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As
an artist, my self-expression manifests through the art-forms of
photography and mixed media collage, working differently within each
medium.
When I photograph, I choose the
elements that I wish to freeze in time. I respond to a whole, which can
be seen within the camera’s viewfinder. It is a conscious decision to
arrange or capture natural lines, graphically appealing patterns, or the
particular interplay of texture, light and shadow. I search for
aesthetic possibilities in areas that the eye often overlooks. These may
be found in the random placement of objects, in a pile of discarded
junk, or on pieces of building facades that have been cast away in
demolition. In the darkroom, the composition may be altered or other
changes made.
This process is inverted in my
collage work. Instead of a whole, I start with two or three
components, proceeding to manipulate them
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until
an interesting unity begins to evolve. Creating
something visually exciting from unrelated preexisting objects, each
with its own texture and dimensionality, is the challenge. Torn papers,
scraps of metal, transferred images, layered paints, pieces of nature
and bits of watercolor may all be used until each piece finds its own
unique harmony. The subconscious gently guides while the eye and hand
freely play.
Although the works are often abstract
or seemingly without a subject, they may still reflect emotional states,
suggest the passage of time, hint at landscape or even trigger the
recall of forgotten dreams or memories. The process is not predefined
but open and serendipitous. The element of surprise is always
energizing and joyful, even if it takes months to find the one last
element or the final few brushstrokes necessary to render a piece
finished.
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