The afghan that laid across my mom.
I am an artist that turned to painting in 2015 to cope with the loss of my mother due to a terminal illness. The last night I spent with her an afghan laid across her (pictured above). I felt a strong connection to the blanket, knowing that it was comforting her. I studied its shapes and criss cross design. Soon after I began to paint abstract and expressive grid-like images, inspired by the visual and emotional symbolization I connected with in that afghan. The pattern of the grid has continued in my work as I have expanded my portfolio and developed in my practice.
The paintings I create explore energy and emotion through layers, shapes, and expressive colorful elements. Grids and aerial like views and patterns appear regularly in my art as they help me visually create surface shapes, structures, and pathways to explore. Ultimately, my style and technique evoke images of unique expressive color meditations. My work started off abstract and non-referential; now the work visually has similarities to maps or landscapes.
Watercolor is my primary medium. I find I can experiment most with it, because of its fluidity and transparent layering qualities. It also lends itself well as a tool to create the contour lines for my grid-like compositions, which is the first step in making my paintings. I occasionally use fluid acrylics to make these lines too, if I am looking for a more permanent medium. I use paint pipettes to drip paint on the surface and then I move the paper around to push the paint forward. I also sometimes draw with the pipettes, where I am slowly releasing the watercolor as I drag the pipette across the paper. I let some initial lines dry and then I add more lines, often layering on top of lines to create a sense of dimension. I finish the art by painting in the shapes. Because of the nature of liquid watercolor/fluid acrylics and the methods I use to create my shapes, my images are one of a kind. Recently, I have been incorporating collage and crayon into my mixed media pieces. I have also explored installations by experimenting with form and materials. This work continues to shape and shift based upon the inspirations that create the images.
The paintings I create explore energy and emotion through layers, shapes, and expressive colorful elements. Grids and aerial like views and patterns appear regularly in my art as they help me visually create surface shapes, structures, and pathways to explore. Ultimately, my style and technique evoke images of unique expressive color meditations. My work started off abstract and non-referential; now the work visually has similarities to maps or landscapes.
Watercolor is my primary medium. I find I can experiment most with it, because of its fluidity and transparent layering qualities. It also lends itself well as a tool to create the contour lines for my grid-like compositions, which is the first step in making my paintings. I occasionally use fluid acrylics to make these lines too, if I am looking for a more permanent medium. I use paint pipettes to drip paint on the surface and then I move the paper around to push the paint forward. I also sometimes draw with the pipettes, where I am slowly releasing the watercolor as I drag the pipette across the paper. I let some initial lines dry and then I add more lines, often layering on top of lines to create a sense of dimension. I finish the art by painting in the shapes. Because of the nature of liquid watercolor/fluid acrylics and the methods I use to create my shapes, my images are one of a kind. Recently, I have been incorporating collage and crayon into my mixed media pieces. I have also explored installations by experimenting with form and materials. This work continues to shape and shift based upon the inspirations that create the images.
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