MEET OUR ARTISTS

Self Portrait // Q&A // Isaac Payne

How would you describe your work to someone else?
Contemplative scenes of hand-drawn architectural environments, from a pedestrian perspective, using a limited color palette.

Who or what are you most inspired by?
A few of my favorites are Rauschenburg, Bearden, Courbet, and Caravaggio, plus a bazillion contemporary artists and colleagues - including my painter-wife, Jenny Zito-Payne.    I am also very inspired by vernacular architecture, petroglyphs and rock art from around the world, paintings from the paleolithic era,  science, nature, art history, and a lot of music.
    
Where would we find you any given Saturday, other than in your studio at the Center? 
Doing home renovation, visiting an art museum, or walking/biking Charlotte's green-ways.

Tell us something we wouldn't find in your bio.
In college, I was the drummer in a funk band, and now after 11 1/2 years together Jenny and I are expecting our first child.

Self Portrait // Q&A // Felica van Bork

How would you describe your work to someone else?
Most of my monotypes are of moments when conditions in nature are so ripe that life forms begin to appear.

Who or what are you most inspired by?
Putting a few colors and marks together. Sunlight on trees. Advances in science.

Where would we find you any given Saturday, other than in your studio at the Center?
Working in my big, fat garden.

Tell us something we wouldn't find in your bio.
I can speak Dutch. Well, my mother thinks I can.

Self Portrait // Q&A // Nathanial Lancaster

How would you describe your work to someone else?
I make images that are reductions of information that are actually more information, or, at the very least I try to make interesting compositions that are meaningful and/or funny to me.

Who or what are you most inspired by?
Smart people. Hard workers. The interwebs.

Where would we find you any given Saturday, other than in your studio at the Center? 
I'm the worst at making plans.

Tell us something we wouldn't find in your bio.
I'm really over pizza, but will eat it in a pinch since I'm always hungry.

Self Portrait // Q&A // Sharon Dowell

How would you describe your work to someone else?
My paintings capture the energy of place via architectural and figurative imagery.  Urban in feel, the work is vibrant and multi-layered, with each layer representing a specific place or experience in my life.  Some are highly personal while others are documentaries or social commentaries on our changing society. 

Who or what are you most inspired by?
Oh so much, conceptually! Everyone and every place has a unique tale to tell, and I try to communicate that visually.  I often stroll down a street and wonder what stories the buildings hold and who has made their imprint upon them, from the past and present.  Lately I have been thinking about the Universe's hand coupled with the choices we make that bring us to be where we are at this moment in time.  Technically, I am inspired right now by bold color palettes and juicy brushstrokes of Cy Twombly and Wayne Thiebaud.

Where would we find you any given Saturday, other than in your studio at the Center? 
Cuttin' rugs on the dance floor with my sweetie or enjoying a glass of wine or beer with good friends and laughing until my face hurts!

Tell us something we wouldn't find in your bio. 
I used to be a roller derby girl (Strawberry Terror) and I have insanely long middle fingers...ask me to flick you off sometime...

Self Portrait // Q&A // Erika Diamond

How would you describe your work to someone else?
I make 3 dimensional work that explores our connection to the surrounding world and the human compulsion to control the uncontrollable.  I often reference the body and concepts of containment and impermanence.

Who or what are you most inspired by?
The body - it's infinite systems, forms, and paradoxes. Macrocosms and microcosms. Repetition. A new material.
 
Where would we find you any given Saturday, other than in your studio at the Center?
Driving around town...
 
Tell us something we wouldn't find in your bio.
For about 5 years I made chocolate truffles for a living here in Charlotte.