My work is a painstakingly time-consuming process; large sheets of fine white paper are cut into strips of varying lengths and widths, individually hand-toned, rolled tightly, and secured with thread. Those individual spools of paper are then married together atop a fresh sheet of paper, to create the finished composition. Each small spool is just a fraction of the whole, arranged to bring forth images which are sometimes subjective, at other times abstract. Within each completed piece there is a certain rhythm, designed to hold the gaze of its audience. I experiment with hue, texture, and pattern, to move the viewer's eye through each work of art. Large pieces consume pounds of paper, several spools of thread, and hundreds of hours to complete.
I came across an old photograph of myself at summer camp in the ‘70s, making a necklace from rolled-up strips of magazine. This is what sparked the idea for these “three-dimensional paper art” pieces, which I have been creating for over six years. The inspiration for my work comes from many places; architecture, fashion, travels, but also from the Masters, such as Matisse, Picasso, and especially Seurat. Intrigued by his grand scenes comprised of thousands of specks of color, I strive to take that idea forward, moving into three dimensions. My pieces take on different appearances depending on the angle from which they are viewed. The varying depths of each spool of paper and the texture of fine thread add to the visual interest. With each piece I create, my goal is to create an image that will capture your gaze from across a room, and beg you to draw nearer for a closer look.
I also have a line of work which I call "Rag Rolls". Magazine pages are cut into strips, rolled up and tied with thread. Those rolls are then laid on their sides so the patterns of the magazine pages are visible, and glued into place. Each finished piece of art has an image which presents itself through bits of color which are matched up - ever so painstakingly - to create...a bird, an elephant, a word...the ideas I have are endless. Fun Fact: Each Rag Roll piece has hidden words or characters among the rolls of magazines. It's always fun to watch people scan each piece trying to find what's hidden within!...
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