This month we’re featuring Marcie Wolf-Hubbard for the Capitol Hill Art League’s Mind of the Artist feature. Read her story and check out her artwork below. You can find Marcie on Facebook or view her artwork at https://www.marciewolfhubbard.com/

I’ve always loved to draw. One of my Mom’s friends must have noticed I had talent(!) and she told my Mom to get me good art supplies. It was about that time (age 10) that I started taking classes from an artist neighbor, Janet Saltzman. I still use her guidance when demonstrating portrait drawing with my students. I studied Fine Art Illustration in College at the University of Maryland and the Maryland Institute College of Art. I earned a BA in Studio Art from the University of Maryland. After college, I worked in commercial art, design, and illustration, including as a courtroom illustrator.

My favorite tool for drawing is charcoal. I can vary the line with my wrist, and arm, and be deliberate by pressing down on the paper. I strive to draw what I see, connecting with my subject. It’s always a challenge, but when I draw, I’m loving the tools/materials, and how they work together. I take different approaches to my art, adding collage elements. My mixed media work is mostly intuitive. I may draw or paint over it with a brush. I also use water soluble pastels and graphite. I have been working in encaustic (hot wax) painting since 2010, using encaustic to highlight my drawings. I build layers and create relief exploring surface, depth, and texture.

I am inspired by nature, looking at other artists’ work, and working with my students. I’m an instructor at Glen Echo Park, Yellow Barn Studios, and The Smithsonian. In March 2020 I transitioned to teaching online. (I learned about CHAL and CHAW from CHAL co-presidents Anne and Karen who I’ve enjoyed having in my mixed media and tiny house classes.)

Students come together to focus on art in what feels like an art community—- bringing people out of isolation and getting together to make art. The attention to art has lifted anxiety and inspired us all to continue creating.

I’ve been fortunate to be able to continue my practice of life drawing on Zoom with our local models of the DC Art Model Collective, and the international group 2B or not 2B Life Drawing Collective. I work ‘alongside’ other artists drawing models from all over the world as part of a larger community. This audience and community is diverse and includes people of all ages, income levels, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and people with disabilities. I’m pleased with the new direction of my work. It has demonstrated the intimate nature of drawing on Zoom, something I never would have done except for the pandemic. (One of Covid’s Silver linings.)

My current project, “The Weight of our Environment” involves translating my 2D drawings to 3D sculptures in wood cutouts, standing forms, and tiny interiors where I’ve created environments for my figures. I’m working in paper mache, cardboard, and encaustic paint. The subjects are the figure and nature. In March I will be exhibiting my work at Artists and Makers Studios in Rockville.