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Art has played several roles in my life over the past 15 years. First it was a hobby, then a passion, and now it is in forefront as I work towards making my living as an artist. The constant in my work over the years is my very strong attraction to light, color, shape and composition. Those aspects combined with my love of experimental processes and mixed media are at the heart of my color photograms and abstract painting. Using both styles of artwork, I explore how these elements flow together and why one piece pleases the eye over another.
Photograms are a cousin to photographs. Unlike traditional photographs, there is no camera or negative involved and yet the darkroom is critical. A photogram is created when an object is laid directly on photo sensitive paper, exposed to light and then the paper is developed. The resulting image is a combination of exposure time, object transparency and placement. Ironically, color photograms are created in total darkness. This adds another variable to this process and makes it nearly impossible to replicate the exact combination of object placement, colors and exposure. A session in the darkroom can create a series of works that are very similar in composition and color but every exposure is clearly unique. When I create photograms I compose image ideas in my head, then place the objects and alter the light as I work toward my goal. While a technical process, the essence of creating photograms requires that I be open to the unexpected. Sometimes the most interesting pieces are created when the experimental nature of the process is fully embraced.
In my abstract painting I combine watercolor paint, chalk pastels and ink. I begin by wetting down the entire surface, then I layer the paint, ink and pastel at different intervals as the paper dries. These media all work differently on wet surfaces than they do on dry so I use a structured approach but embrace the organic way the elements flow together as I apply each layer. Usually I work on full sheets of watercolor paper and then take sections from the larger piece to create smaller works. I find that the viewer can appreciate the composition of form and color better freed from the context of the larger work. Like quotes from a speech, the impact of a piece can be felt in a passage.
Regardless which method I use, the end result is colorful forms composed on paper. My goal is to create vibrant pieces that strike a chord in others. I want viewers to enjoy looking at my work and hang it on their wall because it brings pleasure or a sense of calm. These feelings reflect my mindset when I create and are what I want to share with others.
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Orange County Artist Guild
Member Since 2011 |
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