Art Show

The WisCon Art Show staff are happy to present a gallery of selected work from artists accepted for this year’s show!

Click on the thumbnails to see full-size views of our artists’ beautiful work!

Clara Cecilia Abnet Holden

 

Clara says: I am a tattoo artist and work mostly in the mediums of drawings and ceramics. Through my drawings I combine mythology, faerie tales, and animals to create strange and sometimes terrifying worlds that reflect my inner life, while my ceramic work is predominantly functional. Mostly focused on self portraiture, I want to bring new light to the female form that has long been cast through a male gaze in art. My current focus casts a new light on female monsters of myth, I want the viewers to question the hero-villain dynamic that has long vilified female power and glorified male violence.

 

 

Catherine Crowe

 

Catherine is a tireless advocate, supporter and participant in all aspects of art and culture. First and foremost, she is an artist and professional enamelist, specializing in the rare techniques of champlevé and grisaille. She has pursued independent studies in the areas of European Iron Age Archaeology, Art History, Mythology, Folklore and traditional song and teaches workshops in these subjects. She was a founding member of AnDroichead/The Bridge, an artist collective that promoted art that is informed by culture, organising exhibitions and events. She started her own business as a professional enamellist in 1984, and exhibits her work at Cultural Festivals throughout Canada and the United States. Catherine’s artistic expression extends to the performing arts as well. She has worked in Theatre as an actor, set and costume designer and writer. She is also a professional singer of Irish traditional music, and has produced two critically acclaimed independent albums, “This Ancient Fabric” and “Dark is the Colour.” She now sings with the improvisational Element Choir and several vocal harmony groups.

 

Tahlia Day

 

Tahlia Day lives in Madison and creates topographical/map-inspired paintings with occasional collage and metal leaf elements, as well as digital illustrations building on watercolor elements. Her more recent experiments involve illustrating the environments suggested by her “Charted Unterritories” paintings.

You can see more of her art at tahliaday.com and tahliaday.etsy.com (and as incidental art for Strange Horizons).

 

Meredith Dillman

 

Meredith’s fascination with fantasy began as a child. She studied art in college and spent her free time creating fantasy watercolors and comics. She is inspired by Pre-Raphaelites, Art Nouveau, and Japanese woodblock prints, and loves to bring details of her favorite historical fashions into her art. Meredith has authored and illustrated Watercolor Made Easy: Fairies and Fantasy, and Fantasy Fashion Art Studio, and published her own collections of ink drawings. You can see more of her work at her website and shop meredithdillman.com or follow on instagram (https://www.instagram.com/meredithdillmanart/) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/meredithdillmanart/).

 

Rhea Ewing

 

Rhea Ewing is an illustrator, fine artist, and graphic novelist. Their work explores gender, identity, and the natural world using a unique combination of digital and traditional techniques. You can see more of their work at rheaewing.com

 

KJ Forest

 

KJ says: In my art, I endeavor to capture images through a digital lens and develop them to reveal inner, sometimes hidden, aspects of the everyday wonders found all around us, to share with others what I see.

Website: KJForestImages.com (online in June 2020)

 

 

Sherry Holcomb

 

Sherry says: I’m a painter of dragons and griffins in the style of medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts. The Medieval Dragon Project began with a fascination at the difference in the representation of these beasts hundreds of years ago from modern fantasy art. I also design and make jewelry from vintage and retro components under the rubric of Recycled Jewels.

 

Ingrid Kallick

 

Ingrid S. Kallick is an artist and writer. Born into a small town in Illinois, she absorbed folk art from her immigrant grandparents who hailed from Norway, Bohemia and Ukraine. In addition to folklore and fantasy, she had done acrylic, gouache and oil painting representing her original worlds and stories, as well as illustration for children. After raising a family, she returned to her roots in painting, while continuing with advertising and design. Now, striking out on her own, she has chosen to dedicate all of her time to building her style and adding new media to her repertoire.

You can see more of her work at www.ikallick.com and follow her on Instagram under https://www.instagram.com/i_s_kallick/.  Imprinted merchandise is available through Redbubble https://www.redbubble.com/people/ingridkallick, and you can follow her on Patreon here:  https://www.patreon.com/user?u=12412664

Rowan Littell (Mapleseed Crafts)

 

Rowan says: I created Mapleseed Crafts to explore the infinite and beautiful universe of flameworked glass creations. I have always been one to create shiny and mesmerizing objects from raw materials and fire.  Now, in my Oakland home studio, I am able to bring these creations to life using borosilicate glass, a bench torch, and an annealing kiln. All of my work is an attempt to draw out the sense of wonder and whimsy of what I see, whether it is light and playful, loving and sensuous, or creepy and adorable. I would be honored to have you follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mapleseed_crafts/, online at mapleseedcrafts.com, or at my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/mapleseedcrafts.

 

 

David Lee Pancake

 

David Lee Pancake’s sculptures grace homes and business all over the world.  He pursues a wide variety of subject matter that includes dragons, superheroes, abstracts, fantasy, and horror sculptures. He states: “I love detail and texture and gryphons, dragons and other mythical creatures allow me the freedom to play with paint and clay to bring to life what’s imagined.”  David is an entrepreneur, avid reader, science fiction and fantasy aficionado, armchair philosopher and science geek, but his first love is art. We are sure you won’t forget his name; just think about your favorite breakfast food. Read more about him at https://davidleepancake.com/about/.

Sam Haney Press

 

You might recognize Sam Haney Press from her work for prior WisCons, or from her papercrafts & book sculptures, but lately, she’s been keeping busy by making jewelry. To see her work – past and present – check out samhainpress.com, where she also maintains a storefront, and follow her as SamHainPress on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram.

Jana Pullman

 

Jana Pullman is a book artists award winner. She does bookbinding and box making and is a book arts instructor. Find her work on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/westernslopebindery.

 

April Robinson

April says: My name is April Robinson and I have been drawing since I was a toddler. Whenever I have any extra time I am usually drawing or painting.  My site is at www.facebook.com/aprilsvisions and I can be contacted via email at aprilr3435@gmail.com or arobinson@adgnewsroom.com. I do take commissions!

 

Elena Tabachnick 

 

Elena says: Raised on three continents while belonging to none, it makes sense that I’ve explored borders in my work whether in spirituality, biology, writing, or art. My art dances the boundary between useful and sculptural, realistic and fantastical, 3-D and 2-D, for kids and for adults. But since I’ve been in a wheelchair, it has had another purpose. It wakes me up, giving me the desire to live. See more of my work at elenatabachnick.com and https://www.flickr.com/photos/98248004@N03/albums.

Heather A. Tatarek

 

Heather A. Tatarek is an ink and watercolor landscape artist in Madison, WI. She paints a variety of landscapes, from Earth, to planetary, and imaginary. As well as her originals and prints, she now applies her artwork to usable and wearable products, such as coffee mugs, magnets, scarves, handbound journals, and notecards.

You can see more of her work at heatheratatarek.weebly.com. Check out her new Etsy page under https://www.etsy.com/shop/h2olandscapes/, or check out other available merch on her Society6 shop under https://society6.com/heatheratatarek. Feel free to contact her directly with any questions or for direct sales and commissions at heatheratatarek@gmail.com.

 

Kendra Tornheim

Kendra says: I make jewelry out of wire and hand-colored brass, frequently including elements such as antique keys.  In a process of several steps, I blend or overlay multiple colors of alcohol inks and then seal the brass pieces with repeated layers of weatherproof gloss varnish to give the look of enamels without using a kiln.  In addition to the types of pendants, earrings, and hair accessories I have shown in the WisCon art show in the past, this year I also have new pieces available including Goddess pendants with carved bone faces, tiny colored leaf pendants and earrings, and charm jewelry with crystals in a variety of pride flag colors.

Kat Weaver

 

Kat Weaver is a Minneapolis-based illustrator who loves birds, costuming, and history. Her work often features bright colors and fantastical architecture, and can be seen in various print and online venues. Find her portfolio at https://kathrynmweaver.com/ – and if you’re interested in commissioning a piece, either for publication or for personal use, e-mail her at kathryn.m.weaver@gmail.com.

 

Thanks so much to all of our artists who shared their work! 

Next year, the WisCon Art Show will once again be in-person in Madison. If you’re an artist interested in applying for next year’s show, please email artshow@wiscon.net with any questions and/or add yourself to our mailing list below to be notified when applications open.