ARTIST'S STATEMENT

I always have been attracted to religious, ethnic and folkloric imagery, roadside memorials, home altars and shrines and outsider art. It’s no surprise my art leans toward assemblage and mixed media.

I moved from Missouri to Florida in 2012 and that’s when the urge to express myself kicked in. I asked my husband to put together a small workspace for me. I took some classes and made a few pieces that of course I felt were ready for the Louvre (totally embarrassing to recall). But I kept experimenting, trying to figure out my purpose and goals.

I’m always excited to start a new piece. I typically have a vague idea of where I want to go with it but that frequently takes a left or right turn, or doubles back to square one. But I love the process of making art: solving problems, finding the perfect element, deconstructing, reconstructing and a lot of just sitting and staring--and knowing when to stop.

I like to create pieces in a series, to explore various aspects of a unifying theme. Shelliquaries, Buddhaquaries, Gypsy Jazz, Chair Shrines and Art Nativities all are reflections of this. I rarely can stop at just one piece!

I enjoy collecting objects for future artwork. I’m the lady you see picking up rusted bottle caps in parking lots and haunting hole-in-the-wall thrift shops. In my workspace I’m surrounded by infinite pieces of ribbon and string, artificial flowers, stick-on jewels, doll parts and furniture, beads, fabric, feathers, ephemera, paint. Lots of religious statuettes and cards. Rocks, shells and wood boxes I’ll embellish or turn into antiques. And so much more! But after all, with more stuff, you have more options. I firmly believe more is more! As a result, my workspace has grown dramatically. My muse, Lucky, a mini longhair dachshund, enjoys hanging out there with me.

My art is carefully crafted to inspire, uplift and amuse.