Archana Shekara
Archana Shekara was born in India. She is an artist living and working in Normal, Illinois.
Background
MFA in Graphic Design, University of Illinois; Urbana-Champaign; IL
BFA in Painting, State University of New York; New Paltz, NY
Associate Professor of Art in Graphic Design, Illinois State University; Normal, IL
Creative Director of Design Streak Studio, a research based social innovation lab focusing on human centered service design in the Wonsook Kim School of Art, Illinois State University; Normal, IL
Honors Program Coordinator, School of Art, Illinois State University; Normal, IL
College of Fine Arts Service Initiative Award (2014)
University Research Grant award (2012)
Harmon Arts Grant Award for Festival of India at Illinois State University
Normal Editions Projects
Shekara participated in a collaborative print project at Normal Editions Workshop in the School of Art at Illinois State University for the portfolio CVA Suite Vol. III in 2011 and a digital image project in 2012.
Artist Archana Shekara drawing on a lithographic stone at Normal Editions Workshop, 2011.
Prints from Normal Editions
Shanthi is included in the Illinois Artists and The Intimate Print traveling exhibitions available from Normal Editions Workshop.
Shanthi
Archana Shekaraone color lithograph
14" x 11"
edition size: 7 arabic numeral impressions and 15 roman numeral impressions
signed by the artist
copyright 2011
N.E.W. work #11-103
this print is part of a five print suite: "CVA Suite Vol. III" presented in portfolio with title and colophon pages
Peace and Tranquility
Archana Shekaramulti-color high resolution digital print
copyright 2012
N.E.W. work #12-104
this work was produced with partial support from a SSHRC grant (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada) as part of a consortium of North American university print publishers
Collaboration with Archana Shekara
experimental drawing
Richard Finch, Director of N.E.W., prepares a wash for artist, Archana Shekara, to use on the experimental drawing to introduce her to stone lithography. Student assistant, Kelsey Just, watches the process unfold.
testing drawing materials
Kelsey Just, student assistant, observes Archana Shekara while testing drawing materials on a lithography stone during the research phase of the collaboration
etching the test stone
Richard Finch etching the test stone with gum arabic and acid
applying research to a new drawing
Archana Shekara applying what was learned in the research phase to a new drawing on the stone
discussion with master printer
Archana Shekara and Richard Finch discuss options for the project
reviewing the drawing for etching
Archana Shekara and Veda Rives reviewing the drawing on the stone before etching it
buffing down the gum film after etching the stone
Veda Rives and Graduate Assistant, Alyssa Tauber buffing down the gum film after etching the stone
washing the drawing material out of the stone
Archana Shekara and Graduate Assistant, Lisa Lofgren, washing the drawing material out of the stone with lithotine
applying asphaltum to the stone
Veda Rives applying asphaltum to the stone to replace the drawing material; Graduate Assistants Lisa Lofgren and Alyssa Tauber prepare to assist in printing the image
sponging the stone
Lisa Lofgren sponging the stone just before ink is applied
rolling black ink on the stone
Veda Rives rolling black ink into the drawing on the damp stone
placing the printing paper
Lisa Lofgren and Veda Rives placing the printing paper
reviewing impressions during the printing session
Alyssa Tauber, Lisa Lofgren and Veda Rives reviewing impressions during the printing session
curating the edition
Lisa Lofgren, Veda Rives, and Alyssa Tauber curating the edition
preparing to sign the edition
Archana Shekara and Veda Rives preparing to sign the edition
signing the individual impressions
Archana Shekara signing the individual impressions of the completed edition