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Artist Statement
Working with color, contrast and bold statements of opposites or absence of light allow me to capture seeing nature in a new and exciting way. I start with pencil sketches, scraps of paper on a board then move to the hand dyed and/or commercial fabric to create a collage of sorts. I want to draw the audience into my work with color and design elements to create pieces that engage the curious eye. Allowing the form to follow concept, my technique of piecing color value together from dark to light and cutting through multiple layers offers elements of mystery and intrigue. In my studio I can cut up. As an artist I make "random notes" where I say things without feeling I must be responsive. I find working in stages fits my expression and my life. During my studio time and when I am not instructing art, I paint, draw, and cut out all the images in my head to create a larger piece. The subjects I mostly conjure up reflect time, travel and nature. A person, place or a bloom emerges into the piece reflecting a time of the day or a season. I draw with my needle when working in fiber. This process has come to symbolize moments of peaceful contemplation for me, one which I treasure. My studio space is filled with paintings, prints, books, and colorful objects. It embodies my interest in art history, the rural landscape, career in architecture, my life overseas, student teaching, and design.