COPAKE — Tia Maggio, the vibrant and enthusiastic children’s and youth services associate for the Roeliff-Jansen Library in Copake, born to the world of art, has seen her universe expanding and has embraced the possibilities presented by digital art.
“I have done art my whole life,” she said, explaining her passion. “Both my parents had design jobs, but they also were painters. My brother and I spent many a day at museums growing up in New York. It just was kind of intuitive — kind of in the family.”
Over the course of her career, she has presented a number of art shows, with her first local display of her digital art at The Gallery at Spencertown Academy going on now through Sunday, May 15.
While also a tremendous photographer who often shares library patron photos with The Millerton News, for years this former Virginia resident’s primary focus has been pastels. That work was featured there when she returned for a show that she titled “Fresh Air,” in recognition of landscapes she had done during the pandemic.
Her display at The Academy, however, which will be presented with that of photographer William Bullard and oil painter Gina Occhiogrosso, will consist exclusively of digital images of landscapes, huge vegetables and vibrant Mexican buildings, created on a trip to that country.
Now a fan of the iPad, Maggio said convenience is a real benefit. While she used to always travel with paper and a portable watercolor kit, she is now able to leave those behind as she relies on her digital device, although old habits do die hard as she traveled with both on a recent trip to Africa.
Her current love affair with that new genre began one day when — for a reason she can’t even remember — she just randomly opened “www.procreate.art” one of the many such apps available on what she now refers to as her “Art Pad.” She began experimenting.
Maggio committed to doing a sketch every day, and as she progressed, the possibilities opened up to her. She works with different features, including an almost limitless variety of brushes, textures and colors.
Once a digital painting is complete, she sends the image to a firm in Texas, which prints them on her favorite archival paper, Hahnemuehle, which has been produced in Germany since 1584.
Although there is a great deal of tutorial assistance available to anyone online, Maggio said instead of using that, she has enjoyed simply uncovering available elements herself.
“I was always a naysayer about anything new,” she said. “That’s why I surprised myself. I just did it everyday to try to teach myself. I started really liking what I was creating.”
Satisfied with what she produced, she again went south and “had a big show in Virginia called ‘Tia’s Gone Digital.’ It was a big blast — a one night open house, and it was very well attended and received. It was really fun.”
The Spencertown Academy show is only her second art show devoted entirely to her new passion.
For this new exhibit, some of her paintings will be framed, but the rest will not so that viewers can appreciate the exceptional quality of the paper that will be exposed and buyers can frame them as they like.
At this point, Maggio does not include digital art in the library programs because “not everyone has access to an iPad.”
However, if anyone is interested in learning more about “app work,” Maggio said she will be glad to assist them at the Roe Jan Library at 9091 Route 22, Copake.
For more information on the exhibit at the Arts Center at 790 Route 203, Spencertown, call 518-392-3693.
Tia Maggio is showing new work at Spencertown Academy through May 15. Photo submitted
‘Square Quilting painting' by ransomeAlexander Wilburn
