Jene Thomas – General Assignment Reporter
During art classes in the earlier school years, children are taught to stay within the lines. In their coloring books, there’s a black outline of where to color and they try not to pass that line.
Artist Tracie Cheng broke that rule.
The Lyman Center of Southern Connecticut State University now displays Cheng’s latest artwork. Her new collection “The Seen and the Unseen” features a series of paintings that incorporates a pattern of acrylic paint streaks and oil pen lines.
“I was overlapping painting and drawing,” Cheng said. “I would paint, then draw, then paint over what I drew.”
She said that the series was painted to show “things that are more complex than we’ll ever really know”. To viewers, it would just look like a painting. They would see artwork but they wouldn’t be able to see all of the complexities and details that went into the art.
“What is visible is not always the full picture, and to explore that in my pieces has been a challenging new perspective to my craft,” she said.
After getting her architecture degree from the University of Texas in Austin, Cheng moved to New Haven where she continued in architecture and painting. Within the last years, her love for drawing and painting grew and traces the influence to her architectural background. She now works as a graphic designer at the Yale Center for British Art.
The Lyman Center hosted a viewing and reception for community member to come out and see her pieces on Nov. 7 from 6-9 p.m. in the Lyman Center lobby. Cheeses, fruit and beverages were provided. Among the viewers was Cheng’s Yale colleague Lisa Thornell, who works as the senior curatorial assistant.
“I first saw her work [in an exhibition at Yale] and that was really amazing,” Thornell said, “and just like the movement of it, it’s just good design is what it is. I just think it’s beautiful.”
Like many of the viewers, Thornell was drawn to one particular painting towards the right of the exhibit. This painting was specifically named “The Seen and the Unseen”. It featured a contrast between the darker colors at the top of the canvas with the lighter ones toward the bottom and a wave of golden lines going diagonally up from the bottom left corner to the upper right.
Cheng called that piece her favorite.
“It was the most challenging to draw with all of its complexities but also the most aesthetically pleasing,” she said.
Another popular painting was “Evening’s Reflection.” The painting resembled water ripples in a body of water at night, although there wasn’t a specific subject matter. The different shades of blue were painting thickly on the top and bottom of the canvas, reflecting each other, while the middle had two big spirals of the oil pen.
“There’s so many layers to it,” said Marilyn Murray as she took pictures of the painting. “It’s amazing how much detail goes into it.”
She too works as a graphic artist and she said she could see this painting being hung in various places.
David Starkey, associate director of rentals and scheduling in the Lyman Center, agreed. He manages the gallery space and he thought “this series would look good here.”
“I try to support local New Haven artists,” he said.
At the reception, Cheng offered the viewers a chance to purchase her artwork. The larger displays seen hanging ranged from $1120 to $1180. Postcards, available as singles or in a pack, were $1 and $5, respectively. Anyone interested in seeing other pieces were invited to join her mailing list.
The exhibit will be in the lobby until Dec. 19 and can be seen from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Photo Credit: Derek Torrellas
