D's Beach Roses V. 1 Fuschia cool - Limited Edition of 30 Artwork

Early in my artistic career, I became fascinated with printmaking, specifically collagraphs. This is a rather obscure form of printmaking that I discovered in a gallery in Massachusetts over 20 years ago. The owner of the gallery said, “If you ever have a chance to study this art form, take it.” The opportunity arose and it was a game changer. It had a profound effect on my art experience, having discovered its magical and infinite qualities. Busy with a young child, it became nearly impossible to go to a studio and get any work done. This led to a career as a jewelry designer, which is currently 16 years long. My love for gemstones and design flipped another creative switch. I discovered that I could create a similar feeling of a collagraph from the printing press, but done digitally. Providing me with the comforts of my own home, I began experimenting on my computer (with the pleasant company of 2 rescue dogs!) I coined the term “Digital Collagraph” to describe my work. Each piece begins with original photography and usually multiple images are used to form a piece. I love working with saturated color as well as starkly contrasting black and whites and very often do a study of the same piece in all its beautiful transformations. The digital art experience provides an outlet to be unceasingly creative, continually working and reworking pieces with the click of a mouse. Every new layer or filter creates endless possibilities, tapping into the unlocked potential that exists and providing the feeling that there are no barriers. Having grown up in New York City, I am continually inspired by the messages that are plastered around the grittier areas of the urban landscape. Channeling these messages led to my first pieces, political and provocative in nature, as well as exploring the power of language. Using direct communication from the streets as well as social media, my intention is to confront modern social commentary with a splash of sarcasm and humor. Influenced by artists Mel Bochner, Barbara Kruger and Andy Warhol, I am in a constant state of exploration.