When looking at antiques or old items like vintage film reels, your great-grandmother’s teacup set, or a long-discontinued Kodak camera, specific memories and emotions often surface. Canadian charcoal artist Emily Copeland strives to capture this emotion in her hyperrealist depictions of vintage items, created from reference photographs the artist takes. Her artwork, wrought in stunning contrasts of black, white and gray, are both old school and modern at the same time, always set against a simple white backdrop.
Artist Emily Copeland with one of her larger-than-life charcoal drawings.
“My whole life I’ve always really enjoyed antiquing. Maybe I’m old school,” says Copeland. “When it came time to figure out a niche for myself, I was really drawn to antiques...They’re valuable, they have this priceless sort of price tag to them—not only are they valuable in a money sense, but they’re valuable in the memories they have for people. Something you related to in your childhood, something your parents once owned.” The artist casts a wide net in terms of what she depicts—wristwatches, golf balls, accordions, football helmets, guitars, bicycles, utensils, cowboy boots and more. She shares, “If I can make someone feel something they haven’t felt in a long time, or [bring back] an old memory then I’ve done my job well.”
Vintage Kodak Camera, charcoal on St
Copeland’s grounding in realism is inspired by the Baroque era, and she is particularly captivated by the methods and styles of artists like Caravaggio, La Tour and Velázquez. “I think what it really came down to was my love of art history back at university,” she says. With these artsits, she was drawn toward their mastery of the basic foundations and being able to re-create exactly what you see. “It’s kind of forgotten in [much of] the art world nowadays. People don’t work backward anymore...from realism to abstract,” says Copeland. “I feel like eventually I could make my pieces more abstract if I wanted to, but I don’t think that’s the direction I’ll take my art. But [I like] just knowing I can do that with my art.”
Stack of Teacups, charcoal on Stonehenge paper, 42 x 32"
Football Helmet is an example of Copeland’s love of focusing on shine and reflection and using different light sources to create effects. In this piece, the window creates a reflection on the spherical surface of the old football helmet. Part of her process is to zoom in extremely close to the photograph so she doesn’t know exactly what she’s painting. This forces a disconnect between what the brain interprets and what the eyes see, allowing for a sense of liberation and an ability to depict exactly what’s in front of her.
Vintage Cowboy Boots, charcoal on Stonehenge paper, 37½ x 30½"
An upcoming exhibition solo exhibition at RJD Gallery called Shades of Grey features old and new charcoals by Copeland. “Emily Copeland has masterfully woven the elements of art—color, line, light, value, form, space and texture with the use of charcoal into stunning works of art,” says gallery director Joi Jackson Perle. “Black, white and shades of gray come to life in Copeland’s works on paper; delicate yet dynamic with a mind-blowing focus to the most intricate details. Each piece captures the feeling one has while reliving a treasured memory through an object: a well-worn pair of roller skates, a beloved pair of cowboy boots or a vintage camera, all rendered with such depth and sharpness that the viewer feels the urge to run their hand along the work to complete the tactile sensation. Exquisite shadings and shadows hold us spellbound, transporting us back to cherished moments in our lifetime.”
Vintage Roller Skates, charcoal on Stonehenge paper, 31 x 45"
From Copeland’s series of stacked items, Stacked Teacups holds past memories and continues to create new ones. The piece features seven organic-patterned teacups, which belong to the mother of one of Copeland’s friends, precariously stacked on top of one another. The artist recounts the memory of creating this piece: “The process was really funny. I had to fill them all with rice so they’d be secure when I stacked them.” Then she’d have her friend hold the stack until just before Copeland was ready to take the photo and hope they didn’t fall.
Football Helmet, charcoal on Stonehenge paper, 36 x 45"
Another piece in the exhibition depicts a pair of worn leather cowboy boots. Copeland particularly loves to paint worn leather, with its many cracks and folds that tell of age and frequent use. Collectors can also explore works like Antique Revolver, an old revolver with a highly reflective barrel laying on its side, and another antique crafted from leather in Vintage Roller Skates. No matter the item, every object the artist captures has a story.
“I really just love bringing an assortment of different things to life,” she says.
Antique Revolver, charcoal on Stonehenge paper, 30 x 44"
Although captivated by drawing since the very beginning, Copeland says graphite never quite gave her what she was looking for. “I couldn’t get the really rich blacks I was looking for; graphite has that more silver look,” she says. For a brief period of time she painted in vibrant colors. It wasn’t until university that Copeland was formally introduced to the medium of charcoal, and she fell in love. “I could achieve those rich blacks I always longed for...It just clicked with me...It grew so easily with me and I never looked back,” says the artist. “It adds to that antique look, but also that modern look. Black and white is timeless, it will never go out of style.” Copeland’s drawings will be accented by new “distressed pewter” frames to help capture the highlights and shadows and to enhance the charcoal media. She adds, “I want my work to be timeless and classical.”
Shades of Grey will be held at RJD Gallery’s new location in Romeo, Michigan, from May 1 to June 5. —
Emily Copeland: Shades of Grey
When: May 1-June 5, 2021
Where: RJD Gallery, 227 N. Main Street, Romeo, MI 48065
Information: (586) 281-3613, www.rjdgallery.com
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