Bio
To me, art should evoke a response. It should stop you in your tracks and steal a moment of your time. It should draw you in and bring you a sense of wonder and surprise, leave you wanting more.
I made my first collage in elementary school, and it was fun! My first experience with modern art had me feeling free to think outside the box and create something completely different – something beyond the “lines." It made me bubble with bliss, and from that moment on, I've been drawn to contemporary art and the art of collage.
I created my first wooden collage in 2008. I entered the work in a local art competition and won first place (a blue ribbon!). I was beyond thrilled, and knew I was onto something good.
Since I was a child, I've always loved trees. Trees provide us with so many gifts, and to me, they're magical. The connection between humankind and trees is a perfect symbiosis: one without the other cannot exist. To me, that's cause for celebration and gratitude.
I have no preconceived notions about my art. It is completely unique. It is simple and complex, organized and chaotic, dimensional and tactile all at once. My art is abstract because I like it that way. It's me thinking outside the box and feeling free!
My art is made from wood that is reclaimed, recycled, reimagined and repurposed. My husband is a professional woodworker, and for more than 20 years, I've been collecting leftovers from his projects. I use the remnants in my art to create works that reflect nature and its incredible beauty.
When I begin a collage, I let the wood speak to me. I start with a blank “canvas" of plywood and go from there. I endeavor to highlight the diversity of colors and grain patterns in each piece and then carefully sand and fit each one to give a smooth hand before it is put into place and glued.
My art becomes whole as the pieces come together, their sizes and shapes touching, flowing into and around each other, up and down until a feeling of peace comes over me – the tranquility of completion. I do not stain or paint my art. To me, each piece is beautiful just like it is. Occasionally, I'll incorporate a bit of wood, metal or stone into my art for whimsy.
It is my hope my art stops you in your tracks, draws you in, and leaves you wanting more. It is a celebration of the magic hiding beneath the bark and the branches and a way to honor the trees for their amazing gifts.