On 21 June 2024, the exhibition “Summer Solstice” took place at the Tarnów Cultural Centre. It was a summary of the artistic season at the openART Visual Arts Studio and an opportunity to present works created in various artistic techniques.
As part of this exhibition, I had the pleasure of presenting three diverse works: an impasto painting inspired by Venice, a linocut featuring Marilyn Monroe, and a watercolour inspired by Tuscany. Each of these works represented a different form of artistic expression — from the expressive texture of paint, through the graphic contrast of linocut, to the delicacy and luminosity of watercolour.
The “Summer Solstice” exhibition at the Tarnów Cultural Centre
The “Summer Solstice” exhibition was an artistic summary of the season at the openART Visual Arts Studio of TCK. The event brought together works by the studio participants, showing a wide range of artistic perspectives, themes, techniques, and individual creative explorations.
For me, participating in this exhibition was especially important, as it allowed me to present works that were very different in character, mood, and technique. It was a meeting of several artistic worlds — painterly expression, printmaking, and subtle watercolour sensitivity.
Impasto “Venice” — painterly texture and the light of the city
One of the works I presented was a painting inspired by Venice, created in the impasto technique. This technique allows the image to be built through a thicker, tangible structure of paint, making the surface of the work almost relief-like.
In the piece inspired by Venice, light, architecture, the rhythm of the city, and the atmosphere of a place suspended between water, stone, and reflection were especially important to me. Impasto gave the painting depth and materiality, emphasizing the emotional character of the memory and the painterly energy of the gesture.
Linocut “Marilyn Monroe” — contrast, pop culture icon, and printmaking
The second work presented at the exhibition was a linocut depicting Marilyn Monroe. Linocut, as a printmaking technique, is based on carving a composition into a matrix and then printing it onto paper. It is a process that requires precision, planning, and a conscious use of contrast.
The motif of Marilyn Monroe allowed me to combine the subject of a pop culture icon with the language of traditional printmaking. In this work, what mattered was not only the recognizability of the figure, but also the tension between light and shadow, the simplification of form, and the strength of a black-and-white composition.
Watercolour “Tuscany” — a memory of light and landscape
The third work I presented was a watercolour inspired by Tuscany. In contrast to the strong texture of impasto and the expressive contrast of linocut, watercolour allows the image to be built through lightness, transparency, and subtle colour transitions.
The inspiration for this work came from Tuscan landscapes, warm light, nature, and the emotions connected with travel. The watercolour became for me a record of atmosphere — a delicate memory of landscape, colour, and the mood of Southern Europe.
Three techniques, three ways of storytelling
Participating in the “Summer Solstice” exhibition gave me the opportunity to show how different techniques can lead to completely different forms of artistic expression. Impasto, linocut, and watercolour each require a different approach, a different rhythm of work, and a different sensitivity.
Impasto allows an image to be built through texture and expression. Linocut teaches synthetic thinking, contrast, and graphic discipline. Watercolour, in turn, requires lightness, intuition, and trust in the process. Each of these techniques brings something different to my artistic practice, expanding my visual language.
My participation in the exhibition at TCK Tarnów
The Tarnów Cultural Centre is a place that supports artistic development and provides space for the presentation of creative work. Participating in this exhibition was another important stage in my artistic journey — a chance to show my works, meet viewers, and share different areas of my artistic practice.
I am glad that my works could be part of this exhibition and become a fragment of a larger story about art, the creative process, and the individual search for one’s own artistic language.
Summary
The “Summer Solstice” exhibition at the Tarnów Cultural Centre was an important artistic event for me. During the exhibition, I presented works created in three different techniques: impasto, linocut, and watercolour. Each of them told a different story — about Venice, a pop culture icon, and the landscape of Tuscany.
This experience showed me how important the diversity of techniques is and how many possibilities emerge from consciously combining traditional artistic skills with personal sensitivity.
