Artist’s Statement

My collage process is one of discovery—I construct and deconstruct, layer images and materials, then remove them to see what new surface I can reveal. Although the sources for my portraits are personal, I'd like the viewer to identify with a time, a place, a mood or an emotion. I invite introspection; a pose, a gesture, a landscape feature or architectural detail might remind the viewer of an individual experience. I incorporate these kinds of experiences within my art, layering images to evoke memories and dreams.

My process is evident in the physical qualities of the collage—the planning sketches and underpainting remain, edges of forms are left unfinished for the viewer to complete. I find beauty in textured surfaces and enjoy contrasting flat shapes with illusory space. I rely on instinct and inner experience as I work; my challenge lies in being intensely conscious, yet still in touch with unconscious sources.