If you went to the Canvas’ May show, you likely remember Grace Coenraad’s minimalist, dense works of art, full of shading and detail, sometimes overlaying multiple mediums — graphite, ink, markers. Some of them include bursts of bright color; others are dark, mostly black, with bits of green or blue emerging only subtly.
Coenraad used acrylic paint for a while, but markers are now her favorite medium, said Colleen James, staff manager and service coordinator for REACH at The Canvas. James has worked with Coenraad since she first started making art at The Canvas.
“She starts out with one medium and kind of adds layers as she goes,” James said.
A year and a half or so ago, James said, Coenraad drew and painted figures from images in books.
Now, her pieces are abstract — and she likes them big. A really big one can take up to six months to complete, James said. That much work means she needs a very thick piece of paper.
“We have figured out this is Grace’s medium. She really enjoys it. She’s very focused,” James said.
Coenraad comes to the Canvas four days a week for three hours each day. Drawing, she said, makes her feel happy.
Over the time Coenraad has been at The Canvas, she’s become more independent in her choices, James said. “Before, we were giving her choices. Now she goes to the cabinet and gets it (whatever color she wants) herself.”
“I think it’s important for (Canvas artists) to have somewhere to go where they can make their own choices,” James added. “It makes it more joyful.”
On the blog “Disparate Minds,” artists Tim Ortiz and Andreana Donahue, 2015 visiting artists at The Canvas, call Coenraad’s work “the product of a measured and slow process, executed with extreme diligence” and compare her work to artist Richard Serra’s drawings.
Coenraad has displayed her work with other Canvas artists and has also had a solo show. Her work is also uploaded to the Canvas’ website and is available at https://canvasarts.org/item/grace-coenraad/.
Grace Coenraad with one of her pieces of art. This one incorporates markers, graphite and ink. Mary Catharine Martin | Capital City Weekly
Canvas artist Grace Coenraad uses markers, pens, and pencils on thick paper to create her art pieces. A big one can take her up to six months. Mary Catharine Martin | Capital City Weekly
