Welcome to the 323rd edition of A View From the Easel, a series where artists share insights about their creative environments. This week, we feature artists who shape soapstone landscapes and work collaboratively within church communities.
If you’re interested in participating, please review our submission guidelines and tell us about your studio using this form. We welcome all artistic mediums and workspace types, including home studios.
Pitseolak Qimirpik, based in Kinngait, Canada, has spent five years in his current workspace. He started producing graphic art at Kinngait Studios and now creates drawings, prints, and carvings. His journey into stone carving began at age 14, inspired by his father, the carver Kellypalik Qimirpik. His daily routine involves outdoor carving, braving the cold with adequate winter clothing, and finishing pieces indoors when necessary. His influences range from local culture to popular media, and his latest large mosaic drawings will be showcased in New York.
Pau Tiu and Felize Camille Tolentino-Tiu, known as Bad Student, operate from Sunnyside, Queens. They’ve been in their current location for nearly eight months. Their workday starts with a walk in the neighborhood before settling into their studio, located in a church shared with a daycare center. Afternoons are dedicated to meetings and print jobs, while they stay connected with their studio in the Philippines through a shared YouTube Premium account. Their studio space, a supportive community hub, allows them to work creatively as queer immigrant artists.
Both artists express appreciation for their studios, with Pitseolak enjoying the financial benefits and creative freedom his space provides, while Bad Student values the inclusive and community-oriented environment of their church studio. Both artists embrace diverse materials, with Pitseolak favoring soft stones and mixed media, and Bad Student having an enduring preference for paper.
