StatementWhile growing up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania I was deeply influenced by the hard work, effort, and artwork that come from Pennsylvania Dutch traditions. I attribute a lot of my works to my heritage and upbringing in Pennsylvania. One such inspiration was Scherenschnitte, a Pennsylvania Dutch paper cutting tradition. The basis of these works of art involves hard work and emotions. The process starts with anything I can tear up and reuse that was created with time, effort, and feelings. I like to think of my art as a renewable resource of energy made from the things you hate to throw away, but don’t want anymore. The first layer of the painting is made with reused torn up paper that I or others put thought and effort into including letters, notes of praise, notes of sadness, artwork my students threw out, and artwork I no longer want. The next layer contains words written on top of the torn paper. The words are generally written in paint to include thoughts in my mind at the moment. Sometimes I let others write on the canvas and torn paper. I often use a layer of words written in hot glue so that the words are emphasized and not hidden by the last layer. The final layer is the flat white image painted on top of the re-purposed works that is intended to have a paper like quality similar to that of Scherenschnitte. The outcome brings a new beginning to old endings in works that are both pleasing to the eye from afar as well as intriguing up close. |