Process...

Blow
Mixed Media
36" x 36"
In Process














Earth Sky Tide Study
Mixed Media
10" x 30"
In Process

I just saw it a minute ago...

blow
36" x 36"
sumi, acrylic, oil
in process

What I hear.

...some small black and white studies (10" x 10", 10" x 30") and some larger boards that I will be cutting in preparation for the 4 and 6' canvases I have prepared. I am so smitten with the calligraphic and block print marks. Delicate fluidity and grounded strength. Attraction, discovery, exchange. What gesture might they share? How do they move toward one another? What new conversation can we hear when we listen closely? Wings moving air, water falling on leaves, footfalls in gravel beds, the sounds of breathing. Moving. Falling. Breathing.

Above, Below, Within

Sea Sky Fire Studies
Mixed Media (acrylic, metallic fabric paint, oil, cold wax, sumi ink, )
10" x 30"

Now, then.

Float (studies)
Mixed Media (acrylic, sharpie, woodblock print collage, oil)
10" x 30"


















Through the Trees (studies)
Mixed Media (acrylic, wood block print collage, oil, cold wax)
10" x 30"













Flight study
Mixed Media (acrylic, oil, woodblock print collage)
10" x 10"

From the Sky

My third residency at AIB felt like one very slow explosion. The days were filled and overflowed into evenings of rich conversation, laughter with fellow students, and nights of vivid dreams and adrenaline charged sleep. At home now, I am processing it all - gallery visits, thirteen scheduled critiques, three visiting artist lectures, two faculty presentations, a panel discussion, one critical theory and one professional development seminar. Those are the actual pieces, but what they represent to me is something far harder to outline or list. I can still feel the heat from the long explosion, and I am turning each piece of the experience over in my hands, dreaming of what I will build with them – something strong and beautiful to stand upon.









Back in the studio now, the process begins. Trusting gravity. Up is safe.

Day One

Today, day one of my third of five residencies at AIB was a very full and satisfying day. I unpacked my paintings and installed them in my critique space - watched previews for the time-based, first year and graduate presentations, re-connected with my class and ate delicious meals in fantastic company. We ended our first day by 8PM, so I was able to enjoy a wonderful sunset run along the St Charles river. It is sunny and warm - I sleep on the 4th floor of a brown stone built in 1896 with the windows open, and wake to a raucous and welcoming bird serenade. I have an early run with some class-mates in the morning before critiques and our first critical theory seminar. Hard work, beautiful joy.

Artist Statement - new revision

From William Turner to Anselm Kiefer, I feel connected to artists that share their personal response to the world through their emotive depictions of the environment. My life is the preparation for each painting. I cull insight for each piece from experiences that I have moving through the landscape, and my relationships with the lives within it. Intuitive replies to memories create a sense of place in my work that is defined by the materiality of the paint, and the discovery of visual contrasts reflecting emotional connections to experience. This is an environment of call and response where the heart and mind interact and the viewer is asked to consider the connection between presence and reaction.
I encourage this connection with the inclusion of unrefined pigment mixed directly into the oil paint and cold wax. Fluid transparent washes, heavy layers of sediment textured peaks – the gesture of a wave, the splatter of petals or rain – these are the marks that build and reveal place.
Although the content of my work is largely a personal form of communication, it invites participation through the discovery of the landscape from an internal perspective. When one views the world from the heart, how does our connection to it, and our care of it, potentially change?

Joy

Joy
oil and cold wax on canvas
30" x 24"

Inside, around, through, behind. Irrepressible.

Favorite time

Favorite Time
oil and cold wax on canvas
24" x 30"
in process??

Seattle is such a wonderful place because no matter how grey the day, chances are very likely that at dusk, you will witness an amazing transition between day and night. My favorite time.

Out there, In here.

remembering sky
oil and cold wax on canvas
18" x 24"

Float

Float
19" x 48"
oil and cold wax on paper

You can take the girl out of representation, but you can't take the...

Through the Trees -
Still experimenting with the varnish, sumi ink and more layering of oil and wax. Crazy compulsion has taken over. Can't stop. I like it stacked vertically right now, even though it becomes tall like a giant (tree?) and more literal.

Studio Experiment Outcome

Finally an experiment that I am thrilled with! This is a detail of my oh so happy discovery today that sumi ink will sit on top of acrylic water based varnish, which will sit on top of oil paint. (Archival? What?) Anyway, I am so excited about this! I do believe the entire reason I worked on the tree diptychs for so long, was to figure this out. Onward!
Oh and how funny that all of the Crit Theory readings of the moment are discussing Orientalism...!

Beauty and Loss; BFF

Critical Theory Paper 3, Spring 2010

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Acx_78ZgJoWXZGc4NDZnN2pfMGZydjgyNmRn&hl=en

Embrace the Process

Embrace
oil and cold wax on paper
48" x 19"
in process

Running through the woods this morning, thinking about process, feeling the warm embrace of air, trees, sky...

Breathe into each step - recognize and embrace the process.

Full

Moon
43" x 30"
oil and cold wax on canvas