the art chalk, I was down there to see it all: Italian dancers performing outside in Little Italy. They have Italian restaurants & much, much more in Little Italy at Downtown Baltimore City for the 2015 Madonnari Arts Festival.

One of the best things is to find some Italian food & I got some Italian cookies & a Vinni pizza made of cheese, peppers & sausages & it was the best Italian pizza ever in Little Italy.
Inked Out! Ink Workshop At Make Studio

August 14, 2015

By Jordan Merlino

Last week at Make Studio, I hosted a workshop for the artists on how to apply ink and how to use techniques and different materials for textures and abstract shapes and forms. What prompted me to host the workshop is my observation in the studio of seeing a lack of India ink. The artists use Sharpie markers and watercolor, so I figured giving a demo on different ways to use India Ink would be great (mainly because I used a lot of watercolor techniques with ink). Furthermore, I am very passionate about ink application and usage; it is one of my favorite mediums to work with.

The pay off from the workshops were wonderful. The artists really were able to step out of their boundaries and experiment with the new medium. For instance, Zach Manuel is known for his graphic and illustrative characters, but during the ink workshop Zach created beautiful minimalist ink washes. Chuck experimented with abstract wet on wet application, and then experimented with colored acrylic ink with India ink. What was even more exciting was when staff, other interns and volunteers got involved and interested in working with ink.

-By Zach Manuel
Complex Creatures: Mixing Reality and Fantasy

August 5, 2015

by Jordan Merlino, Summer Intern

David Gray’s body of work is filled with unique, imaginative, and stunning creatures. David thinks about and generates elaborate backgrounds and scientific descriptions for his characters, which convey a realistic sense of identity for them.

However, where does David receive his inspiration from? What is David’s process from brainstorming to the final piece? How long has David created these characters, and will he create them in the future? I was able to sit down with David to talk about his work and how he creates his characters.

(J): Your characters are fascinating and stunning examples of conceptual illustration. What inspires you to create these characters?

(D): I use my imagination and mix it together with reality and fantasy.

(J): How long does it usually take for you to complete a character, including its descriptions?

(D): Fifteen minutes, sometimes an hour. It depends on the complexity of the character.

(J): What is a motivation for you to continue creating these characters?

(D): What drives me is thinking of a character’s personality, creating that character’s personality (through writing), and just drawing.

(J): What are your main goals for your creatures in the future? Do you see them being published?

(D): At some point, yes. Sometimes I want to put my characters in comics. I want to do my own comic for my characters, but I don’t know how (yet!).

David’s medium of choice for his characters are colored pencils and sharpie markers. His creatures are part of David’s overall portfolio, which he says fosters his artistic growth and provides material for a future comic.

Coming soon, more of David’s work can be seen at and purchased via his artists’ page: http://www.make-studio.org/artist_pages/david_gray.html
What Does Love Got To Do With It?

July 31, 2015

by Jordan Merlino, Summer Intern

What does love got to do with it? Well, love has a lot to do with Chuck Fischer’s inspirations as an artist.

Chuck has been dating his girlfriend Jessica for two years, and he has hopes that they will keep growing their relationship.

My girlfriend and I met at the greenhouse almost two years ago. My mom likes my girlfriend. Our two-year anniversary is coming up in September, and we are planning to go to Valentino’s . . . . We’re planning to get married in 2017. We’re moving in together next year.

Chuck also dedicates some of his artwork to this relationship.

Love Is Forever is a piece about my girlfriend and I. It’s really special to me, and the significance goes really deep for me. I also have a photograph from my phone that I turned into a drawing. I blew it up on the computer and drew it that way. I used watercolor and charcoal.

Chuck plans to create more work about his relationship and other types of love — for his family, friends, and towards the world at-large — in the future.

See more of Chuck’s work and purchase it via his artists’ page: http://www.make-studio.org/artist_pages/chuck_fischer.html
Kareem’s Food Chronicles, Part 2

June 6, 2015

by Kareem Samuels

I have been going to any place that I can eat, restaurants or markets and that kind of thing. Anywhere around the city to find food. I order food that I like and take pictures of myself with the food and then post them on Facebook. I do this and it is something like a food diary.

This was a Sausage Mcmuffin and a hash brown.

A chocolate croissant that I got at Towson.

This was a grilled cheese sandwich from the cafeteria [at my new job in Towson].

This was called a brownie cheesecake with strawberries.
The Revitz Collection

May 15, 2015

She has more art from me than any other person anywhere, certainly more than anyone at St. Elizabeth School! She is my former guidance counselor, Ms. Lori Revitz. She loves me like a third born son and thinks my art is amazing.

Sue Ellen, as I call her, has at least 8 framed pieces and many saved pieces that are not framed from when I was a student. Many of the unframed pieces are from my “Arthur” era that came before my “Wizard of Oz” era. My mom is “Fern” in the Arthur art. Sue Ellen tells me that she loves the pieces the most that feature Sue Ellen the Cat, of course, because that means she is in the art! Sue Ellen’s sister also has one of my works of art. She lives in San Francisco. They are sisters who collect art like the Cone sisters! https://artbma.org/collections/cone.html That’s why it’s called the Revitz Collection, just like the Cone Collection!

I wonder how much more art they’ll buy from me in the future because she loves me like a son and my art is worth it! Well, I’ve finished a 60th anniversary portrait of James Dean and now I’m thinking of drawing my Aunt Gretchen as Batgirl. You know, the original, Yvonne Craig!

There’s No Place Like Home” by A.R. LaBate
Meeting Dan

April 8, 2015

As part of the festivities for Make Studio’s 5th Anniversary, artist Dan Keplinger (possibly better known as “King Gimp” from the 1999 award-winning documentary of the same name) did a live drawing demo. Make Studio artist Tyrone Weedon was particularly excited about meeting Dan and wanted to share his experience of meeting the King. “On the beginning of Make Studio’s 5th Anniversary show in the new studio, me and my sister (Charlene Myers) went inside the studio and saw a lot of people who are looking at other artists’ artwork on display, eating snacks, music playing, and socializing. While having a conversation with other people and talked about my art gallery and all of a sudden, one artist who caught my eyes. A disabled man who is doing his artwork on the floor with an acrylic paper on it. “As I sit there and watch just like everybody else is watching as this man creating this incredible art piece and I finally figured out who he is! I can’t remember his name, but I know his face on the HBO special a long time ago. The wheelchair and the headgear that has a paint brush he used to paint and also a pointing stick for typing a laptop or an computer. I was calling one of the staff I worked with named Erin and asking who is this famous artist and she said “His name is Dan Keplinger also known as ‘King Gimp’.” Everything made sense, I knew him from TV and now for the first time in person! ““I was scared of speaking to him because he is the famous legendary artist who break out all barriers in the art world and I don’t want to interfere his work and I don’t want to cause any trouble. I speak to one of Dan’s entourage that if it’s okay talk to him. The girl with eyeglasses politely said yes. The girl walk around and approach Dan and told him that I want to speak to him. I was nervous and Dan look at me, I told him that your artwork is amazing and I seen your documentary a long time ago and it was a honor for meeting you. Dan struggling to speak to me and said “Thank you”.” “Dan has Cerebral Palsy, but that didn’t stop him from making beautiful masterpieces. He’s a inspiration to artists that has disabilities and a motivation speaker that disabilities didn’t stop people for making their dreams come true. He’s a fighter that never gives up and didn’t care what ignorant people says about him or thinks. Real people has disabilities to over come odds that gets in the way and to become somebody. Dan is down to earth and he’s very nice. I’m thinking about Dan and he’s inspires me to become a famous artist to make my dream come true. I think about movies that inspires disable people, Movies like: Masks, Forest Gump, and Radio. It was a honor to have a photograph with Dan. I feel blessed that accomplish everything from working to selling artwork. It was like a breath of fresh air, my mother looking down at me and said “Good job, son. I’m proud of you.” I wish that I could meet Dan again so we could have a conversation a lot more. All hail to King Gimp! End.”
The Food Chronicles by Kareem Samuels

March 18, 2015

“Kareem’s Meal” in Progress

According to Kareem Samuels, everybody has to eat, so it’s something that we all have in common. As part of his daily routine Kareem photographs his meals, snacks, and desserts, and then shares them with his friends through social media. It’s a way for him to connect to others. The photographs document where he goes throughout the week regularly, as well as special occasions and excursions to new spots. He loves the vibrant colors and textures of food, which influence his artwork as well. Follow Kareem on his delicious food adventures throughout the week. More posts to come!

Strawberry Creme Cake – Hollins Market

Salad Platter – Working at Mercy Medical Center

Subway Sandwich – Make Studio Artist Luncheon

Sausage and Cheese Biscuit – Breakfast at Home

Pepperoni Pizza with Peaches and Pears – St. Peter’s Adult Learning Center

Assortment Tray – Make Studio Opening Reception

Chicken Tender Lunch – Working at University of MD Medical Center

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce – Made by My Mother at Home

Lemon Pie – Favorite Treat from the Food Depot
“What’s a memory from when you were 5?”

March 13, 2015

In honor of our 5th year here at The Make Studio, we asked our fabulous artists to share with us a memory from when they were just five years old. Here is what some of them said…

Aimee… “I have always drawn since I was little. My grandparents bought me all the art supplies and things I needed. I think it was when I was 5 that I painted on the walls and got into lots of trouble!”

Kareem… “I liked to draw houses and trees, like other little kids!”

Louis… “I played with my toys. My favorite stuffed animal was a teddy bear.”

Margie… “I wore glasses when I was five. I remember finger-painting.”

Gary… “I had a nice childhood. It’s been so long, but I still remember that my mom would ask me how old I was but I didn’t know how to answer. Once when she asked me when I was 5-and-a-half and she asked me how old I was going to be
next, I answered, “Five” as a joke. My favorite cartoon back then may have been Looney Tunes or Winnie the Pooh.”

Tyrone… “I remember pretending to be Superman in my “tighty-whiteys”. Haha! I injured myself jumping off of so many things like the dresser. I did it over-and-over until I hit the lamp! I was an adventurous 5-year-old and am still
adventurous now.”

Dave… “When I was 5, I liked to read children’s books and play video games!”

Mandi… “I liked to play with dinosaurs when I was 5. They’re giant lizards with sharp claws and pointy teeth. What’s not to like!? And then I moved on to dragons (as you can tell)…”

Can you think of a memory from when you were five??