New Work; Collage on Wood
I have been thinking about these pieces for weeks. Making sketches, writing about why I need to make them, imagining them coming to life, practicing with the saber saw…. and I finally got the time to start on the project.
These pieces are small combination of hard and soft processes. Of strength and delicacy, of force and restraint. The brush stroke is cut from the canvas, outlined on wood, cut from the wood and layered with additional pieces of painted canvas. It’s the meeting point of things I can control and things I cannot.
The process is both scary (hello power tools) and joyful. Watching forms come to life when cut from the canvas and take on a new meaning when applied to the wood is such an excitement that as soon as I finish one, I can’t help myself from starting another. I’m hoping to finish a small set of these for The Other Art Fair in a few weeks - would love to have people hold and feel their little existences.
Scroll down to see the process <3
/ cutting out the brush stroke /
/ first cut outs are applied to the piece /
/ painting the sides /
/ making more /
/ the hole in the middle was hard /
/ laying out the pieces /
/ ta da /
Group Show in NYC!
New York friends!
I’ve got two pieces on view (Forte and Motion Study Brushwork 1) during this group show in the Flatiron district in New York. The theme of the show is pure abstraction - and I am SO honored to be among the artists in this collection.
The opening night is March 17th at The Yard North. I was hoping to be able to get out there for what will be a fantastic party, but just wasn’t able to make it happen unfortunately.
Can’t make it out for the opening either? The show is up until July!
Upcoming Show: The Other Art Fair Chicago!
I’m thrilled to announce I’ve been accepted into the 2023 Chicago line up for The Other Art Fair.
I’ll be showing several new collections in my booth (number to be announced soon) and *hopefully* the start/proof of concept for a new project I’m very excited about. The new project requires the use of a saber saw. I am so pumped.
As always I’ll document the process over on instagram, but I may send out some more thorough examinations of the work via my email list, so make sure you’re subscribed here.
More details/ticket discounts to follow!
Notes from 1 full year in this studio
I’ve officially passed the one year mark at the new studio! (I guess it’s time to drop the ‘new’?)
I’ve already rearranged once, (twice if you count moving the fridge, which I’m inclined to do because of how heavy it was…) We’ve added two relatively major features; new lighting and new moving walls, and I’m about 1/5th of the way through painting the floor.
I think I’ve found my groove in this space. And Chewy has definitely found his favorite nap areas.
In thinking about the past year (taxes will do that to a person) I thought I’d compile a list of a few notes that have occurred to me since that first day painting at Studio 133.
As much as I love the studio, I NEED TO LEAVE IT OCCASIONALLY AND TALK TO HUMANS. I have to remind myself that a lot of being an artist happens *outside* the studio. It’s talking to other artists, seeing shows, being a human adult in the midst of other human adults. It’s so easy to slide into hermit mode and just paint every day and forget there’s a world of art outside.
WASH MY BRUSHES. When I worked out of the little room in my house my brushes were right in front of my face at most times. It was easy to see them and wash them. Now that I’m painting upstairs but regularly go downstairs mid-project I have forgotten about brushes sitting in water more times than I’d like to admit. I’ve put a little sign at the door to the studio to attempt to keep me from leaving and returning to dried bristles - it works 75% of the time.
Headspace is everything. If I come into the space to work and I’m nervous, anxious or jumbled nothing good is going to happen. I can clean, organize or work on inventory - but no good artwork is going to be made. This was true in my other spaces as well, but I think I feel it more acutely here. Ways I can correct a weird mental flow; walk the dog, look through old sketchbooks, pull up Artwork Archive and add work, sit and write about why I feel the way that I feel. These things usually help redirect my focus and get me recentered enough to make things.
I also need materials at home. Just a few paints and a sketchbook or two. Leaving the studio doesn’t mean I turn off as an artist and it took me a few months to figure out why I was so antsy at home. I still had ideas to sketch out. Every so often I’ll take a pile of papers to cut up at home too. Nothing is better than getting into the studio with a fresh batch of papers waiting to be collaged.
Snacks are very necessary. I get peckish when I work and if I try to ignore it my work suffers. My current favorites are mixed nuts, dried cranberries and little packets of miso soup.
I’m sure more things will become apparent as I embark on year 2 in this space and I’m sure by this time next year I’ll have rearranged again.
Upcoming Solo Show - Material Experiments
I’ve been a little quiet here lately, as I’ve been busy making work for my first show of 2023!
Material Experiments will open on January 7th at Cahoots in Ann Arbor. I’ll be giving a brief talk on the process and work in the collection at 12 pm, with the possibility of a Q + A session afterwards.
About the Work: The work selected for Material Experiments is a combination of some familiar pieces and brand new work. The common thread is experiments. I’ve always been more interested in the making of the cookie dough than the cookie, and this collection echos that. Each piece examines a relationship with material, asks/answers questions about marks and stands as little monuments to process.
About the Space: Cahoots is a tech co-working space + cafe here in Ann Arbor, in the old Kleinschmidt insurance building (seriously cool facade). I was so excited to be asked to show work here, the interior oozes innovation and the cafe offerings are always delicious.
About the Show: The opening talk will start at noon on January 7th. Come early and grab a drink from the cafe! Parking in the area isn’t too bad, there’s a garage at 4th and Washington (just down the street) and occasionally street parking once you turn off Huron.
Drop me a note if you’re planning on coming, I’d love to see you there!