Artist Statement

Rarely do I go into a project with a pre-conceived idea; the first brush stroke takes me where I need to go. The surface of my work is a result of what peeks through from the layers below. I try to take the viewer's imagination well beyond the edge of the canvas... what might be an extension of the given space. My work is abstract, mixed-media is my preference both on canvas and paper.

I am partial to acrylic paint on canvas and the use of vibrant color. Most often I start with a standard brush and begin my first layer with colors which seem to choose themselves. As the layers begin the variety of tools I use could be anything... a palette knife, a pencil, tissue paper, burlap, or even the opposite end of the paintbrush in hand. The enjoyment of developing mixed-media projects is that I can use any medium the canvas tells me it needs. With that I create depth in each piece and do this with layers or, a complete under-painting creating hidden images and then I build out the painting creating shadow and dimension. The challenge is to make it seem as though the medium is actually floating.

In the past as well as now... I enjoy incorporating antique memorabilia and current images into my projects, particularly photographs and postcards. Looking at the faces of people from the past makes me wonder what their lives were like, how their photograph (their piece of history) will influence the piece I'm working on. By using modern photographs... individual pieces can be created for patrons who want a keepsake, something of a loved one, the birth of a child, a beloved pet... or any photograph or medium that will make their piece a personal experience.