Convergence art exhibit to debut at Centennial Hills Library on July 22

Art exhibition to showcase "Convergence: Traditional in the Digital Age.”

By Debbie Hall

“My goal is to make my images look traditional, although they are created in a digital world. I use technology to create traditional artwork.” - Eduardo Tavares.

What do coffee stains, dripping water, and photography have in common? They are three of the elements used by artist, photographer, and musician Eduardo Tavares. He will be debuting a collection of his work at Centennial Hills Library (thelibrarydistrict.org/locations/ch/) with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on July 22. The exhibition will be open to the public from July 23 to October. 12.

Eduardo was born and raised in Portugal, specifically in the Azores Islands, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

“My grandmother was an oil painter, and my grandfather was a photographer. I've been doing photography since I was a teenager, starting with my first camera. I have always been interested in art since I was a young boy. I also became a musician, playing in different bands,” said Eduardo.

He continued to work in photography in the digital era, utilizing the first 2-megapixel camera. Eduardo was one of the first users of the new technology, while expanding his interests to include the computer and IT industries.

“I started with the first version of Photoshop that was available commercially and that evolved into using new software, making my photos look more like art pieces,” Eduardo added.

“I was transforming them into paintings. I also modified some photos by combining pieces of different photos to create new images. That was my creative process.”

One of his favorite techniques, which he refers to as his watercolor style, is based on his own photography. By utilizing digital painting applications, each image becomes a unique expression of his watercolor style.

Regarding his abstract work, the creative process "begins with a blank canvas and then, stroke by stroke, an image begins to appear.”

Another of his passions is street photography. Eduardo has traveled the world taking photos of the local culture, including scenery, architectural structures, people, and their customs.

Then there are the coffee stains.

Eduardo has created a series inspired by coffee stains, such as those left on napkins, paper, tablecloths, and even clothing.

“I really like the forms that it creates sometimes, and they're all abstract-ish. They're usually circular, so I used photos of coffee stains from different pieces. They were the base for those artworks,” he said.

The series comprises seven images, each with names such as Café Americano, Café Noir, and Café Mexicano. 

For his art, Eduardo’s canvas is a computer screen, and his paintbrush is a digital pen. He incorporates several state-of-the-art software programs, including Corel Painter, which featured him in 2018 on the software package and their website. Eduardo’s art is not computer-generated; instead, it is digital art that is hand-drawn or hand-painted.

There are 17 libraries in Clark County that feature art galleries, including group showings and solo exhibitions. For more information, visit thelibrarydistrict.org.

“Convergence: Traditional in the Digital Age” will open at the Centennial Hills Library, 6711 N. Buffalo Dr., with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on July 22, and the exhibit will be on display through Oct. 12. For more info, visit eduardotavaresart.com.