Collection: Fresh Work | Week Four

Juan Mendez has always been inspired by old cars. “I like how big they are and how fancy they’ve been built,” he says. In recent work, he explores scenes from the road as well as portraiture, drawing people who inspire him, like Mexican singer Pancho Barraza.

Philip Price comes from a family of artists. “When I was a kid, my dad taught me how to paint. Now I draw all the time,” he says. Price’s recent paintings reflect his interest in comics, animation, and anime. Before he makes each painting, he makes a detailed plan in graphite.

Chris Mason’s recent work focuses on the life and times of some of his favorite musicians: Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Featuring bold lines and bright colors, Mason’s drawings of Elvis record the larger-than-life celebrity’s baby blue eyes, Memphis mansion, and famous lyrics.

Daniel Metchnek identifies as Native American and Korean American. Symbols from his family’s history are an important part of his work. Daniel often combines cultural symbols and wildlife to create images like Native Eagle Dreamcatcher, which was painted by Metchnek in 2018. He likes to explore new animal subjects, and ducklings are a recent interest of his. Metchnek wants people to see his experience when viewing the artwork, his use of color, and his interest in different animals.

Dan Schlag’s recent work explores portraiture, his favorite painting genre. “I enjoy recording the high level of detail found in the skin tone and facial features, and I strive to capture a ‘window effect’ with the canvas, as if the person were right there in front of me,” he says.

Special thanks to Xavier Tavera for these portraits of the artists.