Fascinated by the juxtaposition of jarring images and ideas, the human experience intensely interests me. The choices we make. The beliefs we cling to. The meaning and order humans are able to create out of the chaotic patterns around us.
I like examining our world from unusual perspectives. I’m interested in exploring patterns in relationships, data visualization, themes in modern society, concepts that we collectively obsesses about, ideas that upset us or thrust us into action. I am interested in what facilitates transformation on a personal as well as worldwide level.
I have not been to art school. (At one point I had thought I might like to go, but other opportunities came up.) My sources of inspiration include:
The Narrative
Who doesn’t love a good story? My biggest narrative to date is the Cancer-Xancer project documenting my experience with breast cancer through a creative expression.
Expressionism
Paintings that express emotion and present subjective interpretations of ordinary events. Particularly the expressionist works of Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter groups. Also Abstract Expressionists for their energy and the Fauvists for their bold use of colour!
Unusual Perspectives
I’ve found that photography is most satisfying for me with a macro lens.
“Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – we haven’t time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”
~Georgia O’Keefe
Texture
It is a sensual thing to touch, to slow down and pay attention to the senses, to experience something more fully, to become engaged and drawn in by it. The goal is to arouse curiosity. Tempt the viewer to become more involved, adventurous, interested… to re-examine the familiar.
Words
I do admit to enjoying poetry, playing with language, appreciating common phrases loaded with puns.
Whimsey
Who doesn’t appreciate a little randomness and a dose of the absurd? My inspiration started with the illustrations of Edward Gorey.
Assemblage
There has always been something magical about finding random objects and arranging them in cozy little box. Sometimes people even pay me to do it.
