Richard sends along this press release: Intense, dramatic etchings employing the same traditional techniques used by Rembrandt, and powerful black and white drawings all based on the books of J.R.R.Tolkien can be seen at this year’s Pittsburgh Comicon. This type of graphic artwork, rarely seen illustrating the work of the great storyteller, are by veteran Pittsburgh artist Richard Claraval. In the artist statement on his web site, www.richardclaravalart.com, Claraval says, “What I’m interested in is capturing the emotional essence of the powerful images Tolkien’s words conjure in my mind — whether the subject is human drama, or the drama of a place or an idea. (His) imagery is, to me, the most vivid, and inspiring of anything I’ve ever read”.
As well as having been seen in several galleries in the Pittsburgh area, in both group and individual exhibitions, Claraval’s etchings have been featured on the web site Tolkien Library. Pieter Collier, the sites author, said about Claraval, “His work is however amazing and especially his latest etchings are just stunning pieces of art.”
Pittsburgh Comicon a large convention of Comic Book venders, Comic Book artists, and Fantasy and Sci Fi artists, will run from September 11th through the 13th, 2009, and will take place at the Monroeville Exposition Center, 101 Mall Blvd., Monroeville, Pa. 15146.
Richard Claraval’s drawings, paintings and sculptures have been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout Pennsylvania, including two sites in conjunction with the International Sculpture Conference in 2000. He has had two solo installations at The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. His etchings and drawings have been shown at Digging Pitt Gallery, and The Spinning Plate Gallery. He received a bachelors degree in Art from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
For more information about the work of Richard Claraval please see his web site www.richardclaravalart.com, e-mail rclaraval@gmail.com, or call 412 441 0194.
