Abstractions Art's photostream

As a mixed media artist and workshop instructor, I like to express my creativity in many forms: assemblage, collage, found object jewelry, art dolls, altered books and handmade paper.

A discriminating collector of discards and castoffs, the materials I use from rusted metal objects and "street junk" to delicately hand dyed silk yarns, cross over from type of art to the next. The gold leaf, collage papers and antique buttons left over from today's assemblage will be used for tomorrows art doll. Silk yarns used for French knots on an art doll's body can also stitch a vintage photo to a piece of weathered fence board. Bicycle chain crosses over from altered books to earrings.

While my primary work focuses on assemblage, I constantly find myself branching into other areas. ‘Junk’ is always the palette. The interesting challenge in creating found object art is to invent interesting and unexpected ways to attach items to a support. The idea of re-purposing items for uses other than which they were intended intrigues me, along with the 'alchemy' of giving worthless found materials value and meaning.

My greatest joy still comes from playing with color and texture through collections of handmade paper, silk yarns, found objects, paper castings and luminous foil.

I want the viewer of my work to contemplate it, mentally unraveling it to discover what is hidden amongst the layers. The pieces which I consider most successful are the ones that reveal themselves slowly, in both content and implication.




'Sets' with older work:


                                       
Assemblage Set                  Art Doll Set              Altered Book Set      ▭      




My blog:



Art of the Found Object
Processes, projects in my studio, a list of books & CDs that keep me thinking creatively.