Artist Statement:
All over the Mississippi Gulf Coast generations of family treasures were lost in Katrina. Residents searched for days founding only bits and pieces of our former lives scattered over miles. Crazy as it sounds we picked those pieces up and put them in boxes. Our hearts were unwilling to throw the objects and memories of our lives away. Memories were all many of us had left.
Since the storm many of my friends have brought me those boxes and asked me to make something to remember their loved ones. They tell me their stories from the past and what each object represents to them. From these stories an idea takes hold and a painting takes shape. They are simple paintings made of memories with love. Katrina taught me that our families are the most precious gifts. They are to be held close and loved each day less they be taken away in the blink of an eye.
Each painting has many layers and takes on a magical personality of its own. If my artwork is successful a smile will cross the viewer’s face as they enter the whimsical world of the painting. I hope every time the viewer looks at one of my paintings they see something new and entertaining.
Medium:
Commissions only - Mixed Media Assemblages made from family treasures.
Inspiration:
Stories of my family and friends
Palette:
My palette varies depending on my emotional response to a subject.
Style: I have two styles of mixed media assemblages. Both methods of painting styles can be up to 1½ inches thick or more and are enclosed in a shadow box type frame.
All over the Mississippi Gulf Coast generations of family treasures were lost in Katrina. Residents searched for days founding only bits and pieces of our former lives scattered over miles. Crazy as it sounds we picked those pieces up and put them in boxes. Our hearts were unwilling to throw the objects and memories of our lives away. Memories were all many of us had left.
Since the storm many of my friends have brought me those boxes and asked me to make something to remember their loved ones. They tell me their stories from the past and what each object represents to them. From these stories an idea takes hold and a painting takes shape. They are simple paintings made of memories with love. Katrina taught me that our families are the most precious gifts. They are to be held close and loved each day less they be taken away in the blink of an eye.
Each painting has many layers and takes on a magical personality of its own. If my artwork is successful a smile will cross the viewer’s face as they enter the whimsical world of the painting. I hope every time the viewer looks at one of my paintings they see something new and entertaining.
Medium:
Commissions only - Mixed Media Assemblages made from family treasures.
Inspiration:
Stories of my family and friends
Palette:
My palette varies depending on my emotional response to a subject.
Style: I have two styles of mixed media assemblages. Both methods of painting styles can be up to 1½ inches thick or more and are enclosed in a shadow box type frame.
- Lost and Found collages are made from Katrina objects.
- The other approach is my own unique style I call 3-d watercolor. This technique requires a lot of patience as each piece of paper is hand colored and individually glued. A painting can easily approach 16 hours or more to complete depending on the size and amount of vegetation.
3-D Watercolor Assemblages
Motivation:
Watching the natural effects sunlight has on objects inspires me to create art. I especially love the warm glow created by morning light or the heat and intensity of late afternoons. I feel the effects of Mississippi’s heat and humidity on my skin. I hear the sounds of nature around me. These sensations help to commit all my visual impressions to memory. To get these impressions on paper is my personal challenge. It is an inexplicable need to capture the beauty and fleeting qualities of light before they are lost. I have found the best way to depict these rapidly changing events is through the fluidness of watercolor. Watercolor best captures the colors and effects produced by sunlight. It expresses the subtle qualities and emotions that a camera misses. Throughout my life I have experimented with many types of media, but the fresh, luminous quality of watercolor has captivated me. To put it simply I am happiest when I am painting and surrounded by vibrant colors. Art has always fascinated me and I hope it always will.
Technique:
Each painting is a memory from the world around me, my impressions of the physical beauty found in Mississippi and Louisiana. After committing these impressions to memory I take reference shots with my camera. I take these imprints back to my studio and I develop a basic design concept and color palette. Both the concept and color scheme are then tested in a small watercolor painting to create a strong composition. From the test painting I identify successful shapes and colors and work out problems. I want my paintings to manipulate values, colors and shapes to create a push-pull relationship that captures the viewer’s attention. I also decide what texture to add into the composition to create variety. In some cases the texture is used to camouflage shapes thereby adding mystery. Next, I decide which size and format would create the best impact and then I did begin the preparation for the larger artwork.
I consider my 3D Watercolors (papier collé - assemblages on paper and glass) to be my own unique style. This style is very intensive and requires more time and effort. For each shape and color identified a separate sheet of watercolor paper must be prepared with tonal washes. Once the papers have dried I begin the cutting process, or what Henri Matisse considered “drawing with scissors”, and I cut directly into the colored paper. I always begin the cutting stage with the focus of my painting or main subjects. The next task is to place the cutout shapes loosely on the support paper. Next is the intuitive stage of the painting in which I add color shapes and texture until I feel the design is successful. At the completion of the intuitive stage I step back and view my design. I decide what works, what must go, and where color changes are needed. My last task is to glue everything in place and curl edges for effect. Done upon request. Commissions only.
Watching the natural effects sunlight has on objects inspires me to create art. I especially love the warm glow created by morning light or the heat and intensity of late afternoons. I feel the effects of Mississippi’s heat and humidity on my skin. I hear the sounds of nature around me. These sensations help to commit all my visual impressions to memory. To get these impressions on paper is my personal challenge. It is an inexplicable need to capture the beauty and fleeting qualities of light before they are lost. I have found the best way to depict these rapidly changing events is through the fluidness of watercolor. Watercolor best captures the colors and effects produced by sunlight. It expresses the subtle qualities and emotions that a camera misses. Throughout my life I have experimented with many types of media, but the fresh, luminous quality of watercolor has captivated me. To put it simply I am happiest when I am painting and surrounded by vibrant colors. Art has always fascinated me and I hope it always will.
Technique:
Each painting is a memory from the world around me, my impressions of the physical beauty found in Mississippi and Louisiana. After committing these impressions to memory I take reference shots with my camera. I take these imprints back to my studio and I develop a basic design concept and color palette. Both the concept and color scheme are then tested in a small watercolor painting to create a strong composition. From the test painting I identify successful shapes and colors and work out problems. I want my paintings to manipulate values, colors and shapes to create a push-pull relationship that captures the viewer’s attention. I also decide what texture to add into the composition to create variety. In some cases the texture is used to camouflage shapes thereby adding mystery. Next, I decide which size and format would create the best impact and then I did begin the preparation for the larger artwork.
I consider my 3D Watercolors (papier collé - assemblages on paper and glass) to be my own unique style. This style is very intensive and requires more time and effort. For each shape and color identified a separate sheet of watercolor paper must be prepared with tonal washes. Once the papers have dried I begin the cutting process, or what Henri Matisse considered “drawing with scissors”, and I cut directly into the colored paper. I always begin the cutting stage with the focus of my painting or main subjects. The next task is to place the cutout shapes loosely on the support paper. Next is the intuitive stage of the painting in which I add color shapes and texture until I feel the design is successful. At the completion of the intuitive stage I step back and view my design. I decide what works, what must go, and where color changes are needed. My last task is to glue everything in place and curl edges for effect. Done upon request. Commissions only.