ARTwise:

Beginning with textures and patterned papers I slowly work scraping, erasing, building upon the past...leaving behind a history of the layer before it. Treating this as the foundation for the painting I begin to notice what is trying to emerge. I work in partnership. Animals, birds, and recognizable images often become visible. More marks are added, hopefully creating a new language within the textured surface. In the end, I step back and hope to see a bit of an unspoken story staring back at me..a narrative that allows the viewer to bring their own memories and experiences to the work as well.

“ART ALLOWS US TO FIND OURSELVES AND LOSE OURSELVES AT THE SAME TIME." - THOMAS MERTON

ABOUT ME:

After many years as a high school art teacher I am now focused on building my own studio practice which includes collage, painting and drawing. The inspiration for my work, which is semi abstract in style, comes from my daily life as well as memories that emerge in my paintings. I am fascinated with building up a collaged surface made of patterned papers and then using that as the foundation for the painting itself. I remember as a child being intimidated by the blank page. I could, however, work for hours putting together snippets of paper or fabrics in order to create a whole…paper dolls, doll clothes, imagined environments…it didn’t matter. I realize that I have joyfully come full circle back to this process. If asked to describe my work I would say that it tends to have a sense of playfulness with color and expressiveness as the most important elements. Underneath the surface there is much more which I hope hits the viewer on a more emotional level. Away from my studio I work in my son’s taco biz, taking care of Tank, my rescue dog who came from the rain forest in Puerto Rico and spending with my family.