When I create a work of art, whether it is a drawing, print, or sculpture, I bring into each piece a part of my life, a part of my journey. Art is my way of recording memories, of creating a tangible way to express my interpretation of what I see and feel. It is also a way for me to reflect upon my own mortality and it allows me to explore a variety of possibilities and outcomes.
The materials I choose are very much a part of the process. Whether I am bending metal or sculpting in clay, each material provides a unique and diverse challenge. Experimenting with a variety of materials affords me the greatest opportunity to problem solve and inspires my creativity in special ways.
A portion of my current body of work focuses on the human skull. My aim is to transform this symbol of death into something beautiful. My intention is to cause the viewer to experience cognitive dissonance. I want them to feel uncomfortable and challenge the idea that skulls can only represent the finality of life.
The welded assemblages are created intuitively. Each piece of metal, wood, or other materials, dictate to me how and where they are to be used. I rarely have a pre-conceived idea about the final outcome when going into these projects, but rather an outline of an idea or a feeling or emotion as the starting point. The rest just happens.