The intent of my work is to allow the viewer to interpret meaning using their own experience. My feelings/ thoughts behind it are directly related to my personal history with the subjects in the work, whether they are animate or inanimate. A certain sadness, hopelessness or resignation seems to always be present, for me it allows for deeper contemplation. I tend to title the work in a very straight-forward manner, that way the viewer again has access to the image and isn’t steered in a different direction.
The technique that I use I believe is exclusive to myself, I use sandpaper as a medium to embed dry material into heavy paper. Using this technique, I am able to “see” in the dark; I use a myriad of photographic reference for the images of my daughters and draw from life the images of my old toys and memorabilia. The use of this technique takes the work to a “hyper-real” level and lends itself well to the pervasive feeling of melancholy that exists. My work confronts the viewer and asks questions.
There is honesty to the work that I can only express if I have a true connection with it. I pick out everything from the outfits and rugs that the subjects sit on to the lighting in order to capture the feeling that I wish to convey for that body of work. I have started to incorporate props as well which leads to a narrative that is also open for interpretation. My art is a diary of sorts, inner self-portraits that cause me to reflect on my childhood experiences, good and bad.
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- Emily Crying #2 | 21″ x 29.5″ | pastel on paper | 2010
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- Emily and the Cosmos | 76″ x 42.5 | charcoal on paper | 2011
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- Emily Thirteen “Mascara” | 34″ x 40″ | charcoal on paper | 2010
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- Dragon Fly Eyes | charcoal on paper | 2011
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- Clown Coitus | 21.5″ x 19″ | pastel on paper | 2010
