Artist Statement

For me, a photograph captures the unique impact of a single moment. I work from my own photos, taken with the same passion that I then translate to my paper collage. The delicate intricacies in a single blade of grass or the human eye, the myriad colors and textures of sand on a beach, the ridges, hollows, planes and shadows that make up a tree trunk, an ocean wave or a dress- each piece of paper, like a single stroke from a paint brush, has its vital purpose in the greater image. Though I give importance to overall composition, I place even more emphasis on capturing the emotion of a special moment in detail.

The texture of my collages make people want to touch them. First, I think because they can’t believe they are rendered wholly with paper. More important to me is that they ‘feel’ the grass brushing against their legs, the roughness of stucco against their palms. Movement is a factor as well. I want someone’s time with my piece to come alive, have presence. I attempt to create for them a vision or a dream, or perhaps part of a story. They may even ask, “Was I there?”

Rendering the various elements of each piece requires different techniques. I might layer large organic forms loosely, tearing rather than cutting a feature such as a cloud. This sometimes produces a great edge, slightly different in shade, that results in a nice sense of ‘fluff.’ For sharper lines I have collected a large array of scissors and razor knives. This artform lends itself nicely to making changes. If an object looks too stiff, for example, I may tear off its top layer here and there to reveal a softer inner layer, or a different color underneath.

This medium can be time consuming, but, I believe the distinctiveness and sensuality it presents are well worth the effort.