I love the history of “things” and am awed and inspired by the overlooked beauty of discarded items. My artwork is filled with vintage & antique found objects, salvaged cast-offs, and forgotten relics that tell a story of a past life. I see these objects for what they can be, rather than their intended use. Instead of a broken porcelain doll head, I see a Queen. Instead of a beat up silverplate teapot, I see inspiration for a hot air balloon basket.
Often it’s a special treasure that becomes the inspiration for an assemblage. Other times I have a vision of a completed piece and have to go in search for just the right components.
Searching for rusty, broken items is fundamental to my creative process. I’m continually on the hunt for fascinating treasures that will find their way into my artwork. My favorite pastime is treasure hunting, or as I really call it, “junkin” – antique stores, second-hand shops, yard sales, flea markets, and estate sales are my idea of nirvana. These places are all endless sources of inspiration and supplies – and fun!
Treasure hunting may be where my creative process begins, but then I must decide on a core piece and/or a story for a piece. Then figuring out how it will all fit together is the where the puzzle master in me emerges. Many times I feel like these forgotten objects speak to me and tell me what they want to be. And of course, along the way I will alter most of the individual pieces with paint, metal or clay work and the like.
The actual assembly is sometimes the most challenging. Figuring out how to bring all the pieces together in a secure, stable, and balanced way is the big test! I use many techniques and materials to complete a piece – soldering, steel reinforced adhesives, screws, wire, rivets, epoxy clay, whatever that piece requires to come together.
Each of my creations are truly one-of-a-kind art. Each one has its own story to tell. And hidden inside is a tiny bit of history – and magic!