Contaminated Water #5: Mutated Sand Dollars, Rusted Fish Painting

I have been constructing textile artworks for over thirty years incorporating dense hand stitching which gives visual and physical texture to my work. I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1963 and have had my studio in Cushing, Wisconsin since 1991. My work includes pieced work using commercial fabrics as well as rust pigmentation and non-traditional dyeing techniques. More recent work has been using whole cloth construction using my hand dyed and painted fabrics and rust pigmentation along with my signature hand stitching. Each piece is unique and starts with an idea from my subconscious and develops as I construct the artwork. Decisions are made regarding materials, technique, size, and sculptural stitching as the piece develops. Nothing is preplanned so the initial idea may not be even close to what the finished artwork reveals. My medium is thread on textiles, much like a painter's medium is "oil on canvas" or "acrylic on hard board". My work can be found in many private art collections around the world. Commission work keeps my schedule full for several years in advance. I exhibit my award winning artwork nationally in juried fine art exhibitions in galleries, museums, and art centers. I am represented by several fine art galleries across the United States. I am the author of several books available worldwide, describing my processes, artistic philosophy, and experiences with artist residencies.