As a visual artist I must use my discerning eye to weave many disparate elements into a gem-like whole that is a textural and color-filled delight. My intention is that this work will evoke the mythic and the spiritual. Forest rituals, trance, and prayer are at the core of my inspiration and process. A felt sense of remembered rhythms of being human conjugates with the raw stuff of our precious and ancient earth. Through the creative process, I seek out, find and express divine essence, a sacred space that holds each particular visionary story. Deep satisfaction is experienced when I am able to allow color and form to flow through me and assemble an image that destroys the illusion that we are separate from one another and the natural world. In my world, the whole always transcends its many parts.
An amalgam of materials are used: water based paints, inks, bark, roots, found materials, rusted lace, bones, paper, threads, fiber shreds, fabrics, sticks, feathers, beads, rocks, wool…
All of the images are original and either painted, photographed or digitally interfused, often printed as a giclee. These materials are all blended without the use of glues or other harmful chemicals. Often the separate parts are joined together by sewing one to the other. The use of repeated patterns and the creation of pieces using the same original images in a variety of ways feels much like a chant that has evolved over time.
For many decades I have compared my art to an aged compost pile. A mixture of many things makes for rich soil that can grow truth and feed us with beauty and wisdom.
The process of creating art is a gift that gives me profound satisfaction, deep peace and wonderment. It is a great honor to be able to share these visual expressions with others.
My wet-felt wool work always feels like an ancient experiment in blending with water, the delicate and strong. I primarily use merino and cashmere wool, silks, upcycled sweaters and coats, upcycled scarves and clothes, antique laces and other bits of mystery fiber that want to leap right in. Wearable art is simply a joy to create and adorn others with.
Blending the felted pieces with hand stitching began as a meditation practice and continues to bring peace into my life, one stitch at a time. This has been a powerful practice during years of the pandemic.
