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Remember those tin lunchboxes everyone had as a kid? They were sturdy little lunch pails that held everything from your sandwich and juice box to your pudding or fruit cup. Sometimes they even had a Fruit-by-the-foot inside, and everything fit together perfectly--a little bit like a well-played game of Tetris. 

The Tin Lunchbox (that's us!) does the same thing: We provide a variety of shared information from featured artists and literary endeavors to recipe sharing that all fits flawlessly into one place. Granted, we aren't working with physical  lunchboxes, but it is fun to imagine all the same.

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Eye Candy Artist Interviews

 

 

Marco Hernandez, Featured Artist June 2016

Shawna Caro

For the month of June 2016, our featured artist was Marco Hernandez. He is a printmaker and 2D artist from Kansas. Here's our interview with Marco regarding his work. Enjoy!


No Mas Sangre, Pancho Villa

No Mas Sangre, Pancho Villa

TL: How did you get started with fine arts? 

MH: I have always been interested in drawing. I remember being named the class artist in several of my elementary classes, middle school, and high school. I started fine arts during my undergraduate studies at Emporia State University.

Colgados y Abandonados con una AK-47 y Calavera

Colgados y Abandonados con una AK-47 y Calavera

TL: From your artist statement you mention that you were influenced by your heritage. Tell us more about what specifically inspired the pieces in this collection. 

MH: My culture has always inspired me to make art. I remember looking through "Lowrider Arte" magazines when I was younger and trying to reproduce a lot of the drawings. I was raised by a traditional Mexican family which influenced many of my beliefs and I am sure that it also influenced my art and the imagery that I focus on. 

Sangre y Valentina

Sangre y Valentina

TL: When did you first know you wanted to research or better understand these social and cultural issues that were part of your life?

MH: I began to seriously research my culture during graduate school. I did everything that I could to learn more, I would read books and news articles online. I even enrolled in a class based on Mexican and Mexican American culture which was very beneficial to me and the creation of my new artwork. 

La Ejecucion del Nopal

La Ejecucion del Nopal

TL: Are any of the pieces in this collection from your memory or experience specifically? 

MH: Some were. Most of the imagery in my prints was influenced by my research and life experiences. I would always hear about current events happening in Mexico just by being around family and friends and watching Spanish television. My mother has told me stories about family members in Mexico who have been affected by the modern crime that is currently taking over Mexico. 

Mireles y sus Soldados

Mireles y sus Soldados

TL: Of the works you sent to us, did you create this collection previously, or were these selected to go together just for this exhibit? (Clarification: did you create these pieces as a set originally or were they compiled upon our request to show your work?)

MH: Most of the prints that I sent were from my thesis exhibition. I like to think of them as a set of prints that go together.

Regando el Maiz y el Nopal

Regando el Maiz y el Nopal

TL: Do you work in other mediums besides engraving and printmaking?

MH: Yes, I appreciate all art mediums but I choose to focus on Printmaking, drawing, and painting. 

La Muerte de la Nacion

La Muerte de la Nacion

TL: How is printmaking specifically the best medium to portray these images and events? 

MH: I have always loved to draw but when I found Printmaking I fell in love with the art form. I was able to use my drawing ability and incorporate it into the way that I make prints. I also enjoy the physical process that comes with printmaking and the permanent marks that I am able to create on a print. I have also been influenced by Francisco Goya and his series of prints "The Disasters of War" "Los Desastres de la Guerra".

Tienes el Nopal en la Frente

Tienes el Nopal en la Frente

TL: What is your favorite thing about working with this medium?

MH: The thing that I enjoy most about Printmaking is the process but I also love the permanent and intense marks that I am able to create, especially with etching.

Conquistando la Batalla

Conquistando la Batalla

TL: How long does it take to create a print, from start to finish? Can you outline that process for us? 

MH: The time that it takes to create a print all depends on the style and size of the print. Engravings usually takes less time to create than an etching. I have spent months working on one plate before it is finished and ready to print. Etching is a very time consuming medium and it usually has many steps. I begin by researching and sketching out some designs. I choose one design and transfer the image to the plate. I then work on the plate, this can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months. Once I am satisfied with the image that is on the plate, I can then print and edition it.

La Batalla del Nopal

La Batalla del Nopal

TL: Regarding the last question, does that time frame include research time at all? 

MH: Yes, the research portion is part of my printmaking process.

El Luchador y el Nopal

El Luchador y el Nopal

TL: Your bio mentions that you teach. What and where do you teach? 

MH: Yes, I am currently and adjunct art instructor at Kansas State University. I have taught several different art classes including Printmaking 1, Advanced Printmaking, and Drawing.

TL: What made you decide to pursue teaching art as a career?

MH: I always admired my art professors and believed that they had awesome jobs. It became a dream of mine to be able to become an artist and teach art at the same time.

El Narco

El Narco

TL: Your artist statement and bio indicated that you have received awards for your work. Do you currently have any work on exhibit? 

MH: Currently I don't have any work on exhibit but I will soon. I received news that one of my prints got accepted in two national exhibitions and I will also be having a solo show this fall.

El Indio Valiente

El Indio Valiente

TL: About how much time do you spend making art each week? 

MH: I am constantly working on making art. I wouldn't say that I spend every day in the studio but I will say that I spend several days a week working on something. Some weeks it feels like if I were living in the studio, especially if I have deadlines to meet.

El Maiz

El Maiz

TL: What do you hope to accomplish with your artwork?

MH: I hope to accomplish several things with my art. Currently, I hope that through my art I will be able to find a full time art job. I also hope to make printmaking a more well known art medium. I believe that printmaking doesn't get enough recognition or credit in the art world.

El Nopal #1

El Nopal #1

TL: Do you have any projects in the works right now? 

MH: Yes, I am currently working on a larger plate that I hope to complete this summer.

Santa Muerte

Santa Muerte

TL: Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring artists?

MH: Having a good work ethic will lead to talent and good skills. I have always considered myself as a very hard worker and at this point in my life I believe that it has paid off.


Marco Hernandez, Self-Portrait, 2010

Marco Hernandez, Self-Portrait, 2010

Marco Hernandez is a Mexican Artist/Printmaker who currently resides in Kansas. He received his Master of Fine Arts Degree from Kansas State University in December of 2015. He is currently working as an art instructor at Kansas State University. Marco’s work has been exhibited in many national and international exhibitions and has received numerous awards including purchase awards, merit wards, and best of show. The theme of his work relates to his upbringing and Mexican culture. He includes symbolic imagery that creates a connection to his unique nationality. Marco is very optimistic about the future, he is determined to become a full time art professor and keep making art for the rest of his life.  

To view Marco's Artist Statement, please click here

To visit Marco's website, please click here.

P. Alex Caro, Featured Artist May 2016

Shawna Caro

For the month of May, 2016, our featured artist was P. Alex Caro. He is a ceramic and sculpture artist from the Kansas City area. Here's our interview with him about his work. 

Diptych wall hanging. 

Diptych wall hanging. 

Tin Lunchbox: When did you first start working with clay?

P. Alex Caro: At the tender age of eight I took a class called Mud Pups. It was a hand-building class at the Mesa Arts Center.

TL: How did you know you were hooked?

PAC: I don’t think there was a defining moment, I just really enjoyed it and so I kept taking classes. At one point I had to make a choice between ceramics and swim class, so I chose ceramics. 

Pipe and spigot vessel.

Pipe and spigot vessel.

Texture detail of pipe and spigot vessel.

Texture detail of pipe and spigot vessel.

TL: What is the best part about working in this medium?

PAC: I really enjoy the versatility. I can make clay look like anything I want to, and it is fun to figure out how to make that happen. 

One place setting from a dish collection.

One place setting from a dish collection.

TL: What's the worst thing about the medium? 

PAC: It can be very unpredictable. You can work for hours and try really hard with a particular piece and still end up with cracks. 

TL: What made you want to use such varied textures? 

PAC: I became proficient in throwing, but I wanted to make something that was unique to me. I had briefly used designs that were popular in the southwest but I felt that it wasn’t part of my heritage, even though I lived in the area and felt a connection to it. I really wanted to channel my surroundings and emulate where I came from, so I went with that. 

Textured ceramic sphere.

Textured ceramic sphere.

TL: How did you make some of these textures? 

PAC: Secret recipe! But it's really about stressing the surface while keeping the backside or interior stable. I focused on making this in a way that it would appear to have occurred naturally. 

Detail of texture from ceramic sphere.

Detail of texture from ceramic sphere.

TL: Do you work in other mediums besides ceramics? 

PAC: I’ve done bronze casting, glass blowing, wood sculpture and furniture crafting. 

TL: What artists inspire you? 

PAC: Andy Goldsworthy and Ah Leon are my two favorites. I enjoy Goldsworthy’s work because he works with natural materials and organic designs, even if his pieces do not last in the long term. Ah Leon’s ceramic works are expertly crafted to look like other objects and materials, like wood and metal. 

TL: Thanks for interviewing with us! It has been a pleasure having your artworks up for the month of May. We'd love to see some of your future work as well. 

PAC: Sure. And thank you, also. 

Blue-green textured pitcher.

Blue-green textured pitcher.

P. Alex Caro is a ceramics and sculpture artist from the Kansas City area. He has been working with ceramics for over 20 years. He earned his BFA from Emporia State University in Emporia, KS. He continues to work on projects in ceramics, sculpture, and jewelry making. If you would like to contact him regarding his work, he can be contacted at patches.arts@gmail.com.

The above works were photographed by Kellen Jenkins. His bio and contact information can be found here.