Melody Vaughan

Melody Vaughan is an artist and printmaker from Nashville, Tennessee. She recently moved to Chicago to pursue printmaking full time. By day she is a printer at Citizen Brick and the rest of her time is spent making fine art prints. She specializes in Intaglio and Lithography and her images explore the relationship between the natural and built environment. Melody received her MFA for the University of North Texas in Denton, where she was a teaching fellow then adjunct. She received her BFA from Middle Tennessee State University. To learn more, please visit: http://melody-vaughan.squarespace.com

TEACHER FEATURE: a Q & A with Melody Vaughan

How long have you been at CPC? 

Almost a year now. I am a recent transplant to Chicago from Denton,TX where I taught drawing and printmaking. CPC has been a fantastic source of community and I love making art there!

Why do you make art?

A tangible sense of purpose and sometimes money.

How does teaching and printmaking play a part in your studio practice?

They are all very similar things to me. Teaching helps me think about my own work with fresh perspective. The technical nature of printmaking has influenced my art practice so thoroughly that I always think in print, no matter what media I am working in.

What book are you reading currently?

I’m reading Only Revolutions by Mark Danielewski.

What is your favorite non-art distraction?

Road Trips!

Who is your favorite printmaker?

Peter Milton, Francisco de Goya, Kathryn Polk– I can’t pick just one!

What color crayon are you in the crayon box?

Crayola Cerulean.

Favorite teaching moment?

When teaching Drawing I to college freshmen, I encourage them to get to know each other by asking daily poll questions (i.e. What’s your favorite candy?, If you could travel in time, where and when would you go?) At the end of the semester we do a Secret Santa-style drawing exchange. Students draw names and exchange drawings based on their friend’s poll question answers. I know it sounds so so cheesy, and it is. The questions help break up the monotony of still life drawing and the students actually get to know each other. That last day of class is always really nice. We have a potluck and final critique and reflect on how much we have learned.

Check out other TEACHER FEATURE interviews with CPC faculty HERE