a little bit about me
As an artist working in mixed media, I explore possibilities of materials – of collage, acrylic or oil paint, pressed plants, metal, found objects - and possibilities of imagery. Instead of planning a painting to the final stroke, I begin working with only a fragment or sketch, letting things evolve in an organic way. As an artist I make use of materials that society sees as worthless; I recycle discarded material, transforming it. The surfaces of my work have complexity and intricate detail, evolving by layer, constructed as carefully as a spider’s web. Multiplicity of texture and pattern energize the surface; spirals curl and tangle. I create my own hand-carved stamps; strange objects and pressed flowers become collage elements. I bring all of my disparate materials together to create a dynamic, powerful image that resonates with the spiritual. My work is a kind of reverse archaeology-secrets and mysteries are hidden within the layers of my collages.
One can see the symbolism of various religions in my work; echoes of anthropology, hints from various literary sources. I admire Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, as well as the Magic Realist writers of Latin America – some of my work could be the painter’s equivalent of Magic Realism. I admire many painters of the past – Klimt, Schiele, Redon, Matisse, Chagall…. assimilating these influences as a part of my thought process, unconscious and instinctive.
The term "digital images" often confuses people; there are so many varieties of digital enhancement going on now in media, it is difficult to know sometimes what is meant. I use the computer extensively in my work. I find old, Victorian-era and older, images and scan them into the computer. They are often very bad reproductions, and I almost completely re-create them. Sometimes I find fragments of images, and fill in the rest of the image. Sometimes I find a black and white image, and paint it digitally. I also create my own collage backgrounds, with various patterns and designs placed in translucent layers, creating an intricate new vision. I print all of these images onto fine quality papers and then treat them as traditional collage materials, tearing, cutting, and placing them into the compositions. The computer adds an exciting dimension to my work; it's hard to imagine not having the computer as an art-making tool.
I received a fine arts degree from the University of North Texas; my life has been a continuous study of art. I have painted for as long as I can remember; growing up, I entertained myself with art. I have evolved a very personal and unique style that communicates on a very personal, visceral level. As a young adult I suffered from chronic pain, and was able to work only sporadically for many years – I have finally received treatment for that problem, and I am able to do the work that has always been so important to me. Currently I participate in many art festivals. My painting of Austin was chosen as the t-shirt image for Austin’s Spirit Echoes Art Festival. I was featured artist at Graham Artsplash and Dallas Artfest, and I designed posters for Dallas Shakespeare in the Park, summer 2006. I won the prize of Best New Artist at the Paseo Arts Festival of Oklahoma City in 2011. During 2007, my work appeared in a national collection of Mixed Media Artists, published by The Kennedy Group. . I passed away on May 5, 2021. 10 minutes into Cinco de Mio.
One can see the symbolism of various religions in my work; echoes of anthropology, hints from various literary sources. I admire Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, as well as the Magic Realist writers of Latin America – some of my work could be the painter’s equivalent of Magic Realism. I admire many painters of the past – Klimt, Schiele, Redon, Matisse, Chagall…. assimilating these influences as a part of my thought process, unconscious and instinctive.
The term "digital images" often confuses people; there are so many varieties of digital enhancement going on now in media, it is difficult to know sometimes what is meant. I use the computer extensively in my work. I find old, Victorian-era and older, images and scan them into the computer. They are often very bad reproductions, and I almost completely re-create them. Sometimes I find fragments of images, and fill in the rest of the image. Sometimes I find a black and white image, and paint it digitally. I also create my own collage backgrounds, with various patterns and designs placed in translucent layers, creating an intricate new vision. I print all of these images onto fine quality papers and then treat them as traditional collage materials, tearing, cutting, and placing them into the compositions. The computer adds an exciting dimension to my work; it's hard to imagine not having the computer as an art-making tool.
I received a fine arts degree from the University of North Texas; my life has been a continuous study of art. I have painted for as long as I can remember; growing up, I entertained myself with art. I have evolved a very personal and unique style that communicates on a very personal, visceral level. As a young adult I suffered from chronic pain, and was able to work only sporadically for many years – I have finally received treatment for that problem, and I am able to do the work that has always been so important to me. Currently I participate in many art festivals. My painting of Austin was chosen as the t-shirt image for Austin’s Spirit Echoes Art Festival. I was featured artist at Graham Artsplash and Dallas Artfest, and I designed posters for Dallas Shakespeare in the Park, summer 2006. I won the prize of Best New Artist at the Paseo Arts Festival of Oklahoma City in 2011. During 2007, my work appeared in a national collection of Mixed Media Artists, published by The Kennedy Group. . I passed away on May 5, 2021. 10 minutes into Cinco de Mio.