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Website: cHaoTiC aRtwOrKs sTuDiO

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I've been involved in artwork for 35+ years and enjoy creating collage, mixed media, ATC's, ACEO's, assemblage, and altered art pieces. I work out of my studio, which I call cHaoTiC aRtwOrKs, in southeastern Michigan. Occasionally you can find my artwork for sale on Etsy and/or eBay under the name of chaoticartworks.

My love of the arts, and to create, I believe, are inherited, as I come from a long line of musicians, painters and sculptors. My early artistic endeavors began with crayon on my bedroom wall, graduating to pencil and charcoal drawings on paper. I later moved on to collage and mixed media pieces. My formal training consists of courses taken while in school and at DeWater's Art Center in my hometown. In the genre of altered style art, I'm basically self-taught, drawing on my collage and mixed media art training.

In 1985 I began collecting vintage photos, ephemera, and cabinet cards after my husband's grandmother passed away. She had a huge, mint condition 1923 golden oak buffet stuffed with photos, letters and "junk" papers she'd saved over the years, some that belonged to her mother, dating back to the late 1800's. My in-laws were going to throw the buffet, and contents, to the trash. NOT! I rescued them both and thus began my interest in all things vintage. For purposes of my artwork, I use scans from my personal collection, never originals. I also use images and ephemera from other sources, such as collage sheets I've purchased, free public domain downloads, and scans I've swapped with other collectors.

A few years ago I decided to start scrapbooking my photos - and was still trying to think of a use for my collection of vintage photos and ephemera. I happened across ATC's, assemblage, and altered art pieces while viewing scrapbook websites for inspiration. Although very similar to the mixed media and collage work I've done, these pieces were a bit different from the style of art I was accustom to, being more eclectic, and often whimsical in nature. My inner muse was stirred. That was it... I was hooked! And now my vintage photo and ephemera collection have a purpose.

And the scrapbooks are still waiting to be completed...