Tell a little bit about how you first got into creating art.
At five years old, my father who worked in the fashion industry gave me pre printed pads of paper that included figures with outlined dress shapes. Armed with a set of markers, I spent hours creating dress designs that featured a wide range of color combinations and patterns. My father showed my drawings to a fashion designer who strongly recommended that my parents encourage my artistic abilities and interest. As a result, they provided me with many opportunities to advance my creative skills by sending me to local art classes including art workshops at The Art Institute of Chicago.
From a young age, I was interested in drawing and painting but at age 10, I fell in love with photography. At summer camp, I discovered that images can magically appear on photo paper while working under dramatic red lights in a darkroom. Needless to say, photography was mysterious and really spoke to me! My interest in artmaking continued to evolve through high school and then college. I pursued a BFA in Graphic Design at the University of Illinois and then an MFA in Photography at Arizona State University.
I focus on creating artwork that contains multiple layers of visual interest
What artists or movements have had an impact on you?
Surrealist and Impressionist I grew up in the Chicago area and frequently visited The Art Institute of Chicago during elementary school through college. At a young age, I was attracted to the work of many Surrealists including Yves Tanguy and René Magritte as well as the depiction of the wet road in Paris Street: Rainy Day, by Gustave Caillebotte and the pointillist technique used by Georges Seurat to produce A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.
Magical Realism and Abstract Art
As my interest in art advanced, I became intrigued by the very detailed work of Ivan Albright which inspired me to consider a career in medical illustration. During college, I gained
a deeper appreciation of abstract work produced by many artists including Andre Bresson, Lee Krasner, Franz Kline, Richard Diebenkorn, and Willem de Kooning who produced one of my favorite paintings, Excavation.
Asian Art and Photography
The University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign had an amazing Asian Art collection that I spent hours exploring. I was inspired by these artists’ approach to developing compelling compositions, decisive use of color, and depicting the smallness of humans within nature as illustrated by the work of Katsushika Hokusai. During my undergraduate studies, I took many photography courses which led me to discover the photographic work of Aaron Siskind, Elliott Porter, Harry Callahan, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Imogen Cunningham, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Minor White, and Olivia Parker.
Fabricate to Photograph
My passion for photography inspired me to pursue a MFA in Photography. During my graduate studies I explored various approaches to combining painting and photography. I discovered the artistic movement of artists that produced objects and scenes to be photographed. I was inspired by the work of Barbara Kasten, Cindy Sherman, Sandy Skoglund, and Judith Golden. Through Arizona State University Collaborative Art Lab, I met and was photographed (with my dog) by William Wegman, whose approach to artmaking was inspirational. He sees art everywhere, even a piece of burnt toast that he hung on his wall during graduate school.
Continue to be inspired!
After graduate school, I was fortunate to be part of creative teams that designed three different museums (Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Arizona Science Center, and Arizona Historical Museum). The opportunity to work for a contemporary art museum truly expanded my perspective on art including works in glass and large art installations such as the work of James Turrell. When visiting museums and galleries I focus on exploring new and innovative art which helps to expand my perspective on artmaking and the creative process. Two of pieces that I find very inspirational are included in the Phoenix Art Museum collection, Yayoi Kusama’s infinity mirror room titled, You Who are Getting Obliterated in Dancing Swarm of Fireflies and Cornelia Parker’s Mass (Cold Darker Matter) installation of charred remains of a Texas church that was struck by lightning.
What is your source of inspiration and common themes in your work?
I am inspired by nature, music, dance, color, reflections, and movement. Through painting and photography,
I have developed a visual language inspired by moving water, the shapes it creates, layers of information revealed and/or obscured, and reflections of color and light. My artwork frequently includes large gestural and linear marks/elements, as well as objects on or below the surface. I focus on creating artwork that contains multiple layers of visual interest and utilize water as a visual metaphor, a reminder to remain in the moment because what we see can shift quickly.
What is your favorite art accident? Did it change your perspective?
I strive to create “happy accidents” as I work. I frequently paint over paintings that just were not there yet. The use of painted canvases provides the opportunity to react to existing marks which leads to a conversation between the old painting and new painting. I also add gesso to enhance the texture of a painting and provide additional lines and marks to respond to. When photographing, I am drawn interesting objects, shadows, color, textures, etc… but that is not enough. In order to create a compelling or intriguing image, it may require me to adjust my point of view by stepping back, leaning down or in or even looking up. There is a difference between capturing an image of something interesting and creating an interesting image that includes something unexpected.
Do you have any artistic goals for the future that you would like to share?
I want to continue to exhibit my work and would like to have my work included in a museum collection (or two). Since my artistic journey began in a museum, I would like my work to potentially inspire another artist who is pursuing their own visual journey.