MAKE STUDIO • Baltimore, MD

Make Studio’s 8th and final exhibition of this most unusual year, Onward, Upward!, conveys the shared sentiment of our studio community — to not ignore the sometimes painful realities of the present, or forget the lessons of the past, but to always persevere by moving ahead. It was originally conceptualized as a “then vs. now” comparison of the artistry of our member artists, whose relationships with Make Studio range in duration from 1 to 10+ years.

Alex Albert | THEN
Austin & Ally • 2013

Alex Albert | NOW
The Apartment

Nadine Baldwin | NOW
Whirlwind

Greg Bannister | THEN
Beauty of the Flower • 2011

Greg Bannister | NOW
The Blue Man

Erika Clark | THEN
Blue Roses and Blue Sea • 2013
"Quite a lot of things have changed! I use more mediums now. I have a better mastery of blending and technique. I have a better understanding of mediums. I venture out into different subjects now and then, but the majority of my style is essentially the same - I still have similar influences. I have a smilar feel behind my composition. My sense of form and shading has gotten better, and somewhat perspective too."

Erika Clark | NOW
Blossoms
"Quite a lot of things have changed! I use more mediums now. I have a better mastery of blending and technique. I have a better understanding of mediums. I venture out into different subjects now and then, but the majority of my style is essentially the same - I still have similar influences. I have a smilar feel behind my composition. My sense of form and shading has gotten better, and somewhat perspective too."

Laura Curtis | THEN
Pile of Puppies • 2018

Laura Curtis | NOW
Cat Nose Beach Trio

Aimee Eliason | THEN
Mer Sea of Serenity • 2015
"I’ve made new friendships through attending Make Studio. Learning new things, also in workshops, helped improve my art abilities, and I had also never collaborated before."

Aimee Eliason | NOW
Oh, Cakes
"I’ve made new friendships through attending Make Studio. Learning new things, also in workshops, helped improve my art abilities, and I had also never collaborated before."

Chuck Fischer | THEN
South Africa • 2013
"That's awesome - that's Nelson Mandela. I think that was the first person I drew."

Chuck Fischer | NOW
Untitled
"The style I'm using has change over the years and I'm trying new things, like oil paints and more charcoal now. I use a lot more lines now. My lines before looked crooked! Now I have a color palette I didn't have before."

Jeremy Foster | NOW
Umi-Bozu
"I definitely have my new style now, I suppose. Usually, I hever used pencil for outlines or thought to go over it with Sharpie like I do now. It's definitely going good for me so far. The pictures I'm making now are definitely an improved version. I use more backgrounds now, more things to feature. I'm more inspired to make backgrounds becaues it gives everything a more realistic look, with character - it makes it more complete."

Gemma Frost | THEN
The Triplets' Unknown World • 2017

Gemma Frost | NOW
Queen Susan the Gentle

Katelynn Herty | THEN
A Tropical Retreat • 2018

Katelynn Herty | NOW
Wild Windows

Julian Hinmon | THEN
Feet Breathing • 2016

Julian Hinmon | NOW
Lion / Shark

Seth Jackson | THEN
Green Arrow • 2016
"With the Green Arrow, he fights at night, so I did the background with stars."

Seth Jackson | NOW
Emotion
"For Drake, I put a lot of texture on it, added some watercolor to it. Everybody has their own art style, even with the same subjects."

Janel Jenkins | THEN
Captain America • 2016

Janel Jenkins | NOW
Dracula

Dasha Kalumuck | THEN
Wita Shopping
"In the beginning, I feel like often rushed things."

Dasha Kalumuck | NOW
Portrait
"Later, I’ve learned to take my time, focus on details, incorporate new techniques and make my art better that way."

Eddie Kil | THEN
Tree • 2019

Eddie Kil | NOW
Pineapple

Tony Labate | THEN
Movie Trivia • 2010
"You wanted to know what was the same and what was different. The same are the shape of my characters and Famed Football Player Jim Brown is still with us. The difference is I use a fewer words to describe my art."

Tony Labate | NOW
In Loving Memory of Ernie & George
"You wanted to know what was the same and what was different. The same are the shape of my characters and Famed Football Player Jim Brown is still with us. The difference is I use a fewer words to describe my art."

Bess Lumsden | THEN
Heroines of Horror • 2010
"Since I’m a cosplayer, of all the skills I’ve learned over the year, everything related to DIY is especially important to me."

Bess Lumsden | NOW
Demonic Maiden
"Since I’m a cosplayer, of all the skills I’ve learned over the year, everything related to DIY is especially important to me."

Zach Manuel | THEN
Leslie Nielsen • 2012
"My skills have increased, and I’m still honing them by moving forward and trying new things.”

Zach Manuel | NOW
Tom Servo Abstract Collage
"My skills have increased, and I’m still honing them by moving forward and trying new things.”

Louis Middleton | THEN
The Jackson Five • 2010
"If I made the Jackson Five artwork today, it would have more texture, more shapes in the faces and eyes. The Jackson Five is a portrait,..."

Louis Middleton | NOW
Kirk Douglas
"...and now I make a lot of tributes to celebrities who have passed away."

Iragi Nkere | THEN
Hot, Hot, Hot • 2018
"Hot hot hot is just a party. I traced then."

Iragi Nkere | NOW
Blues Brothers BLM
"This Black Lives Matter picture features the Blues Brothers, which was a band and a movie. My art is always a masterpiece."

Kareem Samuels | THEN
Couples Love Sweet Cherry Pie • 2012

Kareem Samuels | NOW
Jaden (commission for ProPublica)

Gary Schmedes | THEN
Scoobie Doo on Zombie Island • 2012
"When I first stated, I used to simply doodle in a Charle Brown style with dots for eyes. Once I grew older, I discovered I can draw characters like they usually do. When I drew at school with my pen I was a little too lazy to color."

Gary Schmedes | NOW
Disney Characters from 2019
"I started coloring better and better each year. My color is now bright. Sometimes I don't like painting the background, but I do it because it looks stronger. The new one looks smoother actually."