7x7x7 Series: Tyra Krehbiel
Tyra Krehbiel is an artist who is currently based in Northern Virginia. Her large-scale oil paintings depict vast, emotional atmospheres as a direct response to touch, material, and process. Through spontaneous methods of application, she explores painting as performance and the effects it can produce. She is interested in creating both large and small moments within a piece, and producing immersive environments for viewers to experience. She is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia (CLAS’21) where she earned a B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in painting and a B.A. in Computer Science. Tyra is our sixth featured 2021 artist in our fifth 7x7x7 Series, which asks 7 questions to 7 Charlottesville artists and is published once a week for 7 weeks.
Image courtesy of the artist
1. If you had a free afternoon in Charlottesville what would you do or where would you go?
I’d love to get some dinner at a local restaurant I have never visited before. Even though I lived in Charlottesville for a few years, there’s still plenty of places left on my list to try!
2. Describe your artistic work in 7 words.
Vast, immersive environments; Emotional atmospheres; Emphasize materiality;
Image courtesy of the artist
3. Who or what inspires your current work?
Currently I’ve been thinking about uninhabited spaces, as in places without people or life, and what impression they give.
Image courtesy of the artist
4. Consider one piece you’re working on right now. Give us a snippet of your routine—from start to finish, what goes into making it?
I don’t really plan out a piece from start to finish. I begin by making and prepping a canvas, then I begin painting over large areas of the canvas using thin layers of oil paint with thinner or medium. I’ll continue building up thicker layers of paints using whatever actions or tools that come to mind in the moment until I discover what’s working and what’s not. It’s very in-the-moment until I decide the painting is finished.
Image courtesy of the artist
5. What have you learned about yourself as a person through the experience of making art?
I have learned that I am the sort of person who overthinks a lot and am most comfortable with having a detailed plan of action, however that can be restrictive. I have learned to allow myself to act more freely.
Image courtesy of the artist
6. What would you like to see happen in Charlottesville to better support artists in our community?
I wish there were more events related to art--both to network and to buy works from other artists and artisans. Or, if those opportunities already exist, I wish they were more widely advertised to spread their reach to new artists who may be interested but not sure where to look.
7. What is currently on your studio/work desk?
Currently, the only thing on my work desk is a drawing tablet. I’m hoping to explore digital art more while I don’t have a dedicated painting studio space.
The opinions expressed in this interview are solely those of the artist and do not necessarily represent the policies or positions of NCAI.
This summer's series is presented by The Seven Society and features artists affiliated with the University of Virginia.
