The Hobby Hopping Art Club meets every Wednesday night to explore different art mediums in a relaxed environment.
The club meets from 7-9 p.m. in the Wright Education Building. On Feb. 26, about 12 students were there to watch a demonstration about colored pencils.
Grayson Edwards, a co-founder of the club, said it was created to give IU students of all backgrounds an opportunity to experiment with different art mediums. The club’s art supplies are funded through IU and are free for students.
“It’s a community for experienced artists and new artists to learn from each other,” Edwards said. “It’s a place where people have time for themselves.”
Edwards, 21, led the demonstration. He placed his drawing of an indigo cat under a projector and explained the different types of layering: soft, burnishing and white.
Edwards said each layering technique depends on how hard one presses the colored pencils on the paper. White layering is used to blend, while burnishing is preferred for capturing shine with the wax of the pencil.
“There’s not necessarily rules in art,” Edwards said as he turned up a playlist of lo-fi hip-hop beats to signal the end of the presentation.
A girl unfurled a pencil case filled with every color of the rainbow. Every head was down as scribbles and soft pencil streaks filled their pages.
Marisa Bryans, 20, drew a naked, three-headed figure shaded with purple. The drawing was surrounded by the words “THEY,” “THEM” and “THEIRS.”
“I’m really into medieval studies, and the devotional tableau of Saint Francis of Assisi,” Bryans said. “I wanted to do something with that, not conforming to male or female genders.”
The room was filled with people in their own worlds, working on the day’s chosen medium or independent projects.
Andrew Brown, 21, carved “Rose,” into a linoleum block, used in printmaking.
“Everyone has a great attitude when they enter this space,” Brown said. “I have a lot of fun messing around with mixed media.”
His girlfriend, Rose Melton, 21, is a founding officer of the club. She said that the art she creates during workshops gives her a productive buzz.
“It’s something I can have my hands in and be really physically and emotionally present for,” Melton said. “It makes me feel good to help others as well."
People interested in joining can contact hhac@indiana.edu or on the BeINvolved website.
