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My collages are explorations of color, texture, and pattern. Most start with a feeling or emotional essence I’d like to convey, a memory from a particular moment in time or place. Other times I focus on something contrary to what I would typically gravitate towards, or perhaps a color or shape that may not be my favorite. I like to see where the flow takes me.
From there, the process is a highly intuitive exploration that sometimes ends at a location not entirely expected. The element of chance that comes from working with existing materials allows for constant experimentation.
The papers are from a robust collection I’ve gathered over the years. It includes watercolors, monoprints, woodblock prints, and drawings I’ve created and that I now find dissatisfying as works of art on their own, as well as a variety of decorative papers I’ve acquired.
I'm most attracted to papers that have an element of randomness to their texture, pattern, or color—though I occasionally incorporate specialty printing or colored papers.
A variety of acid-free adhesives are used to construct the collages. The particular papers I’m working with often dictate which particular adhesive will be used. To keep the paper from curling while wet adhesives dry, I use a nipping press or antique iron.
My collages are about 4"–6" square. I like to keep it small— the world is a busy place, and sometimes small is plenty big to get lost in. Small also conveys an intimacy, something that’s difficult to convey in a large space. Besides, small fits well in my not-so-large workspace.
My inspiration comes from the landscape, particularly farmland with the often overgrown hedges that form between fields, the old elm or nut trees standing sentry, the orchards and rolling hills.
