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"I don't paint from life; I paint the story of my life." D. Hulse
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Artist's Statement
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I'd love to meet you in person to talk about art. Please connect with me through my contact page.
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I am an abstract, mixed media artist, and my work includes painting, drawing, and objects. With a background in psychology, biology, and the fine arts, I explore inner and outer landscapes, painting from memories and through emotions. Series organize the thematic associations among my pieces. My work is personal and filled with the experiences and stories of my life.
I work intuitively and utilize whatever materials will help me realize my vision – paint, wood, ink, paper, precious stones and metals, resin, and found objects. I intentionally rescue what I use, repurposing my old paintings and drawings as readily as ceramic plates, paper scraps, and frayed pieces of fabric. I give new life to these hidden treasures by highlighting the beauty I perceive in their insignificance and history. The act of rescue echoes my personal journey as well as the cyclical nature of life on Earth. Fragility and resilience are partners. As I place the first mark on the surface of my piece, a visual conversation begins. When colors, lines, and shapes sit next to each other, the piece starts to live. It seems to |
"If I have listened to and observed the work carefully, it becomes...a visual poem that emerges from a partnership between my heart and mind." develop a voice. I cannot control too much,
or the work will stiffen and become lifeless. I might spotlight an accidental drip of paint, apply a wash, carve, stitch, break, or glue a fragment. The act of creation for me is very often physical, and mind-body connections become part of the pieces. If I have listened to and observed the work carefully, it becomes finished when there is a complete statement, a visual poem that is born from a partnership between my heart and mind. Figures often spontaneously emerge during this process of creation. Careful scrutiny can reveal a palimpsest of my previous actions and clues to my emotional, intellectual, and experiential journeys. The work becomes a record of change, enabling me to stand at the intersection of the past and the present, while inviting others to do so as well. |